Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/Voluntary Recall

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Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 4/9/2009


Question
I retired from US Navy in 1994 with 20 years, 4 months service.  I collected O6 pay for the year prior to retiring but was retired as an O5 for pay purposes.  I have been working with the navy for the past 4 years as a civilian and wondered whether I could go back on active duty for a couple of years and then retire for pay as an O6.  I have two basic questions:  [1] am I eligible for voluntary recall and, if so, where can I get information on the process/requirements?  [2] if I were to go back on active duty, at re-retirement would my new retirement pay be calculated on the basis of O6 pay at the time I re-retired or on O6 pay in 1994?
Many thanks.

Answer
Dan,
Good thinking, but it won't work for a couple of reasons.

As you know, you had to have two years time-in-grade to retire as an 0-6.  The Navy will not let you re-join after a lapse of 5 years or more.  They figure things change so rapidly, especially in the world of technology, that you'd have to be retrained and at your rank it would cost them too much.

Secondly, the Navy reduces everybody in rank by one pay grade when they re-join after a break in service.  So even if you could re-join, it would be as a LT CMDR.

Regardless of your retired pay, you'll just have to be content knowing you were a Captain, and according to military protocol you still ARE.  Once an 0-6, always an 0-6 by their regulations.

Thanks for continuing to serve.
Colonel H

Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard

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MARK A. HOWELL

Expertise

All military questions, any Service. 30 years experience & two Ph.D.'s. 4 times Base Commander. Worked with Army, Navy, USMC, USCG and several foreign military units. Veteran of Kosovo, Bosnia, Macedonia, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, and 10 civil wars in Africa.

Experience

Air Force Colonel with 30 years experience. Air Force Base Commander 4 times. Highly decorated.

Organizations
Org of Am Historians, Wild West History Assoc., Disabled American Veterans - Life Member, Am Motorcyclist Assoc. - Life Member, North Am Hunt Club - Life Member, NWTF - Life Member

Publications
Numerous book reviews published in the Journal of American History. Two books submitted for publication.

Education/Credentials
Ph.D. in military history, Columbus University (Summa Cum Laude) Ph.D. in history, Northfield University, London, England (Summa Cum Laude) Master of Arts degree in history, Marshall University, WV Bachelors degree, double-major in history and mathematics, Salem College, WV Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL

Awards and Honors
Legion of Merit Defense MSM MSM x 5 Joint Commendation Mdl AF Commendation Medal Army Commendation Mdl Joint Achievement Mdl AF Achievement Medal Outstanding Volunteer Mdl

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