Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 9/7/2009

Question
First Question: I received a OTH/General Discharge in 2003 from the USAF. My re-enlistment code is RE-2B and separation my code is JKA. Recently, I have tried to re-enlist in the Army and asked for a waiver. But, local recruiters keep giving me the run around about what I have to do. I need help who do I go to and what do I do?
Second Question: If my previous job was crucial/critical a 1n231 Military Intelligence/Morse Operator for the Air Force. If I am granted a waiver will the military assign me a job, will I get to pick again like the original enlistment, or will I have to go back to my same job since it was a joint service job?

Answer
Anthony.
Only you know whatever happened for sure that got you discharged.  But your discharge paperwork shows a Separation Code of JKA, which means exactly - "Discreditable Incidents"
This can be anything from verbal comments to physical assault.

Your RE-2B means exactly, "Discharged under General or Other-Than-Honorable conditions"
Individuals with an AF RE- Code of "2" are usually ineligible to reenlist in the AF, but might be eligible to join another military service, if the circumstances which resulted in the code no longer apply, and if a waiver is issued.

A good recruiter should be able to help you process a waiver.  I imagine the reason nobody's helping you right now is because it's the military's fiscal end-of-year and all the recruiting quotas are already met.  Also, you're classified as a "reenlistee" and not a new recruit, even though you've switched Services.  A recruiter gets $ for new recruits, and nothing for reenlistments.

What you need to do is wait a few weeks until October 1st, and then try again.  On October 1st all the recruiters receive their new quotas and they'll be desperately seeking recruits.

It may be best to try Goarmy.com and select "Chat With A Recruiter" instead of going back to your local recruiter who isn't much help.

If you want to go back to the same kind of job in Signals Intelligence the Army will have to retrain you because you've been out of the military for more than 5 years.  You'll probably only be reduced in rank one grade and will not have to take boot camp all over again.  Sometimes they'll send you to a 10 day refresher course to "Green you up and get the Blue stink off you."

Having been in a joint job makes no difference whatsoever.  Since you're being completely retrained they'll likely let you choose your career field.
Thanks for wanting to continue serving.
Good luck,
Colonel H