Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/re-enter the military

Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 2/22/2010

Question
QUESTION: I am 29yrs old and served the United States Marines from 2000-2004, and was Honorably discharged, my husband is currently active duty serving 13yrs, I want to go back in the military. is it possible for me to do so? I do have a 30% disabilitay rate from the military that i am willing to give up just to go back in. is there a chance? or with the disability I am pretty much done with the military?

ANSWER: Dear Nelly --

You would have to show that your disability no longer exists to return to the military. If not, you would need a waiver for your physical disability. If your injury was bad enough to grant you a 30% disability and an honorable disability discharge, you are unlikely to get such a waiver.

Have you considered becoming a Department of Defense civilian employee? Your veteran's status and disability would give you an advantage to get onto the referral lists for DoD jobs. You can continue to collect your military disability payments while earning your civilian salary.

Look for jobs that might interest you at USA Jobs: http://www.usajobs.gov/

Please write back, if you have additional questions. Thank you to you and your husband for your military service. Good luck to you.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your help. I just wanted to make it little more clear, I served a honorable tour of 4yrs in the Military, and then after I got out, is when I applied for disability from the military. I never got out with a disability (medical) discharge. would that still be the same answer to my question?

Answer
Dear Nelly --

Yes, this does change the situation somewhat. If you did not get a disability discharge, and you have recovered from the disability for which you are accepting VA disability payments, you could re-enlist. You will still need a waiver so that a military doctor can review your circumstances and validate that your prior disability no longer affects you, or that it will not interfere with your future military missions.

Good luck to you.