Expert: Rod Powers - 4/14/2007

Question
I read your response to the Marine trying to resign commission.  My question is this.  Say you fulfill your active duty time and IRR time by serving 8 full years of active duty what do you give up by resigning your commission?  Do you give up VA benefits, is it like you never served?  Please let me know if there are any negatives to resigning commission.  Also, if your commitment is fulfilled can the Army or Marines kick back your resignation and not allow you to resign your commission?

Answer
Hi Sally,

Assuming one's total military commitment is complete (IRR is over), I don't know of any disadvantages (or advantages) to resigning a commission. Without a draft (which would require special legislation), one cannot be involuntarily recalled to active duty, whether they resign their commission, or not. One does not lose VA benefits when they resign a commission.

One possible disadvantage suddenly comes to mind: If one resigned their commission it would make it *extremely difficult* to *voluntarily* re-enter the military at a later time as a commissioned officer, and most of the services have regulations which prohibit the voluntary enlistment of former officers (except under certain circumstances, such as if the officer were separated from the service because of a reduction-in-force (RIF)).

Yes, a service can refuse a commission resignation. However, I know of no case where they ever had for somone who's commitment was complete, nor can I think of any reason why they would.

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my military information website at: http://usmilitary.about.com

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com