You are here:
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Retired and need hip replacement | 12/3/2009 |
| Q: Good afternoon. I have a question in regards to my retirement. I just retired back in July 2009 ... A: You can't be put back onto duty, but if you have a medical condition which is caused by or made ... | |
| traumatic pneumothorax | 12/3/2009 |
| Q: I had a traumatic pneumothorax (collapsed lung) in my right side back in '03 from a stab wound. I ... A: It will require a medical waiver. Wether or not a waiver will be approved is anyone's guess. For ... | |
| SEAL from Reserve? | 12/3/2009 |
| Q: Is it possible to become a SEAL after joining the Navy Reserve? A: Yes, but you have to join a Navy reserve unit that has a SEAL squadron located there. For more ... | |
| enlisting in the Air Force | 11/23/2009 |
| Q: i was wondering if having a GED stops you from enlisting in the Air Force. i'm also considering ROTC ... A: H Stephen, Each of the services limit the number of GED applicants they accept for enlistment each ... | |
| ACL tear | 11/22/2009 |
| Q: Mr. Powers I recently tore my ACL and am about to under go surgery. My Ortho. gave me two choices: ... A: It will require a waivier. See: ... | |
| Dual Military With Dependents Dislocation BAH | 11/22/2009 |
| Q: My wife and I are both active sea duty in the Navy. I am an E-5 with almost 4 years in and she is ... A: A "Geo Bachelor" is one who has military dependents, but does not live with them. For example, ... | |
| US Army Contract Question | 11/21/2009 |
| Q: I realize this is not a great question to ask, but I'd like to get an opinion on this. I am going to ... A: You're enlisted in the Deplayed Enlistment Program (DEP). Anyone can request a discharge from the ... | |
| usafr nurse corps-promotion | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: I am a critical care nurse, with a secondary AFSC as a flight nurse. I had been inactive nars for ... A: It's possible, but to be truthful, it's not very likely. Officer promotions are much more ... | |
| Navy Enlistment | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: Rod, I read a lot of your articles and they answer a lot of questions. To get to the point, I am ... A: I'm not sure what "OVI" means, but I assume it's similar to a DUI/DWI? If so, it will require a ... | |
| morticians | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: Are there morticians in the military? if so, which branches? Also, can you go to college to become a ... A: The military services don't have mortitians. This job is contracted out to civilians. For more ... | |
| In high school, enrolled in Navy DEP considering switching to the marines. | 11/19/2009 |
| Q: I am a High school senior and I don't go to boot camp until June 17, 2010. I am wondering if it is ... A: I'm afraid not. You can't just "switch" from one branch's DEP to another. In order to join the ... | |
| Medical | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: applying for Navy nurse college program as I am in my sophmore year. I will be graduating with a ... A: It depends on whether or not MEPS considers it to be "traumatic artritis" or not. "Traumatic ... | |
| enlisting with unpaid traffic tickets | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: im am in the process of enlisting in the navy (have yet to go through MEPS). I have 2 unpaid traffic ... A: You cannot enlist in any branch of the US Military with pending legal matters. That means you will ... | |
| airforce | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: security forces is a good background for this. i want to become an FBI agent. i was just wondering ... A: While I'm not an expert on FBI hiring practices, to the very best of my knowledge, the FBI requires ... | |
| Dual Military With Dependents Dislocation BAH | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: My wife and I are both active sea duty in the Navy. I am an E-5 with almost 4 years in and she is ... A: I'm afraid you'll have to swallow a pay cut. For military-married-to-military, the service treats ... | |
| Application for Officer Training School | 11/17/2009 |
| Q: Powers, I am Active Duty Air Force and I wanted to know about applying for Officer training school. ... A: No. If you're active duty, you would apply for active duty OTS. If you're in the National Guard, you ... | |
| Prior Service Navy, wants to go Air Force | 11/17/2009 |
| Q: Mr. Powers: I am a 29yr. old USN vet. who separated in 2005 with an honorable discharge (RE-1) ... A: First of all, it will be very, very hard to enlist in the active duty Air Force as a prior service ... | |
| military discharge process | 11/16/2009 |
| Q: first, I want to thank you for taking a moment to read my question/email. I appreciate your ... A: When a military person is discharged, they look for a civilian job the same way that anyone else ... | |
| marine vision requirements | 11/16/2009 |
| Q: My vision is good I believe it's 20/20, but i have a lazy right eye and bad perifial vision.Can I ... A: Vision standards for military service can be read on my site at: ... | |
| Reason for discharge | 11/16/2009 |
| Q: A Discharge in the late 1940s lists Reason 3C AR 615-360. What does this mean? A: I wish I could help, but I don't have access to the 1940 version of Army Regulation 615-300, section ... | |
| AFROTC | 11/16/2009 |
| Q: I am 26 years of age and currently attending a community college, I have 21 college credits and am ... A: Yes, you are eligible, as long as you and your wife have no minor children. For more information ... | |
| Re-enlistment | 11/16/2009 |
| Q: Hey, Back in 99, I was honarable discharged from the Navy (Re-4) due to "Mental health Issues." ... A: Your chances are not good. An RE Code of "4" means you are not recommended for continued service ... | |
| Officer reentering active duty...jobs | 11/16/2009 |
| Q: It's been 5 years since I separated from the Air Force as an officer. What resources are available ... A: It's *very, very, very, very, very* hard. Here's why: When a prior service enlistee (or officer) ... | |
| RE: 4B | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: I was discharged from the Marine Corps(SOI) in California, in 2005 RE: 4B....I was told in order to ... A: I'm sorry, but I'm afraid someone told you incorrectly. An RE Code of "4" means you are ineligible ... | |
| age waiver | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: I would like to apply for a direct commission (active) with the army as a biochemist. I will very ... A: The maximum age for commission, by federal law is age 42. There are age waivers available for those ... | |
| airforce | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: i am interested in joining the airforce and i want to know how long u r usually enlisted and if u ... A: Everyone who enlists in any branch of the military incur an initial service obligation of 8 years. ... | |
| Question about medical conditions | 11/14/2009 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, My name is Carolus. In 2002, I was awarded an NROTC scholarship. I lost that ... A: Medical standards for both enlistment or commission are the same standards (see: ... | |
| Re-enter E-7 | 11/14/2009 |
| Q: I am thinking about re-enlisting in the Navy or reserves. I served in the US Navy from 1993-1995. I ... A: I've never heard of an RE Code of "E-7." Generally, RE codes run from "1" to "4." This can be found ... | |
| joining the army | 11/13/2009 |
| Q: i am currently trying to get in the army but i am 17 and i have a ged. will i be able to join? if ... A: One can join at the age of 17 with parental consent, but none of the military branches are accepting ... | |
| High Cholesterol and Timetable | 11/13/2009 |
| Q: Two questions: 1. I went through all of my medical exams to enlist in the US Army. The doctor who ... A: You may wish to read my article about medical waivers at: ... | |
| military split-option program | 11/13/2009 |
| Q: Which military branches utilize the split-option program? Is the program available for enlisted and ... A: The "split option" program (where on splits basic training and job training) is currently only ... | |
| Military Medic | 11/13/2009 |
| Q: I am interested in possibly becoming a medic in the military. I am wondering if you could tell me ... A: Only four of the five active duty branches have active duty enlisted medics. The Marine Corps does ... | |
| pre-dental care before you join the marine core and G.E.D?'s | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: hey, my name is josh, healthy 19 yearold, full time truck mechanic with a G.E.D I have a couple ... A: The cavities won't be a problem. Your teeth would have to be in *really* bad shape to result in ... | |
| Medical clearance marines | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: I have always wanted to and planto enlist in the marines. I have a medical history of anxiety/add ... A: You may wish to read my article about medical waivers at: ... | |
| Officer reentering Active Duty...Rank? | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: I was discharged honorably in 2004 from the USAF as a Captain. I am now in nursing school and wish ... A: If you didn't resign your commission, you should re-enter at your former commissioned rank. For ... | |
| join the coast guard or navy | 11/11/2009 |
| Q: I want to join the coast guard or the navy, but when I was 15 years of age had a stress fracture in ... A: It shouldn't be a problem. See: ... | |
| Air Force PFA failure and discharge concerns | 11/11/2009 |
| Q: Powers, I have some questions for you regarding AF PFA. I have read a lot that upon failing your ... A: Whether you are discharged for PFA failure, and what your discharge characterization will be (likely ... | |
| Determining A-Score w/o NO or CS Scores | 11/11/2009 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, I have taken a number of ASVAB practice tests and have been able using those, to ... A: I very much doubt you've been able to determine your M-Score, G-Score, and E-Score for the Air Force ... | |
| About a fighter pilot's life | 11/11/2009 |
| Q: Powers, I am 23 year old university student who has rekindled a old flame for flying fighters in the ... A: It's not easy to become a fighter pilot in the Air Force. Ever since the movie "Top Gun" came out, ... | |
| Deployment | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: Rod- What do you know of deploying under ECRC orders? A: ECRC is "Navy-Talk" for "Expeditionary Combat Readiness Center." Such orders are usually IA ... | |
| Minimum Enlistment Term | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: ROD....What was the minimum time a US Army enlistee had to serve if he joined in 1964? A: In 1964 (and today), the Army had two, three, four, and five year enlistment options. Some jobs ... | |
| joining the marines with a felony | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: i have a felony for burglary. if i get a nondisclosure or my record expunged can i join and will ... A: They'll find it. As far as the military is concerned, there is no such thing as an EXPUNGED or ... | |
| AWOL | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: My daughters husband has been AWOL for 264 days now, we do not know where he is located only his ... A: I wish I could help, but if he's AWOL, that means he's not under military control, so there isn't ... | |
| USMC FEL | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: I am Chris and I am a huge fan of the USMC. I have a question but before I ask my question I want ... A: I have bad news for you. For military purposes, it doesn't matter whether or not your record has ... | |
| Hypothyroidism | 11/9/2009 |
| Q: I have been diagnosed for a little over two years now with hypothyroidism. Ever since I can ... A: Any medical condition that requires continued treatment/medication is *very* unlikely to be waived. ... | |
| Choosing MOS | 11/9/2009 |
| Q: My 19 year old son recently joined the Marines through delayed entry program. He leaves for Parris ... A: This is one of those questions that can't be answered. It's like asking, "What job should I choose, ... | |
| Becoming an Army Warrant Officer | 11/9/2009 |
| Q: I am a high school junior, and my goal is to become an Army helicopter pilot. As far as I ... A: I Anna, Okay, you take the ASVAB, FAST, and the flight physical before you ever sign a contract, so ... | |
| age waiver | 11/8/2009 |
| Q: I am an honorary reserve retired USAF Major. I want to participate in the Voluntary Rated Retired ... A: In your case, I'm afraid the answer is "no," unless you are a doctor or a nurse. The maximum age to ... | |
| Military Discharge / Security Clearance | 11/8/2009 |
| Q: I was in the Air Force for 6 months 19 days when I got discharge for "personality disorder". My ... A: It probably won't have an impact. The discharge was characterized as "honorable," and for SECRET ... | |
| Navy. BUMED Approved Waiver. | 11/8/2009 |
| Q: BUMED has approved my waiver. My recruiter says now I have to be seen by one of the Navy doctors to ... A: There is no such thing as a "Navy Doctor" at MEPS. All of the doctors at MEPS don't work for any ... | |
| USMC Recruiting | 11/7/2009 |
| Q: Powers, I wrote to you a couple of months ago regarding my 17 year old son who was told to lie at ... A: It won't be an "automatic" disqualification, but if he admits to any items that are otherwise ... | |
| Retirement versus Medical | 11/7/2009 |
| Q: Sir I am a active duty MSG with over 22 years of active duty service. I am trying to figure out ... A: See my Military Retirement Pay article at: ... | |
| hey | 11/7/2009 |
| Q: you told me i can join marine infantry with farsightedness and if i can distinguish vivid red an ... A: Yes, you can bring family/friend photos with you to Marine Corps basic training. Photos should be no ... | |
| Becoming a U.S. General | 11/7/2009 |
| Q: Are the odds of becoming a U.S.General better in the Army or are they better in the Air Force? Are ... A: The Army has around three times more troops than the Air Force, so they have around three times more ... | |
| Reserves | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: Is the age cut off for the reserves before your 43rd birthday? I turned 42 Sept of this year and I ... A: Age waivers for Army enlistments aren't possible for non-prior service. Thats because the Army's ... | |
| mip and the marines | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: ok so i got arrested for posetion of weed at 17, nothing is official, i havent gone to court or ... A: You don't have an "MIP." "MIP" means "minor in possession." That's for people in posession of ... | |
| Navy. BUMED Approved Waiver. | 11/5/2009 |
| Q: BUMED has approved my waiver. My recruiter says now I have to be seen by one of the Navy doctors to ... A: No. The general time-frame for a Navy doctor to examine you at a Navy installation would be one day. ... | |
| Reserves | 11/5/2009 |
| Q: Is the age cut off for the reserves before your 43rd birthday? I turned 42 Sept of this year and I ... A: I assume you mean the ARMY Reserves (each of the branches have different standards for age). For ... | |
| Navy. BUMED Approved Waiver. | 11/5/2009 |
| Q: BUMED has approved my waiver. My recruiter says now I have to be seen by one of the Navy doctors to ... A: If you have to see a "NAVY" doctor, then it's probably not MEPS. The doctors at MEPS don't work for ... | |
| Flat feet in Navy | 11/4/2009 |
| Q: I'm 18 and a senior in high school, I'm extremely interested in the Navy but i have really flat ... A: See: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/extremities2.htm. Pes planus (flat feet) ... | |
