Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 10/1/2007

Question
Hello ma'am. I hope you are doing well. My husband is in the TX Army National Guard. Before this, he was active duty Army for 14 years. He got out and found it impossible to find a good paying job, let alone one that had good benefits. He made the decisioin to join the guard because the recruiter, GOD bless her, told him she could get him activated ASAP. She came thru and he has been active at the TX border for almost 2 yrs. now. The only problem is this mission ends in JULY and we are afraid we will be right back in the same boat, no money, behind on his child support and not knowing what each day will bring. We have 6 kids altogether and want to be able to provide the best for them. The Service seems to be all my husband knows and wants to reenlist in the Army (Active Duty), the only problem is the conflicting info he gets from recruiters. (2). One was totally awsome and told him to get his E-6 promotion and he would be eligible for re-enlistment. Well, he did that and now another recruiter from where we are now is saying that is not so. ( the info came from him being active for 16 yrs. and only being an E-5. The recruiter said he has to be caught up) What facts can we get about this so we know what steps to take next? Can he reenlist? He is below the age requirement, but the longer we wait he will have passed that also. Another concern is he had an anurism 12 years ago and was on active duty then. They did not discharge him and he stayed in another 9 years after. Will this affect him in any way. He has been to the VA and they say he is clear. We are getting conflicting answers on that also. Thank you so much for your time... GOD BLESS

Answer
Dear Amber --

Your husband should be able to re-enlist, neither his rank nor his prior health problem should be an issue.  He should not have to talk to recruiter, but because he is an activated National Guard Soldier, that is the only way to ensure he stays on active duty.  

Have him talk to a recruiter that will get him active duty E-6 job in his MOS or a related MOS.  He could also talk to the active duty branch manager for his MOS in Alexandria Virginia, and find out if there are empty billets in his MOS that he could remain activated to fill.  Your husband can get the e-mail address or phone number through Army Knowledge Online -- Self-help -- Personnel.

However, if he wants to guarantee he stays on active duty for up to six more years, he could re-enlist for recruiting duty.  The Army needs Soldiers who love being in the Army to help recruit the next generation of Soldiers.  He can chat with a recruiter at GoArmy.com to see what he must do to volunteer for recruiting duty.

GoArmy.com will also have recruiters that can answer his other questions, as he tries to re-enlist for an active duty slot, even if he chooses not to be a recruiter.

Good luck to you both and to your family.