Expert: John L - 7/27/2010

Question
I was transferred to the Navy Retired Reserve Sept. '09 after 26 years total in the Navy Reserve.  I just turned 56 and do not collect any retired pay.  I am trying to affiliate with the Army Reserve but my recruiter and I have been told that I need to be in an IRR status in order for the Army to be able to sign me.  Is there a way to transfer from the Retired Reserve back into an IRR status so I can join the Army Reserve ?  I have been deployed twice since  9/11 ... to Kuwait and Afghanistan, and still willing and mentally and physically capable of serving.  High Year Tenure drove me from the Navy Reserve and after having served along side Army units on both deployments am looking forward to affiliating with the Army. I have been told that I am not the only ex-Navy "retiree" seeking affiliation so I am looking forward to what you can tell me and the others.

Answer
Once in the retired reserve, it is a really long process to get out of it and into another status, excpet recalled to active duty.  In order to go ot the Army reserve, you would have to be able to go to bootcamp, at age 56, even the shortened bootcamp for former Navy, it is doubful you would make it.

You would not get the support you need from a MEPs medical exam (which is required) in order to go Army reserves.

Thank you for your service, but I believe your military career is done.