| WHY GED IS NO LONGER ACCEPTED TO JOIN THE ARMY? | 11/4/2009 |
| Q: 1)what are some of the main reasons that a person can not be accepted into the military, are there ... A: There are several reasons one can be denied to join any branch of the US Military, including (1) ... | |
| Navy re-4 | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: I have a RE-4 and it was because of flat feet. but i went into the office jus because i had hurt my ... A: That's completely up to the board of corrections. I can't even hazard a guess, because the ... | |
| sleepwalking and OTS | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: I am currently AD Air Force, and was diagnosed with sleepwalking a while back. It disqualified me ... A: It will require a medical waiver. Whether or not the waiver will be approved is anyone's guess. For ... | |
| ACL Reconstruction and Meniscus repair | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: Powers, I underwent arthroscopic knee surgery to repair a torn ACL and a cracked meniscus ... A: It's basically up to the examining doctor at MEPS, who will be required to decide whether or not ... | |
| re-entry code | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: I have a reentry code 1J from usaf. What does it mean? A: See: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/l/blcode4.htm. For more information about the ... | |
| switching branches of service. | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: I am currently in the Marine Corps. i have served 4 years 10 months of my 5 year contract, so ... A: You can't just "switch." In order for you to enlist in the Air Force, you would first have to ... | |
| activated reservist up for promotion | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: If you are activated and you come up for promotion are you competing against reservist or active ... A: You are under the Reserve promotion program. That's because, unlike active duty, Reserve promotion ... | |
| RE 2c Code | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: In 2004 I was separated from the Air Force with an entry level separation, RE 2c code. It was a JDA ... A: The Air Force is the only branch that almost never waivers an RE-2 code. All of the other services ... | |
| question about asthma and military | 11/1/2009 |
| Q: when I get older I want to be a marine but I was diagnosed with asthma at 12 but I know it was a ... A: Pierre, See http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/lungs.htm. If you haven't had any ... | |
| Pararescue-related Questions | 11/1/2009 |
| Q: My name is Jonathan von Nieda. For a little background on me I'm currently 18 years old and I'm a US ... A: There are no pararescue commissioned officers, but there are "Control and Recovery" officers in the ... | |
| RE 4 E discharge | 11/1/2009 |
| Q: My husband served 14 years in the Navy and would have liked to continue. Unfortunately, in 1994, it ... A: Your husband is mistaken. Leaving during a certain presidential administration has no bearing on VA ... | |
| Admin Seperation | 10/31/2009 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, I am active duty in the navy. I have been in for 10 years and 10 months. I have ... A: The majority of separations for weight or fitness are honorable discharges. The commander can ... | |
| Kidney stones at basic | 10/31/2009 |
| Q: my son is at basic military training with the air national guard. last night he was rushed to the ... A: It's possible, but probably not likely, unless there are complications. If a person experiences a ... | |
| College Credits | 10/30/2009 |
| Q: I noticed on several military sites that a $2,000 bonus is given for DEP recruits with 12 college ... A: The Army is the only branch that currently gives enlistment bonuses for college credits. To qualify, ... | |
| ASVAB Enlistment Bonus | 10/30/2009 |
| Q: I have seen on several military sites that DEP's received $100 per month for scores 93 and above on ... A: The Navy *used* to have such a program, but they discontinued it around two or three years ago. For ... | |
| Service branch transfer | 10/30/2009 |
| Q: Is it possible for someone to transfer into the Navy right after Marine OCS, or after TBS? A: It's "possible" for any commissioned officer to transfer from one branch to another, but such ... | |
| Re: Candidate Chaplaincy US Army | 10/30/2009 |
| Q: Rod Does the US Army Recruiting Office for Chaplain Candidates applicants give age waivers for ... A: Nope. Age waivers are generally granted onto for US Military Service. For more information about ... | |
| son-in-law's discharge from Army | 10/30/2009 |
| Q: My son in law was to be deployed along with his unit soon. He is in another state and is going ... A: The discharge process is rather complicated, and can take some time -- often two or three months. ... | |
| rotc | 10/30/2009 |
| Q: im joining the navy,i have a nuke contract already,ship date is 20100303,my question is im trying to ... A: You can't enlist, and be in the Navy ROTC at the same time. You have to chose one or the other. ... | |
| ELS - Mental | 10/29/2009 |
| Q: My son left for bootcamp in the first week of October and just called me to tell me that he's been ... A: You didn't say which military service (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Army ... | |
| hello | 10/29/2009 |
| Q: My eyesight with glasses is 20/70. Thanks for any information you get. A: There are no special vision requirements for Marine Corps Infantry, as long as you have normal color ... | |
| navy bonus/ paying back | 10/28/2009 |
| Q: I enlisted as an IT in the US Navy with the option of a bonus of $6000 (before taxes). I am curious ... A: I'm afraid not. If you had enlisted for four years, and then later signed a two year extension ... | |
| Advice for Fighting RE4 Code | 10/28/2009 |
| Q: Mr. Powers. Last year I was denied reenlistment into the Marine Corps despite serving over 15 ... A: There is ONLY one way to change an RE Code, and that's the DD Form 293 process. I know of no other ... | |
| hey | 10/28/2009 |
| Q: you just answered me. you said there are no special vision requirements for marine corps infantry. ... A: Assuming you have no problems with color vision, then the answer is yes. For more information about ... | |
| will testing positive for an STD possibly hinder career | 10/28/2009 |
| Q: Recently my fiance, a contracted civilian and member of the Airforce Reserves, and I found out that ... A: It's doubtful that an STD would affect his military career. Military medical records have "limited" ... | |
| vision requirements | 10/27/2009 |
| Q: I have terrible vision. I wear contacts with a -10.5 rating for each eye. However, this hasn't ... A: I don't know what the standards were 10 years ago. Today, the standards are that you must have that ... | |
| Injured while in DEP | 10/27/2009 |
| Q: My daughter is in the DEP program with the Navy and has been for 3 months now. Her ship date is not ... A: She needs to inform her recruiter about this, but it should be fine, as long as there are no ... | |
| felony waiver | 10/26/2009 |
| Q: I was convicted of agg. robbery in 1990 and received a 10 and 20 year sentence of which I have ... A: The chances are not very good at this time. Right now, probably due in large part to the poor ... | |
| vision | 10/26/2009 |
| Q: What kind of vision do you have to have to get into the Air Force. If you have bad eyes, can you get ... A: Vision standards are the same for ALL the military services. You can see the standards at: ... | |
| Son entering the Guard | 10/26/2009 |
| Q: My son will be transferring to Utah State this Dec. where he will be entering into their AROTC ... A: After graduation from college and ROTC, he'll be full-time while he goes through flight training. ... | |
| Going back in the military if I can? | 10/25/2009 |
| Q: I joined the army back in 1999 as a 71L got out 18 months later with a RE-3 for parenthood. I was 21 ... A: A "3" RE code means one can only re-enlist, if the service decides to grant a waiver. Right now, ... | |
| gear | 10/25/2009 |
| Q: Thanks A: Depending on the mission, pretty much everything in their inventory. See: ... | |
| marines? | 10/24/2009 |
| Q: my eyesight is 20/40 with glasses on.can i be infantry or should i get surgery. if not could i at ... A: There are no special vision requirements (other than color vision), for Marine Corps Infantry, other ... | |
| pregnant ex-girlfriend | 10/24/2009 |
| Q: my ex- girlfriend split up she is pregnant and due the same month i swear in to DEP i understand i ... A: This is covered by the Air Force Recruiting Regulation, AFRSI 36-2001 ... | |
| Medical Exam | 10/24/2009 |
| Q: I plan to attend an ROTC college and serve at least a 4 year active duty with the Army. I would like ... A: You may wish to re-read my article about medical waivers at: ... | |
| ''COMPANY SWAP'' | 10/23/2009 |
| Q: Good evening sir, I emailed you almost a year and a half ago prior to enlisting and you helped me ... A: I assume you mean another company which is located on the same base you are stationed at? This ... | |
| PCS Europe | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: Is there any way to volunteer to link up with a unit in Europe that could possibly deploy in the ... A: You would have to qualify for a Euopean PCS, then apply for Europe, and get selected. You can ... | |
| Medical Exam | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: I plan to attend an ROTC college and serve at least a 4 year active duty with the Army. I would like ... A: I'm afraid your medical condition is probably disqualifying. See: ... | |
| Enlisting vs O.C.S. in the Navy | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: Please bear with me as I explain my situation. I am in the process of applying to Navy O.C.S.(as ... A: OCS is very competitive, whether you are applying as a civilian with a degree, or an enlisted member ... | |
| Adding a dependent | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I have been taking care of my little brother for a year now. We are supporting him ... A: If he was under the age of 18, it would be simple. All you would need is a court order making you or ... | |
| Becoming an Army Officer | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: Powers: I would like to become an Army officer and I apparently qualify on all issues that have ... A: Bad credit doesn't *neccessarily" mean denial of a security clearance. Lot's depends on the reason ... | |
| switching branches | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: since active duty in the marines is full and i don't want to go to the reserves or wait longer than ... A: You would be eligible to apply for Marine Corps enlistment, after discharge from active duty army. ... | |
| disqualified from air program | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: I will graduate from college next December and have fulfilled the testing requirements to become a ... A: Afraid not. There are no appeals to medical waiver disapprovals. Your only option is to try another ... | |
| MSO start date | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: When does the Military Service Obligation (MSO) begin? Does it start on my Basic Active Service ... A: The MSO is the amount of active duty service you owe, so it starts on your Basic Active Service ... | |
| Top Secret Clearence | 10/18/2009 |
| Q: First off thank you in advance for any insight you might be able to provide me. I'm turning 18 in ... A: TS background investigations usually only go back for 10 years or to the age of 18. However, if ... | |
| PCS | 10/17/2009 |
| Q: I am currently deployed at the moment. I got orders to PCS when I return home. I will have 1 year ... A: I think you're "stuck." Even though the Army has been moving to convert Korea assignments to "long ... | |
| Prior enlisted looking to rejoin Navy | 10/17/2009 |
| Q: I was in the Navy from 09/2003 to 09/2008 and am looking to rejoin. It has been a little over a ... A: As long as you have an honorable discharge and an RE-Code (Re-enlistment eligibility code) of "1" on ... | |
| Joining The Navy | 10/16/2009 |
| Q: I want to join the navy but i have only a G.E.D and no college credits is there a way to just with ... A: See my article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/enleducation.htm. The ... | |
| Discharge Code | 10/16/2009 |
| Q: I was discharged for "Homosexual Admission" but I'm not gay and it, well, the discharge has a long ... A: There is only one way to change your discharge reason, and separation code, and that is to request a ... | |
| meps | 10/16/2009 |
| Q: i processed almost two years ago and i got a 3 on the hearing got three different consults and went ... A: dontneedtoknow, That's up to the CMO (Chief Medical Officer) of the MEPS that service's your ... | |
| Shoulder Instability Surgery | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: Hey Rod, I've read many of your articles on military.about.com. Thank you for the candid and ... A: Sorry about the wrong link. Someone right before you had asked a question about joining with a ... | |
| TDRL | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: I was discharged from the Marines with an RE3P re-entry code from bootcamp. I was wondering if I was ... A: Okay, the subject line of your question (TDRL) confused me. People on the TDRL have not been ... | |
| becoming an officer as a navy SEAL. | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: here's my question - what is the normal route for a navy SEAL to become an officer after some years ... A: You can't attend a service academy, or even ROTC if you already have a degree. These programs are ... | |
| Military-to-Military Marriage | 10/14/2009 |
| Q: My boyfriend and I are both Active Duty in the Navy. We plan on getting married in the future and I ... A: You may wish to read my articles about military couples at: ... | |
| Foreclosures | 10/14/2009 |
| Q: I wondered how realistic would it be for me to join the Air Force as an Officer if I have ... A: You cannot join the military (either enlisted or as an officer) if you have items "in collection." ... | |
| Shoulder Instability Surgery | 10/14/2009 |
| Q: Hey Rod, I've read many of your articles on military.about.com. Thank you for the candid and ... A: I wish I could help, but I can't. First of all, either condition is probably medically disqualifying ... | |
| Army re enlistment | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: I am 28 years old and I received an honorable discharge from the Army in 2006 after 4 years of ... A: An RE-Code of "3" generally means the individual is allowed to re-enlist, but only if a waiver is ... | |
| Becoming a Psychiatrist in the Army | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: I currently participate in ROTC and I would like to know how I can become a Psychiatrist in the ... A: To become a psychiatrist in any of the branches, you first need a medical degree (graduate from ... | |
| TDRL | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: I was discharged from the Marines with an RE3P re-entry code from bootcamp. I was wondering if I was ... A: I'm confused. Were you discharged from the Marine Corps, or were you transfered to the TDRL ... | |
| Joining the USAF with 1 year left in college | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: I am 24 yrs old, and have an associates degree inelectrical eng. tech. and am 1 yr from my BSE eng. ... A: I'm afraid not. All of the services (except the Army) require a minimum of a bachelor degree for ... | |
