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Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/Reenlistment
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Question
Hi! I requested a discharge from the Air Guard Reserves to attend graduate school. It was a difficult program that required clinical work on the weekends and throughout the summer. I was granted an honorable discharge 3 years into my enlisted term. For the past 2 years I've been wanting to return to the reserves but I'm not sure if I can. Someone told me there was a 6 year cutoff to reenlist. I'm open to explore all branches of the military but my first choice would be the Navy. Under the reenlistment code on my DD214 it says "Not Applicable." I'm not sure what that means.
I was discharged in 1997 and I'm 35 years old. Is it still possible for me to reenlist?
Savannah,
By cutoff what they mean is the time period to reenlist without having to attend your training schools all over again. That date is 5 years. Technology changes so rapidly that after 5 years you'll need to learn your job all over again. The age limits for most of the Services can normally be extended one year for every year you have served. This makes you still eligible for the Army, Navy, Army National Guard, Army Reserves, Naval Reserves, Coast Guard Reserves, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve.
Don't worry about your RE Code, it's different for Guard & Reserves.
Thanks for wanting to serve again.
Colonel H
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Answers by Expert:
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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