Expert: Rod Powers - 12/10/2007

Question
I was in Active Duty Air Force for a total of one year, to the day. I was medically discharged with asthma and received a seperation code of JFL and a re code of 2Q. I believe my diagnosis to be incorrect, and would like to return to the Air Force. What would be my best course of action? Should I try for the Guard or Reserves first, and then try to move back into AD? Or am I SOL on the Air Force, should I look into another branch? Thank you for your time.

Answer
Hi Mike,

I'm afraid I have bad news for you........

First off, the Air Force simply doesn't accept prior service enlistments with an RE Code of "2," or "4." It' can't even be waivered.

So, to even have a chance of re-enlisting in the Air Force, the Air Force Reserve, or Air National Guard, you would first have to convince the Air Force Discharge Review Board that your discharge reason (asthma) was in error, and request that your reason for discharge and your RE Code be changed. Details about doing this can be found on my site at: http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/generalinfo/a/dischargeupg.htm

Assuming you're able to convince the Air Force Discharge review board (and -- I wouldn't hold my breath, as fewer than 10 percent of applicants to upgrade a discharge, change the discharge reason, or change the discharge RE Code are ever approved), then it's still going to be an uphill battled to go back on active duty in the Air Force.

To put it bluntly, the Air Force, right now, has too many people on active duty. As such, they accept only a handful of prior service applicants each year (mainly those who are already trained in jobs the Air Force considers "critical-manned," such as linguist, pararescue, or combat controller). For details, see my article about Prior Service enlistments at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/priorservice.htm

"Prior Service" enlistments include members of the Air National Guard, or Air Force Reserves. So, even if you were sucessful in changing your RE Code and "Reason for Discharge" and were able to join the Air Force Reserves or Air National Guard, the chances of you being able to go onto active duty are pretty slim, as Air National Guard and Reserve "transfers" to active duty are in the same category as "prior service" active duty enlistments. See my article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/guardandreserve/a/reservetransfer.htm

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

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com