| Real Website | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: Is this a real website for civilian jobs in the military: https://chart.donhr.navy.mil/index.asp ... A: Yes, it's real. Domains that end in ".gov" (such as whitehouse.gov), are official US government ... | |
| Will losing weight help me do more push-ups? | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: Forgive me If I am asking the wrong expert. I am joining the Air Force and will be leaving for BMT ... A: The Air Force likes males to be able to do at least 34 pushups (21 for females) upon arrival. See: ... | |
| Navy Reserves OCS | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: Is there a difference in OCS for reserves as compared to active duty in the navy. I know OCS ... A: There is no difference between Reserves OCS and active duty OCS. In fact active duty and Reserve ... | |
| Fitness requirements for OTS | 10/11/2009 |
| Q: I wanted to thank you for taking the time to answer my question. This provides such a great platform ... A: The best time to take the AFOQT is in conjunction with your application for OTS. You are not ... | |
| I have a felony and want to join marines | 10/11/2009 |
| Q: Rod, There is nothing more then to be a marine. I have a felony a few years ago and know I can prove ... A: Was the felony as an adult, or (if juvenile), did it involve violence or a sexual crime? If any of ... | |
| Aviation and depression | 10/10/2009 |
| Q: My daughter is in the Naval ROTC program. Her goal is to fly for the Navy. Over the last few months ... A: A history of "major depression" is a disqualifying condition for military service. Any history of a ... | |
| USAF Weight | 10/10/2009 |
| Q: Sir, Your info on multiple military websites has been a huge help to me! I am currently in a ... A: To the military, weight is not "ridicules." It is not only used as one measure of physical fitness, ... | |
| Navy/Army Deplyments | 10/10/2009 |
| Q: I realize some deployment lengths vary depending on careers and ships schedules and such, but in ... A: You may wish to read my article, comparing the military services at: ... | |
| discharge | 10/9/2009 |
| Q: I'm in the Coast Guard and I've just graduated boot camp 2 weeks ago and during the last week I ... A: The Coast Guard's first priority will be to try and diagnose the problem, and determine whether or ... | |
| My dad's AR615-360 | 10/9/2009 |
| Q: Rod, My dad died at 93 years of age about 5 years ago. During his life he occasionally told us a ... A: During the WW II period, Army Regulation 615-360 was the authority for discharge for Soldiers who ... | |
| Officer Transfer | 10/9/2009 |
| Q: I just read your post about enlisted members trying to transfer between branches of the military. I ... A: It's not possible for an enlisted member to transfer from one active duty service to another (except ... | |
| Epts Discharge | 10/9/2009 |
| Q: recently i got a call from my wife telling me she was being discharged for an epts during basic for ... A: When the decision is made to discharge someone from basic training, they are removed from the active ... | |
| Joining the Marines after a DUI | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: My husband has had a rocky past, and recently got a DUI (only trouble he has ever had with the law ... A: Nobody can say. he will need a waiver (see: ... | |
| can I get in the army as a tier 2 applicant? | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: my name is Andrew and I recently began the MEPS process to join the army. I am a GED applicant,but I ... A: Anyone with a GED is a "Tier II." That's true whether one "passes" the AIMS test, or not. To qualify ... | |
| Will loss of kidney due to cancer cause daughter to be discharged? | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: My daughter is active duty army. She recently had a kidney removed due to cancer. She just had her ... A: You may wish to see my article at: ... | |
| moral waiver questions | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: First, thanks for doing this! It's a great help to so many people. First question-- my husband ... A: He will require a "moral" waiver. For details about the waiver process, see my article at: ... | |
| Hypo/Hyperthyroidism waiver | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: I had hyperthyroidism about 5 years ago and as soon as i was put on meds i was in remission. I have ... A: It's going to require a waiver. The Military doesn't really put much stock in what civilian doctors ... | |
| Re-enlisting into the marine corps | 10/7/2009 |
| Q: We are 6 mos away from our EAS date. The process should be easy but it is not. He was currently put ... A: I'm afraid it's pretty much up to his current commanding officer as to whether or not he will be ... | |
| Learning Disabilities | 10/6/2009 |
| Q: My son was diagnosed with ADHD & dyslexia 6 years ago. He has struggled in school, but maintained a ... A: Under the current ADHD policy, it shouldn't be a problem. For details, see: ... | |
| questions about ged/il ng | 10/6/2009 |
| Q: Rod, Hopefully this isn't too long. I know of a person who received his parents signature when he ... A: He's going to (at least) have to get his GED, or face a possible involuntary discharge. When he was ... | |
| Marine Corp Officer Pay Grade. | 10/6/2009 |
| Q: I am interested in pursuing a career in the Marine Corp. It is something that has been calling me ... A: When you graduate from OCS, you are commissioned as an O-1, and you receive O-1 pay. At the time of ... | |
| switching from Army reserves to Active duty Navy | 10/6/2009 |
| Q: I am currently a 31E in the Army reserves. I finished BCT and AIT in August 09 and have currently ... A: Military members can request to transfer from any reserve componant to any active duty componant, ... | |
| probation and fines | 10/4/2009 |
| Q: I am very eager to enlist in the service, the Marines more than anything, But about 2 years ago I ... A: You cannot enlist in any branch of the US Military while you are on supervised probation. You will ... | |
| Enlisting after seperation | 10/4/2009 |
| Q: Sir, I am currently an active duty Marine with just over 12 years of service. I am going to be ... A: In most cases, enlisted members cannot simply transfer from one active duty service to another. ... | |
| Air force academy | 10/3/2009 |
| Q: When you join the academy,is it true that they choose the job you will have when you graduate A: Yes, it's true. You get to list your preferences, but the ultimate selection depends on the "needs ... | |
| marines? | 10/3/2009 |
| Q: can i join the marines with 20/40 eyesight with glasses? A: Do you mean that you have 20/40 vision while wearing glasses, or do you have 20/40 vision that ... | |
| WOFT program | 10/2/2009 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, I was wondering if you could clarify a current rumor I have been hearing. I am ... A: I don't think it's possible to do the WOFT Program under the Blue to Green Program. However, you ... | |
| Fighting misdiagnosis of BiPolar | 10/2/2009 |
| Q: In Feb. 08 I was misdiagnosed being bipolar by a doctor on Ft. Bragg. I went to MEPS and instead of ... A: At this point, it's up to MEPS. Okay, here's how it works. The first step in the process is that ... | |
| Enlisting in the Navy. What is BUMEN | 10/2/2009 |
| Q: I don't know if I'm spelling it correctly or not. Is it BUMEN or BLUMEN? My recruiter says if my ... A: It's BUMED, and it stands for Navy Bureau of Medicine. They are in charge of all medical matters for ... | |
| Army bonuses | 10/2/2009 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, I was wondering if you could clarify a current rumor I have been hearing. I am ... A: That's a new one on me. There's no such thing as a "repairing credit" bonus (in any of the ... | |
| Fighting misdiagnosis of BiPolar | 10/1/2009 |
| Q: In Feb. 08 I was misdiagnosed being bipolar by a doctor on Ft. Bragg. I went to MEPS and instead of ... A: Only the CMO (Chief Medical Officer) at MEPS can approve a med-read or consult. Going to a different ... | |
| Discharge from the IRR | 10/1/2009 |
| Q: I am an officer separating from the Army after 14 years of service. Looking at my DD-214 is has ... A: The personnel office is correct (almost). The fact is, you were never *in* the IRR. You were in the ... | |
| navy | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: I would like to re-enter the navy reserves.I'm prior service,and I'm in my forties and healthy,and ... A: You may wish to see my article about prior service enlistments at: ... | |
| Waiver Question (depression) | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: I am currently putting an OCS package together for the Marine Corps and the Army. I'm a senior in ... A: The marijuana experimentation won't be a problem. Usually, a waiver isn't required unless an ... | |
| military/depression | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: ok here we go. First off I've always loved the military, and have always wanted to join...well I ... A: Please keep in mind, when reading my response, that I am not criticizing you, but only trying to ... | |
| Army Flight Medic | 9/27/2009 |
| Q: Is there a color vision requuirement to become an Army Flight Medic? A: I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "Army Flight Medic?" The Army doesn't have an MOS for "Flight ... | |
| Navy Nurse? | 9/27/2009 |
| Q: I am currently looking into a career with the Navy. I am 30 years old male and currently attending ... A: To become a commissioned officer nurse in any of the military services, you need a BSN. You cannot ... | |
| Army Contract Concerns | 9/26/2009 |
| Q: I signed a contract for the army, but while waiting to ship out for basic training i got a dui and i ... A: If this is the active duty Army you're talking about, that means you're currently in the DEP ... | |
| ASAVB test | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: My boyfriend has taken the practice test and since he did poorly he was told to study the ASAVB for ... A: The ASVAB AFQT score is comprised from four of the nine ASVAB subtests: Paragraph Comprehension, ... | |
| Credit | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: Powers, I am a female that is 28 years old and would like to consider a career in the USCG. I have ... A: The Air Force and the Coast Guard are the only services that do a credit check of pretty much ... | |
| Joining Army Reserves | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: I am interested in joining the ARMY reserves but was wondering if a conviction of harassment would ... A: It will likely require a waiver. You may wish to read my article at: ... | |
| SON WANTS TO JOIN MILITARY BUT HAS CONVICITION FOR POSSESION OF MARIJUANA | 9/23/2009 |
| Q: WILL MY SON BE ABLE TO JOIN THE ARMY OR ANY BRANCH OF THE SERVICE WITH THIS TYPE OF CONVICTION ... A: It will require a waiver (see my article at: ... | |
| MOS Change | 9/23/2009 |
| Q: I'm currently a 21 Bravo and I wanted to change my MoS to 68Q Pharmacy Assistant, but I have 2 field ... A: The chances are not good that the re-training will be approved. Any history of illegal drug use is ... | |
| Plastic surgery | 9/23/2009 |
| Q: I was told that if I had cosmetic surgery (rhinoplasty) this fall then I will need to wait 2 years ... A: There is a minimum waiting time following any type of surgery before one can be medically considered ... | |
| Possesion charge in the military | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: Would you have any idea on how long these bans on marijuana misdemeanor waivers usually last? I got ... A: It depends. First of all, the Air Force and Coast Guard almost never waives a prior drug offense. ... | |
| RE Code 3 | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: Hey my name is Siera and in 2003 i signed up to go to the army national guard in march but by April ... A: When you enlist in the National Guard, it's not the same as enlisting on active duty. When you ... | |
| Getting back in the army | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: Can I get back in the Army with a reentry code 3 and a speration code JKN A: An RE-3 code generally means you are eligible for reenlistment, with a waiver. Usually, to have a ... | |
| Marine Rectruitment | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: When i was 15 I got a burglary charge, since I was a juvenile all I got was 25 hrs community ... A: H Earl, A burlary charge requires a waiver (see ... | |
| Recuitment/Positive Drug Test | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: Three years ago my son was charged with a misdemeanor drug charge which he completed the diversion ... A: The Army, Navy, and Marine Corps recruiting regulations, allow one to re-test and enlist after 45 ... | |
| Reenlistment codes | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: Is there any real difference between the RE-R1 and the RE-1 in the Navy? Thanks. A: Not really. Any RE Code with a "1" in it, generally means the person can re-enlist, without a ... | |
| USAF | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: Good day Sir. I am going into the AF Active Duty with a Guaranteed Job Contract. The job that I had ... A: I'm not exactly sure what you mean? The Air Force doesn't have "Airborne Crew Chiefs." Crew chiefs ... | |
| special forces security clearance | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, I am currently going through the enlistment process with the navy for special ... A: No, it's not true (see my article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/generalinfo/a/security.htm), ... | |
| Coast Guard background check | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: I plead guilty to a misdemeanor assault and battery charge 3 years ago and was curious if this would ... A: You would require a criminal history waiver (see: ... | |
| Navy question | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: I mentor a 16 year old boy who has been in quite a bit of trouble growing up. His dad is in and out ... A: To be blunt, not good. First of all, his behavior problems will require a waiver (see: ... | |
| OCS and Expungments | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: Powers, Been reading your write-ups for a long time and thank you for your dedication to all of ... A: In the military, there's no such thing as an "expunged" record. You will likely require a "moral ... | |
| Army Aviator Wings on Air Force Uniform | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: I am a former Army Aviator. I have flown for just over 8 years for the Army, and I just recently ... A: See AFI 36-2903, Table 5-2 (Page 138). (see: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/afreg/p/afi362903.htm) ... | |
| Heart murmur question | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: Iv been interested in join the navy and trying my chances of being a seal. I have not gone down to ... A: I'm afraid it will probably still be disqualifying. Most heart conditions are disqualifying, both if ... | |
| Re-entry to the Army | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: I resigned my commission in the Air Force through the force shaping program in Aug 07, taking the ... A: It's possible, but depends, in large part, on how bad the Army needs commissioned officers in your ... | |
| reenlistment | 9/19/2009 |
| Q: June 25, 2002 I was discharged from the USAF with a Gen. under Honorable Conditions, JKK, RE-2B. I'm ... A: Not good. Waivers are generally favorably considered when a military branch is having problems ... | |
