Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 7/22/2009

Question
I was discharged back in Dec 2007 with a RE Code 3. I heard that i would have to wait 2 years to either get a waiver or do an upgrade. I recently went to the re-up office and was told that the army is not giving out waivers anymore until further notice is this true? And do i need to get a waiver or an upgrade after 2 years?

Answer
Chanelle,
Yes, what the recruiter told you is true.  There are only two months left in fiscal year 2009 for the military.  They are on track for meeting their quota for recruits for 2009 so they're no longer processing waivers.

Individuals with an RE Code of "3" can normally reenlist in the Army or another Service,(depending upon the reason for the discharge) but will require a waiver to be processed.  You know how/why you were discharged so you can imagine why you need a waiver to rejoin.

Because of your prior service you are not considered a "new recruit", but rather you will be a "re-enlistee."  This is because a "prior service" enlistment slot is the same as an "re-enlistment" slot.  So you're in the same category as a person still on active duty who wants to re-enlist.  Each of the services limit the number of prior-service enlistments they allow each year.  Understandably, the military will normally allow someone currently in the Service to re-enlist, before they will allow a prior-service applicant to use up that slot by coming back in.

If you are accepted you will not have to go through basic training again.  Depending upon your rank at the time of seperation, the regulations state "If enlisting after 24 months from completion of military service, the enlistment grade will be determined by the Army Human Resources Command."  Usually they reduce you in rank one paygrade, not lower than E-3 assuming you were higher than E-3 to start with.

Your best bet is to wait a few more months until October 1st.  That the beginning of fiscal year 2010 and the new quotas are released.  That way you'll be first in line to grab one of those slots.

Good luck,
Colonel H