Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/OTH discharge trying to re-enlist

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Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 9/11/2009


Question
Hi my name is Josh I was in the army reserve from APR 01 to OCT 06 when i was discharged with an other than honorable for not attending drill I have been trying to re-enlist into active army  since OCT 07 with no luck. I have already appeared before a discharge review board and it was denied I have not yet appealed or applied to the board of record correction. I have been told by a career counselor at the personnel command that i should be ok to return to the reserves after a waiting period of unknown length to me. My question is am I able to re-enlist in the army reserve and if so how long is the waiting period

Answer
Josh,
The waiting period varies with each Service, but usually it's 6 months or 1 year.

In your discharge paperwork find the form called a DD214 entitled CERTIFICATE OF RELEASE OR DISCHARGE FROM ACTIVE DUTY.  Down at the bottom in Block 26 you'll find a Separation Code.  In Block 27 you'll find a Reentry Code.  Tell me what these 2 codes are and I'll decode them for you.  That will give us the answer you're looking for.

Be sure your follow-up is marked "Private" and not public like this one.  Your past is nobody else's business.  

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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