| Question about augmenting while in Navy, | 9/19/2009 |
| Q: my name is Ian Kowalczyk. I am 18 Years, old, and leaving for boot camp, in 16 days. I originally ... A: I'm not entirely sure what you mean? I've never heard of "aumenting" to an Army combat unit from the ... | |
| Medical Pre-Screen | 9/19/2009 |
| Q: Is it unusual to take over two months to get a decision from MEPS to continue processing or not once ... A: It is unusual. It generally shouldn't take longer than 2 or 3 weeks for the CMO (Chief Medical ... | |
| Navy and Tattoos | 9/19/2009 |
| Q: I want to join the Navy. I am prior service active duty Army, and I have more than 25% of both arms ... A: In all of the military services, the chances of waiver consideration depends on how bad that ... | |
| reenlist | 9/19/2009 |
| Q: I am prior navy, i serve six years got out in 2006, just recieved my associates in radiography,and i ... A: It's impossible to say. See my article at: ... | |
| Air Force Nurse Recruitment | 9/18/2009 |
| Q: Does the Air Force have an age waiver for nurses (or nursing students) who want to join the Air ... A: Nurses are in great need by all of the military branches. The age limit for Nurse accessions for ... | |
| Coast Guard | 9/18/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if you can join the Coast Guard at 17 do you have to be a senior in high school or ... A: You can enlist in any branch of the military (including the Coast Guard) at the age of 17, as long ... | |
| combat ratios | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: What is the ratio of support troops to combat infantry currently in the army and marine corps? ... A: In wars that the U.S. have been involved in since the end of World War II; the ratio of U.S. combat ... | |
| Joining with bad credit | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to get into the Air Force, however, have bad credit. I still have an outstanding of ... A: As I understand it, you're trying to joing the ACTIVE DUTY Air Force, and your husband is currently ... | |
| Air Force drug use policy | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: My brother has been in the USMC for 10 years and is currently a reservist. He wants to join the Air ... A: He needs to tell the Air Force the truth, especially as this is listed in his medical records. The ... | |
| Cross Contracting | 9/16/2009 |
| Q: My question is how difficult is it for a Naval Academy graduate to cross contract over to the Army? ... A: If the person has already graduated and been commissioned into the Navy, it's nearly impossible. If ... | |
| ADHD/ROTC SCHOLARSHIPS | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: My 17 yr old son was diagnosed at 5 years of age and was placed on medicine for ADHD...he was ... A: I don't think there will be a problem, as long as he has been off the medication for at least a ... | |
| appealing discharge | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: its great that you guys offer this service at not cost to the public, Now I will cut to the chase. I ... A: All "Other than Honorable" discharges carry an RE-4 code. The only way to change this would be to ... | |
| Warrent Officer Program (Helicopter Pilot) | 9/13/2009 |
| Q: I'm a senior in high school, and both of my brothers are in the military. As a little brother, I am ... A: Usually, candidates enlist in the Delayed Enlistment Program (see: ... | |
| Air Force and Food Intolerances | 9/13/2009 |
| Q: My daughter is 17 and is interested in the Air Force. However she has developed Fructose ... A: This particular condition is not specifically listed as a DOD medical disqualifying condition (see: ... | |
| Prior Service Army wanting to enlist in AD Air Force | 9/13/2009 |
| Q: I was in the Army for 4.5 years as a 91B (now 91W), or Combat Medic/Medical Specialist. I am working ... A: There *used* to be an MOS conversion chart included in the Air Force recruiting regulation, but the ... | |
| Marine Waiver | 9/13/2009 |
| Q: My son has a dismissed juvenile felony for possession of a contorlled substane. He spent 30 days in ... A: Okay, I think I understand the situation now. The recruiter is hoping to process the waiver for the ... | |
| Third Class Swim Test | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: Where can I find a video of the Navy basic training video and them giving a swimming test. I want to ... A: To the very best of my knowledge, there isn't any video of Navy basic training and/or the 3rd class ... | |
| reenlistment | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: 1. i was discharged from the army with a RE.3, how long do i have to wait before i can rejoin? 2. ... A: I'm afraid I don't have enough information to adequately answer your question. It depends, not only ... | |
| Air Force Advice | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: I really just want your advice in regards to my current situation in life. I'm turning 21 in late ... A: When it comes down to it, everyone has to make these types of decision on their own. When you have ... | |
| Airforce | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: Iv really been thinking about the airforce. Its ether this or state police and the outlook ain't to ... A: J. The divorce rate in the US Military is about the same as it is for civilians -- around 50 ... | |
| reentry | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: Powers, My name is Joe. I had an entry level seperation from the Navy in 2008 with an RE code of 4, ... A: At a very, very minimum, you would need a diagnosis from the psychologist or psychiatrist that ... | |
| Changing branches. | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: I tried to join the Navy, went to MEPS and got sent home because i was missing a medical file. While ... A: It depends entirely on whether or not the Navy is feeling cooperative at the time. They are ... | |
| Marine Waiver | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: My son has a dismissed juvenile felony for possession of a contorlled substane. He spent 30 days in ... A: Here's the problem: The recruiter only has access to the National Agency Check (NAC), and the local ... | |
| Changing from the Army to the Marines | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: I am writing on behalf of my husband. He is currently in active duty Army. He originally wanted to ... A: I'm afraid he can't just "switch over" from one active duty service to another. He will first have ... | |
| 20/850 | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: Ever since I was little I have always wanted to be an Air Force Fighter Pilot, hands down, but my ... A: All military flying positions have vision requirements, and the vision standards for pilot are the ... | |
| After high school, air force? | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: I'm a 17 year old female, graduating High School in may 2010 and was hoping to get into the air ... A: If you have the financial means to go to college, my answer is always the same for these types of ... | |
| DUI while in DEP | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: Hellp, First off I would like to thank you for taking the time to answer this question. I ... A: A deferred sentence is still what the military calls an "adverse adjudication." A DUI is a ... | |
| Juvenile record | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: I would like to join the coast guard or air force but during my teen years I was involved in a ... A: To be truthful, probably not. In addition to being a military service, the Coast Guard is also a ... | |
| Re-entry to Army after TDRL | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: My Husband is currently on TDRL. He was put on TDRL with a 40% percentage a year ago. He is supposed ... A: When he is re-evaluated, one of three things can happen: (1) He can be returned to active duty (2) ... | |
| reentry | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: Powers, My name is Joe. I had an entry level seperation from the Navy in 2008 with an RE code of 4, ... A: I'm afraid the Navy (including the Navy reserves) is not going to accept you with an RE-4 code which ... | |
| Army recruiting | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: Ok I've always wanted to join the military and planned to when I turned 18 because I was a lost and ... A: Whether or not a service will consider a criminal history waiver depends in large part on two ... | |
| No Jobs after ETS? (or Cold Feet after DEC statement...) | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: Powers, I'm an E-5, (Army), with a little over 5 years of experience as a 15N Avionics Mechanic. ... A: I won't lie to you: The civilian job market sucks right now. The unemployment rate for recent ... | |
| Army ROTC | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: I am currently interested in the Army ROTC program and want to become a CRNA through the army. My ... A: I'm afraid that you have to be a US Citizen in order to apply for, and receive an ROTC scholarship. ... | |
| enlisting and ADHD | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: In fourth grade, I was diagnosed with ADD and prescribed Ritalin (at my mom's request). I stayed on ... A: Your diagnosis in elementary school probably won't be a factor (see: ... | |
| Need help | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: Am 19 years old ,pursuing diploma in aeronautical engineering.Will complete this two years. I want ... A: Your message header says you are in India. Are you a US Citizen? If not, I'm afraid that, in order ... | |
| days in bootcamp | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: My son is in Great Lakes, and was a week from graduation when he found out he had a stress fracture ... A: It doesn't have anything to do with benefits. It's just that it's much easier to process an ... | |
| joining the military | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: Can I join the military if my husband is active duty and I have a child? A: You won't be able to join the active duty branches. Having a spouse in the military, and a minor ... | |
| Honorable Discharge | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: Hey sir, I've been in the army for 3 and a half years. I was going to re-enlist but got into some ... A: It depends on the state you live in after your discharge. Some states consider a military discharge ... | |
| Air National Guard | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: I want to know if I was turned down by the Air Force Reserve b/c of a small stress fracture will I ... A: If you are "turned down," due to a medical reason, that means you don't meet the Department of ... | |
| Navy doctors | 9/2/2009 |
| Q: What rank does a physician start off at in the Navy? A: It dependends on their medical experience. I've seen doctors, straight out of medical school ... | |
| parent in law as military dependants/USMC order? | 9/1/2009 |
| Q: My dad has terminal stage 4 lung cancer. My husband is a Gunny in the USMC. They are about to lose ... A: Parents and parent-in-laws can be made military dependents. In order to do so, your husband will ... | |
| hepatitis b carrier | 9/1/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering...I've got hepatitis B from my mother when i was born...and unfortunately i became ... A: I wish I could help, but hepatitis B and C carriers are not eligible for enlistment, and this is one ... | |
| Family Tradition Waiver | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: Because of the history of service in my family, I was told about something called a "Family ... A: Nobody's heard of it because it doesn't exist. For more information about the United States ... | |
| dui/special forces | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: I am 25 and got a dui when I was 23. I want to join the sf for the army and only sf! I am not a desk ... A: A DUI isn't necessarily a disqualifier for the 18x (special forces) program, but it is a ... | |
| Airforce | 1/25/2008 |
| Q: I just turned 30 and I am interested to be in the Airforce I am currently attending a community ... A: The maximum age for a non-prior service enlistment in the active duty Air Force is age 27. The ... | |
| crossing over from navy to coastguard | 1/24/2008 |
| Q: I have been in for bout 9 years and I am a E-6, I t to know is it possible for me to convert from ... A: Okay, first of all, you can't "convert" from the Navy to the Coast Guard. You would first have to ... | |
| What Army medals,decorations,and badges are authorized to wear on the marine corps uniform? | 1/24/2008 |
| Q: I've served in the Army for 6 years and was wondering which decorations, badges and other medals are ... A: You know, a few years ago, I wrote an article, titled "Knowledge is Power" (see: ... | |
| contact | 1/23/2008 |
| Q: I joined the Army and went to Basic Training July 2007. While in Basic Training I had an asthma ... A: Your chances of re-entering any of the branches of the Military with an asthma attack are very, ... | |
| Medical issue's and enlisting? | 1/23/2008 |
| Q: I want to join the Army, but i am unaware if my medical condition will disqualify me. Ive looked ... A: These particular medical conditions aren't specifically mentioned in the list of medical conditions ... | |
| dishonorable discharge, marines | 1/23/2008 |
| Q: help, my boyfriend who is a marine decided he wanted out and is on his way to failing his drug ... A: If he is on active duty, and he fails a random urinalysis test, then the evidence of such can be ... | |
| Palace Chase? | 1/22/2008 |
| Q: I've heard the term palace chse a million times since I've been in the Air Force. I think it has ... A: "Palace Chase" is an Air Force program which allows an Air Force active duty member to be discharged ... | |
| getting an honorable discharge | 1/22/2008 |
| Q: in 2006 i enlisted in the army national guard as an ocs candidate. ( my mos is 09S). my recruiter ... A: I'm afraid you are correct. You were not eligible to enlist under the 09S program for OCS as a ... | |
| ANCOC required | 1/21/2008 |
| Q: I have 17 years in the active duty Army. I am an E7 and just made the E8 list. But....I have not ... A: Almost all Army enlisted promotions require a certain amount of time in grade before one can retire ... | |
| What do you recommend? | 12/30/2007 |
| Q: So I will be graduating from UT Austin with a BBA in Accounting and a BA in History. I have a year ... A: I get questions like this all the time. Unfortunately, the truth of the matter is that no one can ... | |
| Another GED question | 12/30/2007 |
| Q: I am however enrolled in a local community college to earn 15 credits. My question is on what date ... A: The Military doesn't ever make GED-holders Tier I. GED-holders are *always* Tier II. However, ... | |
| Pilot / Top Secret Clearance | 12/30/2007 |
| Q: I will be joining Air Force ROTC this spring. I was prior enlisted as an F-16 Crewchief. Previously ... A: You'll want to read my article about Security Clearances at: ... | |
| U.S Coast Guard | 12/29/2007 |
| Q: im a Junior in College and am considering joining the USCG..I was interested in The Blue 21 Program ... A: The Coast Guard's "Blue21" Program is very competitive, and has very specific qualification ... | |
| Army - Coast Guard | 12/28/2007 |
| Q: I am currently on my 3rd tour to Iraq. I have been in the Army for just over 5 years and will be ... A: You can't simply "transition" from one active duty service to another. In order to join the active ... | |
| Will they discharge me? | 12/28/2007 |
