Expert: Howard Lorenz - 4/20/2010

Question
Hello, and thank you for taking time to help me. I will try to make this short and sweet. Active AF for 1 yr and discharged. (Never late to work, never disobeyed orders, I was on point with everything I did and also had a CMSgt & MSgt1st Sgt write LOAs because of my work on a jet, after only being stationed there for 4 months - not one mistake before my conviction.) Just a little insight on my how I am. My situation: I was discharged after a civil conviction(misdemeanor) only time I ever got in trouble in my life and was given a 2B reentry code. I have been reading many different articles for months about getting my RE code upgraded and/or reenlisting in another branch. A lot of BS and many different answers. I need straight answers. Note: This was my 1st & only mistake and before this I was a great airman. Can I reenter a different branch with a 2B? I was never asked to sign my 214, was I suppose to? Can I get a waiver and if so how do I go about that & what are my chances of reentry? I have spoken with a Army & Corps recruiter and have been told that I was wrongfully given a 2B. I also read that if the conviction was taken care or could have been taken care of then I would have a high chance of reentry or getting my code changed true or false please explain. I have already addressed the board and am waiting for answer now. I know it may take a while. Is there anything you would suggest I do to try to help aid my case to get my 214 upgraded? Would you happen to know if the board has all my paperwork and if being a great airman would help my case any? Or have someone write a statement as a character witness like my AF/current supervisor or AF/current coworkers? Any information you can provide would be helpful and don't hold back anything you may want to say. If any of my questions can't be answered thoroughly I will accept yes or no, but if you can give information that could be useful to me, would you please. Thanks again for your assistance.   -John

Answer
You have to apply to the department of the air force for a RE code upgrade. Im not sure about the process, I know that you have to get a copy of your records from the national records archive at www.archives.gov. You will have to apply to get these twice... dont know why, but it seems to be the way for those folks.

You can call the department of the Air Force and get the information of what you will need to have that done.

A re code 2B is ineligible to go back into the Air Force, but you are eligible to join other services. It may be difficult with the current economy, but its doable.