Expert: Rod Powers - 11/12/2007

Question
Okay, my husband was discharged from the Marine Corps 8 or so years ago, before we met. It was an honorable discharge but with the re code of 4. It was at the time Clinton was downsizing the military, and he simply told the doctor he wanted out, and the doctor made it happen. His son's mother didn't want him in the military and being young, he wanted to please her. Not too long ago, he spoke with an Army Reserves recruiter close to us, and even went as far as having letters of recommendations written for him by a retired MSG in the army and his Sergeant (He works for the Department of Corrections and has for almost 4 years), and also had a psyche evaluation done and the results sent to the recruiter. However the recruiter never followed up on it. How likely is it that he could get it overturned? And exactly who do we go through? Is active duty opposed to Reserves feasible?

Answer
Hi Kim,

It's very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, hard to re-enlist in any branch (active duty or reserves) with an "RE Code" of "4." An RE Code of "4," means (after removing the "gobbly-gook" that the commanding officer who recommended the discharge also recommends that the individual *never* be allowed to re-enlist into any of the Military branches.

The fact that it was necessary to get a "psyche evaluation" done in order to apply for re-enlistment, indicates that the "reason for discharge" was due to a psychiatric problem. That makes it even harder. For obvious reasons, none of the Military services are anxious to accept someone for re-enlistment who were originally discharged for mental health reasons.

He can say all he wants that he just wanted out, but the fact of the matter is, that he was discharged based on the recommendation of a psychiatrist, or psychologist, based on examination and administration of mental health tests, and that's not going to be easy to overcome.

If your husband thinks he can *prove* that the reason for his discharge and/or the RE Code is "in error," then he can apply to the Navy Board of Military Records Correct. The board has the power to change the "reason for discharge," and the RE Code. Procedures for this are in my article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/airforcebase/a/chgrecords.htm

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my U.S. Military Information page, at http://usmilitary.about.com

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com