| Q: I am in week 13 (out of 16 weeks, 6 days) of Cav Scout training. A few weeks ago I started itching ... A: Hell, David, I don't know. You don't even know for sure what's wrong with you, yet. So, how can I ... | |
| What's the best way for me to become a Naval Aviator? | 12/28/2007 |
| Q: I'm currently a college student at a community college. I am in the second semester of my freshman ... A: You have two choices -- Either finish the degree on your own and apply for Navy OCS (Officer ... | |
| Adderall military | 12/28/2007 |
| Q: (Just adding to a Q&A) what if you were diagnosed with ADHD have been on medication but can function ... A: First of all, in order to be eligible for a waiver for ADHD, you must have been off the medication ... | |
| Many Questions | 12/28/2007 |
| Q: I have many questions to ask but I will not put them all on you at once. Here are just a few: 1) ... A: 1.) While in basic, can family visit? No. Not until your Coast Guard Basic Training Graduation ... | |
| where should i go? | 12/28/2007 |
| Q: Powers, I'm 17 years old, a senior in high school and wondering whether I should enter the ... A: Nobody -- not me, not your parents, not your friends, not a recruiter -- can tell you which Military ... | |
| Transplant Donation | 12/28/2007 |
| Q: Can a Navy enlisted man remain on active duty if he has donated a kidney to a sibling? Can He ... A: Having only one kidney is a disqualifying factor for someone wishing to join the U.S. Military. For ... | |
| DEP and Waivers | 12/28/2007 |
| Q: I'm 20 years old; recently I enlisted in the Navy and am in the Delayed Entry program, and am ... A: You need to be completely honest (see my article at: ... | |
| Navy Supply | 12/28/2007 |
| Q: Powers, I have recently completed an MBA program and have become interested in opportunities that ... A: In either branch, you would likely perform the same ratio of sea duty/shore duty. In both branches, ... | |
| which brach do you suggest | 12/27/2007 |
| Q: I'm a new 19 year old mother of one, and I'm currently looking into my military options. With my son ... A: You may wish to read my article, "U.S. Military 101" at: ... | |
| reentry code | 12/27/2007 |
| Q: i was discharged from the airforce in basic training for failure to donn the gas mask. they slapped ... A: Unfortunately, I have to agree with you. As you didn't even graduate from basic training, you're not ... | |
| enlistment with felony | 12/26/2007 |
| Q: In 1997 I was convicted for felony drug possession. I completed the community supervision and paid ... A: I'm afraid I have bad news for you. With a felony charge for drug possession, your chances of ... | |
| Military Police | 12/26/2007 |
| Q: First off thank you for answering my question before. My other question is pretty simple, how long ... A: Okay, first of all, the Army has changed their basic training length from 9 weeks to 10 weeks. (See: ... | |
| Rotary Pilot Transition | 12/26/2007 |
| Q: I am a CW2 in the army, and have been flying Apaches for 4 years now. I am slowly coming up on the ... A: If you were applying for a commission in the Air Force, Navy, or Marine Corps, then it would be ... | |
| dui..and going active duty | 12/26/2007 |
| Q: I have 2 questions here. My son is 18 and has been in the coast guard reserves for over 1 year. He ... A: It most certainly will affect his active duty application. In addition to being a "Military ... | |
| RE-4 codes for National Guard or Air National Guard | 12/25/2007 |
| Q: Does the same rule apply for the National Guard or Air National Guard on the RE-4 codes. (As to ... A: Yes the same rule applies, except that -- because the National Guard belongs to the individual ... | |
| Reenlistment to NG or Reserves | 12/25/2007 |
| Q: I am a 1st Lieutenant with a separation code of JFL and a NA for reentry code. can I serve again. ... A: <shrug> It's possible. It depends on the exact reason for separation (I suspect it's a medical ... | |
| Parental Dependancy | 12/25/2007 |
| Q: Rod, I will admit I am in dire straits, my mother is has Multiple sclerosis, its a ... A: First of all, you can ask your local Finance office (PSD) to contact DFAS and ask on the status, via ... | |
| spouse probation | 12/24/2007 |
| Q: i hope you can answer this for me. I'm currently in the navy dep program,i leave for boot camp in ... A: I'm afraid this is not really a "military" question. Whether or not he would be able to accompany ... | |
| force recon | 12/23/2007 |
| Q: how does a Marine officer become a Force Recon Marine? what are the requirements or qualifications? ... A: Currently, Recon units gain their officers from two sources: First is the Infantry (0302) officer ... | |
| OCS | 12/23/2007 |
| Q: What are the chances of an OCS graduate being commissioned as a Special Operations (SEAL) officer? ... A: The Navy is always needs qualified SEALS (both officer and enlisted), so if one qualifies and can ... | |
| hand to hand combat+ special operations | 12/23/2007 |
| Q: Do Navy SEALs, Special Forces, Force Recon recieve advanced hand to hand combat training compared to ... A: The answer to your two questions are "yes," and "yes." All Military Special Ops forces (including ... | |
| Bankruptcy Security Clearance | 12/22/2007 |
| Q: Two years ago I had a bankruptcy chapter 7 cleared, I had no late payments until the bankruptcy, it ... A: As long as you are completely honest on your security clearance application, there won't be a ... | |
| switching from guard to active army | 12/22/2007 |
| Q: I am a 24 year old E1 (Pvt.) currently on leave from OSUT at Ft. Benning for Christmas Exodus. My ... A: First of all, your boss has violated federal law by laying you off, or firing you because of your ... | |
| army to marines | 12/22/2007 |
| Q: I am currently an E-3 in the Army, my question is, can I transfer from active duty Army to active ... A: I'm afraid not. One cannot simply "transfer" from one active duty service to another, unless one is ... | |
| My Son Was Denied Entry Into The Army | 12/21/2007 |
| Q: I have a question. My son is 19 years old and went through the physical, ASVAB, drug test, etc. ... A: Generally, use of marijuana less than 20 times in a lifetime (except for the Marine Corps) is ... | |
| Navy Uniform | 12/21/2007 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, After 15+ years in the Air Force I now wear the Naval Officer's uniform. I cannot find ... A: I'm afraid the Navy Uniform Regulations do not allow the wear of your Air Force Aircrew Wings on the ... | |
| enlistment | 12/21/2007 |
| Q: I'm gonna graduate college with a BA in engineering. I want to enlist in the Army, but don't want to ... A: Your ROTC won't be a factor, because you will have a bachelors degree, which allows you to enlist at ... | |
| Re-enlistment Codes | 12/20/2007 |
| Q: Powers, I was in the Navy for 1 month and 3 days, I was another young and stupid kid who did not ... A: You've done all that you can do. The only way to change an RE Code is through the appropriate ... | |
| Many Questions | 12/20/2007 |
| Q: I have many questions to ask but I will not put them all on you at once. Here are just a few: 1) ... A: 1) What is A-School and does everyone have to go? A-School is the school that teaches you your ... | |
| RE-4 for reduction of force wanting back in the Army | 12/19/2007 |
| Q: I was discharged from the Army in 98' Honorable with an RE-4 reduction of force narrative. I have ... A: You have two options: (1) Re-enlist in the Army under the before-mentioned exception to policy, ... | |
| Military leave | 12/19/2007 |
| Q: Mr Powers Im wondering if you can help me on the subject of military leave. My son has been working ... A: Everyone in the Military, regardless of duty or job earns 30 days of leave per year (at the rate of ... | |
| Colocation | 12/19/2007 |
| Q: My fiancee and I are both in the Navy, both active duty, and plan on marrying over Christmas break. ... A: Heck, both you and your husband could both have been in the Navy for 10 years, and the detailers ... | |
| my son was disquified by Army Rotc | 12/18/2007 |
| Q: My son is 18 yo.He wants to be an Army Officier.The problem is his hx of asthma.Currently he is ... A: I wish I had better news for you...... There is no *right* to join any of the branches of the U.S. ... | |
| Enlisting in the Navy with a bachelors degree | 12/18/2007 |
| Q: Powers, I am a senior in college who will be graduating this spring with a ... A: Sure. Lots of folks join the Navy (and other branches), with a bachelor's degree, as an enlisted ... | |
| Age Limits and US Coast Guard Reserves | 12/18/2007 |
| Q: I was in search of answers on age limits and the Coast Guard when I found your answer to another ... A: The U.S. Coast Guard recently changed their enlistment age requirements, and I've now updated my ... | |
| Life Dream Demolished by Depression | 12/17/2007 |
| Q: I am a current Army hopeful and I would like to know my chances of successful enlistment. I am a ... A: I'm afraid you're right. Your history of two instances of depression are going to make it very hard ... | |
| Question | 12/17/2007 |
| Q: I am overweight. I have always wanted to join the marines. I was wondering if there was any pointers ... A: I'm afraid that just because someone is in the Military, or has Military experience does not make ... | |
| Joining the Air Force | 12/16/2007 |
| Q: I am considering joining the Air Force, and I want other opinions than my recruiters. I have ... A: First of all, the Air Force doesn't have "MOS's (Military Occupation Specialties). That term is used ... | |
| Confused On Requirments For NFO(WSO) in Marine Corps | 12/16/2007 |
| Q: Mr.Poweres, I've just DEPed into the Marines. I've submitted applications to my colleges and am ... A: Okay, "back-seaters" in Navy and Marine Corps figher aircraft are not referred to as "WSO'sA" (or ... | |
| Buddy recruiting basic training | 12/16/2007 |
| Q: (ARMY) Is there such a thing of like a buddy system, where two friends are recruited and go to the ... A: Both the Air Force and the Navy had "Buddy" enlistment programs. Under the Air Force program, ... | |
| Getting into the coastguard | 12/16/2007 |
| Q: My name is Emily and i really want to be in the armed forces. But i dont know if u can do that ... A: I'm sorry, but I'm afraid your chances of joining any branch of the U.S. Military as a diabetic, are ... | |
| Renogotiating my contract. | 12/15/2007 |
| Q: I recently went to MEPS and took my physical, chose my MOS and swore in. The MOS I chose isn't what ... A: I assume you're talking about he Army (although you didn't say what service you enlisted in?). If ... | |
| A few Questions (Marines) | 12/15/2007 |
| Q: I have a few question regarding the requirements for joining the Marines. I have recently just ... A: Medical conditions which are potentially disqualifying for military service can be found on my site ... | |
| switching from active duty to reserves | 12/15/2007 |
| Q: I have my regrets right now for going active duty. I want to finish my college education now and ... A: You can't simply "switch" from an active duty Navy contract to a Reserve Navy contract. It's more ... | |
| Army Promotion | 12/15/2007 |
| Q: I was in the Navy for 10 years and got out as a E-5. 6 months later i joined the Army a dropped rank ... A: You may wish to read my article, "Knowledge is Power" at: ... | |
| Can I join the air force? | 12/15/2007 |
| Q: Can I enlist into the air force and go to BMT in between my Junior and Senior year of high school ... A: I'm afraid you can't. The Army offers the "split" option program for those who join the Army ... | |
| NCOs and swords | 12/14/2007 |
| Q: I just saw a National Guard commercial that showed five or six NCOs with swords. I was under the ... A: The Marines is the only service that allows the "run of the mill" NCO to carry a sword in certain ... | |
| Age waiver | 12/13/2007 |
| Q: Is it possible to enlist in the Navy or Coast Guard at 35 yrs ? I have a B.A and an M.A degree. Also ... A: Yep. The maximum age for non-prior service *enlistment* for all the branches can be found in my ... | |
| Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program | 12/13/2007 |
| Q: I have a question regarding the Naval Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program. I am currently serving ... A: Exactly which Order and which clause did you read that indicated this? The latest message I could ... | |
| Medical Waivers | 12/13/2007 |
| Q: I planned on joing the armed forces when I turned 18 but 2 months prior I lost vision in my right ... A: I'm sorry, but loss of vision is one eye is a medical disqualification factor for all of the ... | |
| Re-class information | 12/13/2007 |
| Q: I have a few questions about re-classing. I've been in air defense now for about 4 months or so. And ... A: I'm afraid I've got bad news for you. The Army doesn't much care whether or not your enjoy your MOS, ... | |
| Discharge and Re-enlisting | 12/13/2007 |
| Q: I am currently in the Army National Guard RSP program and have been there for 1 year. I have yet to ... A: The Army National Guard will *usually* not consider a DD Form 368, until six months after one has ... | |
| Coast Guard OCS | 12/13/2007 |
| Q: I am 24 yeard old recent college graduate and have been interested in joining the Coast Guard for ... A: If you apply for Coast Guard OCS as a Coast Guard enlisted member, you are going to need your ... | |
| Age waiver | 12/12/2007 |
| Q: Is it possible to enlist in the Navy or Coast Guard at 35 yrs ? I have a B.A and an M.A degree. Also ... A: See my enlistment qualification article at: ... | |
| coast gaurd medical careers | 12/12/2007 |
| Q: I was wondering if you can be a surgeon as an officer in the US Coast Guard. Thank you. A: I'm afraid not. The U.S. Coast Guard doesn't have their own medical service. For their medical ... | |
| Prior Service/ dissability | 12/12/2007 |
| Q: I am 4 years prior service air force with no major medical problems but with the advice of the VA ... A: Okay, first of all, unless you are qualified in one of a very small handful of AFSCs that the Air ... | |
| Officer/Enlisted | 12/12/2007 |
| Q: I thought i had a plan, but now im re thinking it. I was looking into MOS', and future careers in ... A: Junior officers (O-1 through O-3.....2nd Lt through Capt) don't generally sit behind a desk, most ... | |
| Am I eligable to join the Navy | 12/11/2007 |
| Q: I have had 2 DUI's. The last one was 2 yrs ago. I would like to join the Navy. Would I be allowed ... A: See my article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/marinejoin/a/criminal.htm. As you can see, under ... | |
| migraines | 12/11/2007 |
| Q: I have a history of migraines that started when I was two and has continued until now (I am 18). I ... A: I'm afraid both conditions are disqualifying for military service (see: ... | |
| air force | 12/10/2007 |
| Q: Hey Rod, I have a couple questions that I hope you can answer. First, I have decided that the Air ... A: I'm afraid probably not, unless you've enrolled in a college program, and the college already ... | |
| Reenlistment | 12/10/2007 |
| Q: I was in Active Duty Air Force for a total of one year, to the day. I was medically discharged with ... A: I'm afraid I have bad news for you........ First off, the Air Force simply doesn't accept prior ... | |
| Medical dispensations | 12/10/2007 |
| Q: My son had his Thyroid removed and he takes daily medication now. Will this disqualify him from all ... A: MEPS physicals are valid and are held on file for two years. After that, it's possible he could ... | |
| trying to join with a declined waiver | 12/9/2007 |
| Q: About a month ago, I tried joining the Army National Guard. I was very interested in serving my ... A: Apparently your counselor informed MEPS that you were being treated for an "anxiety disorder." I'm ... | |
| U.S.A.F | 12/9/2007 |
| Q: Powers, I am writing to you in regard to the U.S.A.F. career field CRO or STO? I am planning on ... A: It's actually the 13DX, Control and Recovery Officer career field. These are the officers who lead ... | |
| Medical dispensations | 12/8/2007 |
| Q: My son had his Thyroid removed and he takes daily medication now. Will this disqualify him from all ... A: I'm afraid it most likely is disqualifying. For details, see: ... | |
| Medical Waiver | 12/7/2007 |
| Q: My son made it thru 6 (of 8) weeks of Navy boot camp last summer, but was discharged because of a ... A: I'm afraid the Army recruiter is pretty much correct. The "JFW" means "Failed Medical/Physical ... | |
| Navy's DEVGRU | 12/7/2007 |
| Q: i was wondering if you can help me with this, there is a lack of info on the subject. I know im ... A: I doubt there's anyone who can really give you any concrete answers about this. The "Naval Special ... | |
| re enlistment Question | 12/7/2007 |
| Q: If a person gets discharged for a one time use of marijuana from the air force and has never been in ... A: Of all the Military services (with the possibly exception of the Coast Guard), the Air Force turns ... | |
| Navy Seals & Pararescue? | 12/7/2007 |
| Q: Powers. I don't know if you can shed any light on the subject for me but someone suggested I message ... A: You received an age-waiver for *active duty* Air Force enlistment at the age of 32????? If so, I'm ... | |
| Sea Duty | 12/7/2007 |
| Q: Im a MA3 in the navy and i want to switch over from shore to sea duty. What do I need to do to make ... A: You need to contact your detailer, and let them know you are a volunteer for Sea Duty. It's pretty ... | |
| Code "SFK" | 12/7/2007 |
| Q: Could you please tell me what the "SFK" code is. I was recently placed on TDRL and had a ... A: The Code "SFK" simply means "Placed on Temporary Disabled Retirement List." (see: ... | |
| C-17 deployment | 12/7/2007 |
| Q: Rod, I have just received an appointment to the Air Force Academy. I want to be a pilot in the Air ... A: None. Under the Air Forces AEF (Aerospace Expeditionary Force) concept, all units rotate, in turn, ... | |
| Physical | 12/7/2007 |
| Q: I am really interested in Navy ROTC, but I have a medical condition in my left eye called a ... A: The standards for enlistment, induction, or commission (including ROTC) can be read on my site at: ... | |
| reenlistment | 12/6/2007 |
| Q: I received Entry Level Separation from the Marines for ELPAC and before my discharge I was told by a ... A: No way I can say. Primarily, it depends on the RE Code (Reenlistment Eligibility Code) that your ... | |
| leave | 12/6/2007 |
| Q: how soon after boot camp to seal challenge enlistees get to take their first leave A: The Marines and Coast Guard give 10 days of leave, immediately following graduation from basic ... | |
| Reducing a military contract | 12/6/2007 |
| Q: In the US Navy, I heard it is possible to reduce a 6 year contract to 4 years. If this is so, how ... A: To be truthful, I've not heard of any of the service branches being willing to change an initial ... | |
| 68W | 12/6/2007 |
| Q: My son was at MEPS today and unfortunately did not qualify to be an MP for the FL Army National ... A: You are most welcome. My best wishes to you and highest hopes for your son's enlistment! For more ... | |
| Eligibility requirements to be a Marine | 12/6/2007 |
| Q: Do you have to be a high school graduate to enlist in the Marines? Do you need a certain GPA or ... A: You may wish to see my "enlistment standards" article at: ... | |
| Navy Seals & Pararescue? | 12/6/2007 |
| Q: Powers. I don't know if you can shed any light on the subject for me but someone suggested I message ... A: Up until a year (or so) ago, in order to apply for SEAL, one would first have to be qualified (go to ... | |
| Another USAF Sword/Saber question | 12/6/2007 |
| Q: I will be attending OTS in the summer and my parents have offered to buy me a Saber for a graduation ... A: The Air Force Dress and Appearance Regulation contains absolutely not authority for Air Force ... | |
| enlistment in the marines | 12/5/2007 |
| Q: I'm 17 right now and ive always wanted to be a marine i recently got put on juvenile probation i was ... A: Lots depends on what the offense you were convicted of, and what your previous criminal history ... | |
| Weed in past = DQ? | 12/5/2007 |
| Q: Good morning, I would like to ask you something that is really bothering me about joining the coast ... A: The two active duty services which have the highest standards when it comes to previous illegal drug ... | |
| son's medical discharge from Army | 12/5/2007 |
| Q: My son has told us the Army is thinking of giving him a medical discharge. He has a stress fracture ... A: See my article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/a/medseparation.htm. Assuming the ... | |
| resignation vs retirement contract | 12/5/2007 |
| Q: My contract says I may not tender a resignation. I am well past 20 yrs active service. Is there a ... A: I'm not sure I understand? As you have more than 20 years of service, I'm guessing that you entered ... | |
| PEB Board Evaluation | 12/5/2007 |
| Q: i had some questions regarding the PEB board process that involves my husband. As of now my husband ... A: I'm afraid there's not a whole lot I can tell you, other than to point you in the direction of my ... | |
| Marine Corps Aviation Officer MOS's | 12/5/2007 |
| Q: I am a high school junior who plans on majoring in Aerospace Engineering in college, and I plan on ... A: For the Marine Corps, the college degree really doesn't make all that much difference when it comes ... | |
| Transfer... | 12/4/2007 |
| Q: Rod, my question is regarding my boyfriend. He is currently a memember of the Minnesota National ... A: I'm afraid I don't know of any "secrets" to make the process go faster. Your boyfriend is ... | |
| Lateral over | 12/4/2007 |
| Q: Rod I have a question for you. I really want to join the Coast Guard (I'm first term Airmen right ... A: I'm afraid you can't simply "switch" from one active duty branch to another. In order to join the ... | |
| Joining the Army | 12/4/2007 |
| Q: Sir, I've recently been working with a recruiter on joining the US Army. I'm meeting a little ... A: Trust me, the Army wants to get their hands on every qualified recruit they can. However, it's not ... | |
| 68W | 12/3/2007 |
| Q: My son was at MEPS today and unfortunately did not qualify to be an MP for the FL Army National ... A: Not without going through the Recruiter. The recruiter should have a listing of all Army National ... | |
| RE-4 toRE-3 or better | 12/3/2007 |
| Q: .. I was young and stupid and made a few errors in decisions. I was honorably discharged but given a ... A: In general, the "RE code" (Reenlistment Eligibility Code) is, upon administrative discharge, imposed ... | |
| Army to Marines | 12/3/2007 |
| Q: My name is James and I'm 18 years old I recently joined the Army and am scheduled to ship out for ... A: I'm afraid that one can't simply "switch" from one branch of service to another. In order to join ... | |
| SERE School | 12/3/2007 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, What are the differences between SERE Schools A, B, & C? How beneficial do you ... A: SERE Training Level A is taught to everyone in Air Force Basic Training. It's generally just ... | |
| AWOL | 12/3/2007 |
| Q: What are the conseqwnces of going Awol? One of my friends has desided to go awol and he wanted to ... A: The possible consequences are months or years in a Military prison, and -- even (possibly) the death ... | |
| color blindness--careers | 12/2/2007 |
| Q: First I would like to thank you for your service to our country and the service you provide by ... A: As far as I've been able to determine, there are not specific color vision standards for Air Force ... | |
| Re-enlistment | 12/2/2007 |
| Q: My name is Patrick and I wanted to know a couple things. I got out the United States Marine Corps ... A: It's possible, but it most certainly is not going to be easy, especially as you wish to join an ... | |
| Medical Discharge for a Mental Disorder | 12/1/2007 |
| Q: My fiance has recently returned to Iraq to continue his first tour. He called me today to inform me ... A: It's not possible to say for sure what is going to happen. A military member who experiences signs ... | |
| Re-entry Code | 12/1/2007 |
| Q: My question is about re-entry code, I was in the navy for about 4 and 1/2 years, got and honorable ... A: Um.....I'm not sure why you would want to change your RE-Code? An RE-Code of "1" is the best ... | |
| navy law enforcement | 11/30/2007 |
| Q: Is there a minimum height requirement for a career in law enforcement/security in the Navy? A: The Navy rating (job) for law enforcement/security is MA (Master at Arms) (see: ... | |
| RE Code | 11/30/2007 |
| Q: I was active for 2 years, my RE Code was a 3B. After about a year of being out I tried to go back ... A: I wish I had better news for you. In general, an RE Code of "1" means that one is eligible for ... | |
| Army reserves | 11/30/2007 |
| Q: I'm very interested in joining the Army reserves. I'm in good shape but my current age is 32 years ... A: It's most certainly not too old to joing the Army Reserves. If you decide to join as an enlisted ... | |
| Trying to reenlist! | 11/30/2007 |
| Q: I went to the army from Feb 04 to Aug 04 and i got out because i got depression. My separation code ... A: I've got to be honest here.... I don't think your chances of re-enlisting are very good. First and ... | |
| adderall, A.D.D, Navy | 11/30/2007 |
| Q: I was prescribed adderall when I was very young at the age of 12 and only took it for one year. Then ... A: Okay, it's possible you won't even need a waiver. For details, see my article at: ... | |
| Want to see a psychiatrist | 11/30/2007 |
| Q: Hey, I am currently thinking about seeing a psychiatrist about being OCD. I am in the Navy ... A: I would recommend going to see the psychiatrist. You don't have to tell the LPO that you are doing ... | |
| adhd meds and deployment | 11/30/2007 |
| Q: Im an Army reservist, diagnosed with ADHD and given adderrall to treat it by private physician. Does ... A: Your question is impossible to answer, because there is no "go/no go" listing of what conditions ... | |
| Chapter 11 Discharge | 11/29/2007 |
| Q: I attended Boot Camp in the Army and received a Chapter 11 discharge prior to the end of the ... A: You served on "active duty" during your initial entry training, and received active duty pay during ... | |
| prescription medications and MEPS disqualification | 11/29/2007 |
| Q: Sir, I am a veteran and have decided to try to join the Air National Guard. In the past year I was ... A: Any treatment for a mental health condition (especially if it involves prolonged therapy, ... | |
| West Point | 11/29/2007 |
| Q: If I go to West Point would i have to join the Army or could I join the Marines upon gradution? A: When one is a member of a specific Military Academy, they are obligated to accept a commission for ... | |
| Becoming MOS Qualified | 11/29/2007 |
| Q: I enlisted in the Army National Guard in November of 2006, after 4 1/2 years in the Reserves. My ... A: I'm afraid it's not a "breach of contract" under the regulations. You voluntarily asked to give up ... | |
| Kidney Stones! | 11/29/2007 |
| Q: I am 19 years old and I am extremely determined to join the Coast Guard. Back in 2005 I had passed a ... A: The "medical term" for kidney stones" is "Renal calculus." As you can see from my article on Medical ... | |
| Separation | 11/29/2007 |
| Q: I am in the Navy under the National Call to Service program, which seems simple enough to just serve ... A: The NCS program is not actually two years of active duty service. It's 15 months of active duty ... | |
| Joining the Marines | 11/29/2007 |
| Q: Well, I received some bad news from my recruiter today. I have been in the process of joining the ... A: In order for any "high school diploma" to be valid, the school that issued it must meet certain ... | |
| adderall, A.D.D, Navy | 11/29/2007 |
| Q: I was prescribed adderall when I was very young at the age of 12 and only took it for one year. Then ... A: You forgot the most important part. It's not so much the medication you were taken, but rather what ... | |
| Who sees most combat | 11/28/2007 |
| Q: I was wondering which branches see the most combat and who see the least combat. Also I was hoping ... A: I assume by "combat," you mean "ground combat," experienced by enlisted members, and not ... | |
| medical waivers | 11/28/2007 |
| Q: Sir: I am trying to enlist in the United States Army, I have done everything I have been instructed ... A: If MEPS Medically disqualifies you, it's up to the individual military service to decide (1) whether ... | |
| Coast Guard terminology | 11/28/2007 |
| Q: What do you call a Coast Guard member...a sailor? A: Well, "unofficially," members of the other branches refer to Coast Guard enlisted as "Coasties." ... | |
| Fiance | 11/28/2007 |
| Q: I was wondering about the BAH requirements for the U.S. Coast Guard. Is it necessary to be married ... A: I'm afraid that in order for a Military member (of any branch, including the Coast Guard) to receive ... | |
| legal age to join the military | 11/28/2007 |
| Q: what is the legal joining age for the navy or airforce. A: See my article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/enlstandards.htm. The article ... | |
| reserve deployment | 11/28/2007 |
| Q: I was considering joining the coast guard reserve to help with college I am 35 years old and I'm ... A: <sigh> I really don't want to sound "mean" here, but exactly why do you think the Coast Guard (or ... | |
| friend | 11/27/2007 |
| Q: my best friend went AWOL during basis training. I think he left within the first 4 weeks. He is ... A: It's impossible to say for sure. There is no "this will happen" list when it comes to Military ... | |
| bridging over to the Air Force | 11/26/2007 |
| Q: I am a Pfc in the Army. I have came to relized that the army is not my cup of tea. I wanted to know ... A: I'm afraid it's not possible to transfer (or "bridge over") from one active duty service to another, ... | |
| dui and enlisting in navy | 11/26/2007 |
| Q: i recently got a dui 2 month go. i really want to get in the military so will this be a prob? and is ... A: It's going to require a waiver to enlist (see: ... | |
| Bashful bladder | 11/26/2007 |
| Q: Ok, so im getting into the army. I went to meps once already.. i complete everything that day except ... A: They very well could. Chances are, they might give you a couple of more chances. But, it costs ... | |
| Navy Reserve Enlistment questions | 11/25/2007 |
| Q: Here is my current situation and I was hoping to find out chances of attaining SECRET clearance for ... A: See my article about Security Clearances at: ... | |
| Delay enlistment program | 11/25/2007 |
| Q: what are the limits to a DEP ID card? Could i enter the base on my own? Do i have privileges using ... A: I wish I could give a definitive answer, but -- in truth -- it's up to the policy(ies) of the ... | |
| Law Enforcement Opportunities in the Military. | 11/25/2007 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, Hello, My name is John Martinez and I am in desperate need of help. I am planning on ... A: There's not a whole lot of difference between being an MP in the Army or the Marine Corps. Both jobs ... | |
| Law Enforcement Opportunities in the Military. | 11/24/2007 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, Hello, My name is John Martinez and I am in desperate need of help. I am planning on ... A: Military Police (MPs) perform both law enforcement duties, and security duties. The bad news is, you ... | |
| National Guard compensation | 11/24/2007 |
| Q: My sons recruiter says he cannot find an available position as an MP for the FL National Guard in ... A: "Authorized for billeting" means he'll be given a free place to stay during his drill weekends. ... | |
| question | 11/23/2007 |
| Q: i went through my four years of my first enlistment and got an honorable discharge. i served in iraq ... A: Your *latest* discharge characterization is always the discharge that counts when it comes to most ... | |
| air force careers | 11/23/2007 |
| Q: I will be graduating from college in December with a bachelors degree in Criminal Justice with a ... A: The Navy is also downsizing (but not to the extent of the Air Force), and the Coast Guard is ... | |
| from the marines to the navy | 11/22/2007 |
| Q: I'm currently in the Marines on a five year contract. I have two years left and I was wondering if I ... A: I'm afraid not. One cannot simply "switch" from one active duty service to another (with the ... | |
| Becoming a FMF corpsman | 11/21/2007 |
| Q: My recuiters commander is a HMC(FMF). Now my recuiter has told me that I may or may not be able to ... A: Well, both your recruiter and his Chief are correct. The recruiter is correct in that he cannot ... | |
| Re-4 Discharge | 11/21/2007 |
| Q: I have a question. I received an RE-4 Discharge for weight control failure from the Navy in 1995 ... A: I wish I could give you a definate answer, but I can't. The active duty Army and the Army Reserves ... | |
| National Guard compensation | 11/21/2007 |
| Q: My sons recruiter says he cannot find an available position as an MP for the FL National Guard in ... A: I'm afraid not. The current law does not authorize the Reserves or National Guard to provide travel ... | |
| need help to re-enlist | 11/21/2007 |
| Q: I got discharged during bootcamp for phycological problems with my family and not being able to ... A: I'm afraid the chances are small -- very small. In general, an RE (Reenlistment Eligibility) Code of ... | |
| air force careers | 11/21/2007 |
| Q: I will be graduating from college in December with a bachelors degree in Criminal Justice with a ... A: I'm afraid I have bad news for you. For the past three or four years, the Air Force has been ... | |
| EOD serving in a Ranger or Seal Platoon | 11/20/2007 |
| Q: I am a DEP'er in the Navy. I am currently assigned for EOD and I have been told that EOD serves in ... A: Assuming you graduate from EOD Rating training in the Navy, you can (along with several other ... | |
| Re-enlisting after discharged from RTC | 11/20/2007 |
| Q: My boyfriend is in the process of being discharged from the Navy RTC after he couldn't recieve the ... A: There's something wrong here, and your boyfriend may not be telling you the entire truth (I'm sorry, ... | |
| joining the Army Guard or Navy | 11/20/2007 |
| Q: I was in the Army 3 years ago and was discharged because my upper thigh was not strong enough to ... A: When a recruiter sends you down to MEPS, that means that recruiter (and that particular service) has ... | |
| Early Release to Further Education | 11/20/2007 |
| Q: Powers, I'm a First Class Petty Officer in the US Navy and I'm closely approaching my EAOS. I'm ... A: Under the regulation, you can be released (up to) 90 days early from your normal ETS to attend ... | |
| joining the coast guard | 11/20/2007 |
| Q: I'm currently deciding on which branch of military to join. Right now, i'm leaning toward the coast ... A: You didn't say exactly what the "misdimeadors" were for, so it's not possible for me to answer. The ... | |
| What is a day in the life of an ABM? | 11/19/2007 |
| Q: Good Afternoon Mr. Powers, I am student currently working on a research project covering Air Battle ... A: I assume you mean the career field, "Air Battle Management Systems? (AFSC 1A4X1 at: ... | |
| Pulmonary Fitness Test | 11/19/2007 |
| Q: I am interested in enlisting in the Army. I am prior service with the USAF. I currently reside in ... A: Asthma after the age of 13 is an enlistment disqualifier (see my article at: ... | |
| adderall/JAG - Is a waiver possible? | 11/19/2007 |
| Q: I am very interest in getting into a JAG program with any branch of the military, but i take ... A: Um....actually, my name is "Rod," not "Rob." All of the military services are extremely cautious ... | |
| being a linguist in the navy | 11/19/2007 |
| Q: I want to be a linguist in the navy. How long and how frequent are the deployments for this job, and ... A: The rating for "Navy Linguist" is "CTI." You can read about the rating (job) on my website at: ... | |
| re-enlistment | 11/18/2007 |
| Q: I was looking at trying to get back in the Navy, I have been retired for 3 years now,after serving ... A: I'm sorry, but the chances are not good. The Navy only accepts retirees back onto active duty, only ... | |
| Navy EOD to Ranger school | 11/17/2007 |
| Q: I am prior service Army as a 19D cavalry scout. I am currently in the Navy and about to finish EOD ... A: The primary purpose of Army Ranger School is to provide advanced Ranger Training to Army ... | |
| Navy shipbuilding | 11/17/2007 |
| Q: S. Navy. I'm looking to do shipbuilding and repair, where can i get information on that. also i ... A: I'm afraid that the U.S. Navy doesn't build their own ships. When the Navy needs a new ship (of any ... | |
| Military Service Obligation | 11/17/2007 |
| Q: I have served 5 years enlisted and 3 years as an officer in the National Guard. Have I met my ... A: Everyone who joins the Military for the first time incurs a total 8 year service obligation. Your ... | |
| reenlisting with stents | 11/17/2007 |
| Q: my friend is looking to reenlist in the air national guard. he left the service in good terms in ... A: The condition of "stents" would be disqualifying. The history of a "heart incident" would also be ... | |
| adderall/JAG - Is a waiver possible? | 11/17/2007 |
| Q: I am very interest in getting into a JAG program with any branch of the military, but i take ... A: I'm not a doctor, but to the best of my knowledge, "adderall" is primarily used to treat ADD/ADHD. ... | |
| RE-4 Upgrade | 11/16/2007 |
| Q: I am submitting a request to the Board of Corrections for an upgrade to my RE-4 code in hopes of ... A: >>#1 - I was issued a DD-214 when I was placed on the TDRL for moderate bronchial asthma. I was ... | |
| United States Navy | 11/16/2007 |
| Q: I was just wondering if a person with Bilateral Club feet is disqualified from the Navy. I have had ... A: Club feet (for any of the services) is only disqualifying if the "stiffness or deformity prevents ... | |
| joining the Army Guard or Navy | 11/16/2007 |
| Q: I was in the Army 3 years ago and was discharged because my upper thigh was not strong enough to ... A: Technically, an RE Code of "3" means that re-enlistment is possible, if (1) you have documentation ... | |
| boyfriend joining the coast guard | 11/16/2007 |
| Q: Right now I am 18 years old. when my boyfriend gets out of basic training and reports to his first ... A: The chances are very good that he will be assigned to a Coast Guard ship for his first assignment. ... | |
| ROTC contract | 11/16/2007 |
| Q: My son entered ASU on a 4 year ROTC scholarship ... his grades were too low to maintain the ... A: I wish I could help, but whoever told your son that he could "opt out," upon acceptance of an ROTC ... | |
| military w/ juvenile felony | 11/15/2007 |
| Q: I received a Felony charge for vandalism and/or discharging a firearm(air powered bb gun) I never ... A: I'm afraid that with a felony conviction (even as a juvenile), your chances of receiving a waiver as ... | |
| ADD and Warrant Officer Selection | 11/15/2007 |
| Q: I am interested in submitting my package for warrant officer aviator, but I am concerned about being ... A: I'm afraid your "Primary Care Manager," has little knowledge when it comes to the requirements of ... | |
| HELP with Career!!!! | 11/15/2007 |
| Q: I am 21 yrs old and about to take my ASVAB. I have been told when I go I should know what I want my ... A: Do you have a high school diploma? If you do, why don't you apply directly for the Army's Warrant ... | |
| Color vision & MP for Fl. National Guard | 11/15/2007 |
| Q: My son is set on joining the FL. National Guard and wants to be an MP. Although he has no problem at ... A: Job requirements for the Army National Guard (for any State) are exactly the same as requirements ... | |
| set aside; criminal record | 11/14/2007 |
| Q: when I was a juvenile,I plead guilty to a felony. I spoke to a lawyer who has told me that he can ... A: Terms such as "set aside," or "expunged" have no meaning when it comes to eligibility to join the ... | |
| Re-enlistment | 11/14/2007 |
| Q: Does the California National Guard take Re-4's? i was administratively separated from the Navy boot ... A: It's rare that a service will accept one for reenlistment with an RE Code of "4," and a "reason for ... | |
| Getting into the army? | 11/14/2007 |
| Q: i am an occupational therapist, interested in a change of rhythm & routine, would it be possible ... A: Hmmmm...... First of all, I'm not exactly sure what you mean by the job, "occupational therapist?" ... | |
| marriage ending | 11/14/2007 |
| Q: MY marriage will be ended by dissloution of marriage in about 6 months. Once I receive the offical ... A: You are required, by regulation (law) to inform your command (personnel) about any change in marital ... | |
| A Reserved Drop-Out | 11/14/2007 |
| Q: A very close friend of mine who joined the Army Reserves his Junior year, even after his experience ... A: He may not remember this, but when he signed his enlistment paperwork for the Reserves, while still ... | |
| US Army enlistment with US Navy re-4 code | 11/14/2007 |
| Q: Sir, I will try to keep this short. I served in the US Navy back in 2001. After 9 months, I was ... A: I wish I had better news for you. When you accept Article 15 action (also known as nonjudicial ... | |
| Navy Seal challenge contract | 11/13/2007 |
| Q: If I do get into the Navy with a felony waiver; Is it possible to get another felony waiver to get ... A: P., I'm afraid not. For details, see my article about the SEAL Challenge program at: ... | |
| Abnormal Pulmonary function | 11/13/2007 |
| Q: I'm trying to join the U.S Army..On my physical, I checked yes to having broncitis...Took the ... A: I wish I could be of more help, but if you have a history of any kind of lung problem, and MEPS sets ... | |
| Coast Guard | 11/12/2007 |
| Q: I recently was told that even though the Coast Guard does not have a ROTC program they recognize ... A: It depends on one's use of the term "recognize." To the very best of my knowledge, of one ... | |
| GED restrictions for Navy Recruits | 11/12/2007 |
| Q: I was told by a Navy recruiter that there is a congressional order that has placed restrictions on ... A: Under Congressional Law, the Military services categorize recruits, based on their education level: ... | |
| Re-enlistment | 11/12/2007 |
| Q: Does the California National Guard take Re-4's? i was administratively separated from the Navy boot ... A: I'm afraid it's pretty rare for any of the Military branches to accept one with an Reenlistment ... | |
| Chances for a RE code change | 11/12/2007 |
| Q: Okay, my husband was discharged from the Marine Corps 8 or so years ago, before we met. It was an ... A: It's very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, hard to re-enlist in any branch (active duty or ... | |
| extension | 11/12/2007 |
| Q: I just transferred from a ship and the day I checked out to move to california from virginia I was ... A: Are you orders for a PCS (Permanent Change of Station) move, or a Temporary Duty move? It makes a ... | |
| 4187 into reserve from IRR | 11/11/2007 |
| Q: If I 4187 into the reserve and I don't like it and only have 3 months left can I quit by just not ... A: Everyone who joins the U.S. Military, whether active duty, Guard, or Reserves incurs a total 8 year ... | |
| Juvenile felony waiver | 11/11/2007 |
| Q: When I was 15 years old I plead guilty to felony agg assault with a plea deal. Received 1 year ... A: P. Segers, I'm afraid there's no way to tell for sure. Even though the offense was adjunicated as a ... | |
| Coast Guard | 11/10/2007 |
| Q: I have a question for you, I am a high school senior that makes good grades and scores well on the ... A: There are combat roles in the Coast Guard, but they are limited. See the article on my website at: ... | |
| Which branch is best for computers? | 11/9/2007 |
| Q: Because of financial reasons I plan on joining the military and getting some hands-on training plus ... A: Any of the Military branches. I know you wanted more than that, but the fact is that all of the ... | |
| Discharge from the guard for unpaid ticket | 11/9/2007 |
| Q: I joined the guard recently but during my background check an unpaid ticket came up in a different ... A: It's very serious. One is not eligible to join (any branch) of the U.S. Military if they have an ... | |
| discharge | 11/9/2007 |
| Q: if i'm discharged from the air force for admitting to using marijuana once, and my re code is 2b, ... A: No way to tell for sure. A "2B" discharge from the Air Force, means you can't ever reenlist in the ... | |
| 4187 into reserve from IRR | 11/9/2007 |
| Q: If I 4187 into the reserve and I don't like it and only have 3 months left can I quit by just not ... A: Hmmm......as much as I would like to be "psychic," I'm not. By "4187," do you mean that's an MOS in ... | |
| prt failure | 11/9/2007 |
| Q: I am 2yrs into the Navy & I have currently failed 2 prt's. I am being told that I will not be able ... A: Meeting the physical fitness standards is a "requirement" of your Navy "employment." Apparently, ... | |
| REENTRY CODE | 11/9/2007 |
| Q: Is an AF REENTRY CODE 2C eligible for USCG/CGR? ANSWER: Hi Chris, Probably not, but much would ... A: The Army would probably be the best bet, as they are increasing dramatically in size during the next ... | |
| inquiry to reenlist | 11/8/2007 |
| Q: I was discharged from the Air Force for failing a random UA for cocaine. I was court martialed and ... A: I'm afraid it will. The two services which have the most strict policy when it comes to illegal drug ... | |
| age waivers | 11/8/2007 |
| Q: how does the age waivers work? if you have never joined the air force before and want to join now ... A: I'll put it "bluntly." You *are not* going to get a waiver to enlist in the active duty United ... | |
| SON BEING MEDICALLY DISCHARGED | 11/8/2007 |
| Q: MY SON IS BEING MEDICALLY DISCHARGED DUE TO A MEDICAL CONDITION HE INCURRED WHILE STATIONED AT GREAT ... A: There is no "set rule" about whether or not he would be eligible for any "benefits." Veteran ... | |
| discharge and upgrade | 11/8/2007 |
| Q: I was discharged from the Navy about three years ago for misconduct but it was for me being in a ... A: To be "blunt," your chances are probably not all that good. You have two options: The first is to ... | |
| coast guard medical exam. | 11/8/2007 |
| Q: I have a dream ive always wanted to be in the service, this was a dream ive had since i can ... A: There's no such thing as "no waivers." If you fail the DOD test, it's entirely up to the service ... | |
| Disabled Dependant Parent | 11/8/2007 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, I am SGT in the Army. My mother is getting disability due to a back injury that keeps ... A: I'm sorry, but I'm afraid the Joint-Services ID card regualtion is pretty plain when it comes to ... | |
| Please help me convince my boyfriend... | 11/7/2007 |
| Q: First I'd like to thank you for providing so much unbiased information about the military. It's ... A: This is a hard question to answer. If he admits to marijuana use more than 20 times in his lifetime, ... | |
| coast guard medical exam. | 11/7/2007 |
| Q: I have a dream ive always wanted to be in the service, this was a dream ive had since i can ... A: The Army is more likely to approve medical waivers, at this time, than any other branch. That's ... | |
| discharge forms | 11/7/2007 |
| Q: i am getting a discharge from the national guard but they are telling me i have to fill out a family ... A: Your unit is confused. If you are being discharge for pregnancy, you don't have to compelte a family ... | |
| REENTRY CODE | 11/7/2007 |
| Q: Is an AF REENTRY CODE 2C eligible for USCG/CGR? A: Probably not, but much would probably depend on the exact reason for discharge, and your service ... | |
| Coast Guard Disqualification | 11/7/2007 |
| Q: I was previously in the delayed entry program for Coast Guard. I decided 6 months prior to my ... A: You need to try a different Coast Guard officer recruiter. I've never heard of someone being ... | |
| Do I need father's permission to join? | 11/7/2007 |
| Q: My father has not been in my life for 15 years. I am 17 ready to turn 18. I enlisted in the Navy ... A: If you haven't seen him since you were 3, it would be pretty crappy if he tried to interfere with ... | |
| Active Duty Army to Air Force (Reserve or Active) | 11/7/2007 |
| Q: Rod, I'm a 1LT logistics officer currently serving in Afghanistan and had a question about making ... A: Once you are separated (or a couple of months before), you simply contact an Air Force Reserve ... | |
| Coast Guard Disqualification | 11/7/2007 |
| Q: I was previously in the delayed entry program for Coast Guard. I decided 6 months prior to my ... A: Okay, your message is a little confusing, so I need some clarification..... As I understand it, you ... | |
| Switch Branches? | 11/6/2007 |
| Q: So I've been in the Navy for about 6 months now and know that I would much rather be in the Army ... A: I'm afraid that except for the limited provisions under the Army's "Blue to Green" program (see: ... | |
| re-enlistment | 11/6/2007 |
| Q: I am 40 years old, nearly six years of service in the Marines and got out in 1991 with a RE-3P code, ... A: In general, an RE Code of "3" usually means that a waiver for reenlistment is possible, depending on ... | |
| Delayed Entry Program | 11/6/2007 |
| Q: I've been in DEP for 7 months. I chose my first rating, but was told I had to pick another rating or ... A: When it comes to submitting rating change requests while in the DEP (Delayed Enlistment Program), ... | |
| Army leave before deployment to Iraq | 11/6/2007 |
| Q: my Son went through Army Boot Camp and entered Airborne training straight out of boot camp with no ... A: Under standard Army policy, Soldiers are not granted their first leave until after they complete ... | |
| army/marine special operations | 11/6/2007 |
| Q: could you specify on the current differences in marine and army special operartions. i know the ... A: You'll want to see my Special Operations Forces article at: ... | |
| Active Duty Army to Air Force (Reserve or Active) | 11/5/2007 |
| Q: Rod, I'm a 1LT logistics officer currently serving in Afghanistan and had a question about making ... A: You can't simply "transfer" from the Active Duty Army to the Active Duty Air Force. You would have ... | |
| Coast Guard OCS | 11/5/2007 |
| Q: I am 24 yeard old recent college graduate and have been interested in joining the Coast Guard for ... A: You haven't even signed a DEP (Delayed Enlistment Program) contract yet. Therefore, you have ... | |
| Which Branch | 11/5/2007 |
| Q: I know this is a question that you can not answer, but I was hoping to be pointed in a direction ... A: I'm afraid you won't find any such websites, or any individual that I could put you in contact with ... | |
| Felony | 11/5/2007 |
| Q: I have been convicted for assualt as a juvenile and possession of marijuana as an adult. I really ... A: For the Coast Guard, any criminal conviction for any drug is going to be very, very tough to get a ... | |
| Getting back in the Army | 11/4/2007 |
| Q: I tore my ACL playing high school football in 2003, and had corrective surgery in Nov. 2003. I ... A: Your MEPS medical physical is valid for two years. If your last MEPS physical was less than two ... | |
| Possible unlawfull discharge | 11/4/2007 |
| Q: Rod, My name is Edward and I was discharged from the U.S. Navy in 2005 for drinking 2 beers while in ... A: What does your DD Form 214 (Record of Military Service) say for the "reason for discharge?" Does it ... | |
| age limit to volunteer | 11/4/2007 |
| Q: what is the current age limit to volunteer for servicr? A: Each of the branches of Military Service have different age limits for enlistment. For the ... | |
| coast guard medical exam. | 11/4/2007 |
| Q: I have a dream ive always wanted to be in the service, this was a dream ive had since i can ... A: All of the services use the same basic medical standards for qualification for enlistment. While ... | |
| Crossing Branches from Navy to Marine Corps | 11/3/2007 |
| Q: I am currently an E-2 in the U.S. Navy, i joined July 18 of 2007 and am very disappointed with the ... A: I'm afraid you can't. One cannot simply transfer from one branch of the active duty Military to ... | |
| enlist or officer? | 11/2/2007 |
| Q: Rod Powers, I want to go in the air force or navy as an officer to become a pilot but due to my ... A: I'm afraid I don't have good news for you. With a felony conviction, your chances of getting an ... | |
| Army combat patch | 11/1/2007 |
| Q: In the last year I switched from active duty USMC to active duty army after my term was up with ... A: I'm afraid that those who have ordered you to remove the patch from your uniform are correct. This ... | |
| Getting back in the Army | 10/16/2007 |
| Q: I tore my ACL playing high school football in 2003, and had corrective surgery in Nov. 2003. I ... A: With an RE code of "3," that means you are eligible to apply to re-enter the Army, with an approved ... | |
| medical discharge? | 10/16/2007 |
| Q: i have been active duty in the air forve since april of '06. I have been tryin to figure out how to ... A: Well, there's recruiting duty (see: ... | |
| Getting back in the Army | 10/16/2007 |
| Q: I tore my ACL playing high school football in 2003, and had corrective surgery in Nov. 2003. I ... A: You explained everything, except the most important points. When you were discharged, what was the ... | |
| medical discharge? | 10/16/2007 |
| Q: i have been active duty in the air forve since april of '06. I have been tryin to figure out how to ... A: As you said, to qualify for Palace Chase, you would first have to have served half of your active ... | |
| Dependency | 10/15/2007 |
| Q: I am currently living with my cousin who is in the Army and stationed in Iraq. I am disabled, and ... A: In order for your cousin to claim you as a Military dependent, he is going to have to show that he ... | |
| Can I join the Military if I have a Felony that adjudication was withheld. | 10/15/2007 |
| Q: Right after I graduated from High School my friend and I took items from open cars. We were really ... A: While you may not have a felony conviction, you do have an "adverse adjudication" for a criminal ... | |
| Direct Commisioning | 10/15/2007 |
| Q: I'm 34yr old prior service Army w/ 8yr active, 21 mos Army Reserves (w/ 1yr Active for OEF/OIF). ... A: I'm afraid the chances are small. The Army (and the other branches) are very reluctant to accept ... | |
| Enlisting requirements | 10/15/2007 |
| Q: I am 30, married, and have two children. The requirements said that I could have no more than two ... A: This is covered by the Navy recruiting regulation COMNAVCRUITCOMINST 1130.8G – VOLUME I. Paragraph ... | |
| asthma in the army | 10/15/2007 |
| Q: I recently joined the guard.. but i have asthma. I've had it after i turned 13. i don't want to stay ... A: Okay, if you were honest about your history of asthma during your MEPS physical, that means the Army ... | |
| Security clearance and PTSD | 10/15/2007 |
| Q: I'm an active duty US Marine and I am now realizing that I have some PTSD symptoms. I deployed to ... A: Not necessarily. One loses their security clearance if there is a conditon that makes them a ... | |
| Navy Pilot | 10/15/2007 |
| Q: Hey. I am currently a sophomore at USC and I want to be a navy fighter pilot. I’m in great physical ... A: H Chris, The program is competitive. It's "competitive," both for OCS slots, and for "aviation" ... | |
| best way to pilot/officer | 10/15/2007 |
| Q: I am a high school junior who definitely wants to be a military pilot. I want to have the whole 4 ... A: For which of the services? For Air Force ROTC, your best chances of getting a scholorship would be ... | |
| Marine recruit sick on week 11 of 13 | 10/14/2007 |
| Q: My son almost made it through Parris Island and was so proud, but he developed what has now been ... A: It's hard to say. Basic training (in all the branches) do *a lot* of discharges. It's not as simple ... | |
| Enlistment age | 10/14/2007 |
| Q: I am 56 yrs old with approximately 14 yrs prior service. I have been attempting to re-enter the ... A: Age waivers are generally approved at the recruiting battalion level. It sounds to me as if the ... | |
| Color Blindness | 10/13/2007 |
| Q: I am a 3rd at Virginia Military Institute. (2nd year of college) Currently, I am a 4-year Army ROTC ... A: I have no doubt you have the potential to make an excellent officer. Good luck! For more ... | |
| army waiver | 10/13/2007 |
| Q: im working on 11x im now 27 years old i had a juvenille fight I plead guilty to when i was 17 it was ... A: Okay, as you weren't *convicted* of domestic violence, the Lautenberg Amendment isn't a factor. ... | |
| Military Discharge/Retirement?? | 10/13/2007 |
| Q: Sir, I am currently at 13 years of USAF active duty service with a clean record (both medical and ... A: You'll want to read my article about the MEB/PEB process at: ... | |
| army waiver | 10/12/2007 |
| Q: im working on 11x im now 27 years old i had a juvenille fight I plead guilty to when i was 17 it was ... A: The domestic violence charge is going to be a problem, because there is a law, called the Lautenberg ... | |
| Applying for a Base Sticker(pass) with a BCD | 10/12/2007 |
| Q: Good afternoon Rod, my question is this. I received a BCD from the USMCR in 1992. My current job is ... A: When one receives a sticker for their vehicle, one does not undergo a background check. As long as ... | |
| airforce enlistment | 10/12/2007 |
| Q: ihave a ged and im a cna will being certified as a nurse make it easier to enlis in the airforce ... A: It depends on where the CNA comes from. In the Air Force (and all the other service branches), if ... | |
| Color Blindness | 10/12/2007 |
| Q: I am a 3rd at Virginia Military Institute. (2nd year of college) Currently, I am a 4-year Army ROTC ... A: Rangers and Special Forces do not require *normal* color vision. However, they require the ability ... | |
| Marine joining Navy. | 10/12/2007 |
| Q: I served 5 years in the Marine Corps, and I am now joining the Navy. My question is regarding the ... A: I searched the entire Navy Uniform Regulations, from Chapter 1 to Chapter 7, (see: ... | |
| Enlistment after a discharge | 10/12/2007 |
| Q: I got out of the army on a hardship discharge i wanted to know if it is possible for me to enlist in ... A: You haven't provided me with enough information to even make a guess. What was your discharge ... | |
| asthma in the army | 10/11/2007 |
| Q: I recently joined the guard.. but i have asthma. I've had it after i turned 13. i don't want to stay ... A: The fact of the matter is that (no matter what your recruiter told you), you lied in order to get ... | |
| Age Waiver? | 10/11/2007 |
| Q: My fiancé is interested in enlisting into the Air Force, unfortunately he's 29 years old & does not ... A: In my (educated) opinion, your fiance's chances of enlisting in the active duty Air Force at the age ... | |
| Too many dependents? | 10/11/2007 |
| Q: I am 32 years old, married, and have three children. Do I have too many dependents to join the ... A: Yes, you have too many dependents. See my article about enlistment standards at: ... | |
| Marriage between Active duty and National Guard | 10/11/2007 |
| Q: I am in the National Guard and I am going to get married to a Active duty soldier. The thing is he ... A: There are no National Guard units assigned overseas (the National Guard "belongs" to individual ... | |
| ADHD and being in the military 12 years | 10/10/2007 |
| Q: Sir, if after 12 years in the AF and now I am a TSgt, what is the chance that if I am diagnosed with ... A: I'm not a doctor or a psychiatrist, so I don't know the possibility(ies) that your condition is ... | |
| felony want to join | 10/10/2007 |
| Q: I am 32 years old married with three kids. Iwoud like to know how do I go about getting a waiver. I ... A: I'm afraid the chances are probably not that good. Sometime around 1994 or 1995, Congress passed a ... | |
| re4 reenlistment | 10/10/2007 |
| Q: My son recently received a general discharge from the army with a reentry code of re4. The reason ... A: I'm afraid his chances of reenlisting into any of the branches, with an RE Code of "4" and a ... | |
| Navy | 10/10/2007 |
| Q: I have a question, Im in the DEP for the Navy set to ship out in May. My girlfriend wants to come ... A: If a married person joins the U.S. Military, when they get to their first duty station, the Military ... | |
| Air Force Prior Service enlisting info... | 10/10/2007 |
| Q: Where did you get your information from about the job requirements the Air Force supposedly has for ... A: I communicate with recruiters (in all of the branches) all the time. As for the Air Force, I have ... | |
| ranger | 10/10/2007 |
| Q: I am very much looking it become an army ranger. my local recruter said he would not give a contract ... A: Your recruiter doesn't make the decision as to whether or not you can receive a Ranger Contract. ... | |
| retiring as a reservist | 10/10/2007 |
| Q: I am currently an active duty, infantry marine with about a year and a half left on my four year ... A: Certainly, except, because most of Reserve system is "part time," rather than full time, the Reserve ... | |
| Too many decisions, need some advice. | 10/9/2007 |
| Q: Grettings, Mr. Powers First of all I've been using your articles on usmilitary.about.com for about ... A: All things being equal, you would probably be much happier as a commissioned officer. Pay is much ... | |
| retirement | 10/9/2007 |
| Q: i was forced to leave the us army in 08/92 due to reduction in force. after a year of leaving the ... A: I'm not sure what your question is? If your question, "Is it possible that I could receive benefits ... | |
| colorblindness in snipers | 10/9/2007 |
| Q: I want to become a sniper in some branch of the military, but I am colorblind. I have read that ... A: If you are applying for service in the Army, or Marine Corps, and applying for an Infantry position ... | |
| Marry him soon? | 10/8/2007 |
| Q: My fiancee has recently enlisted in the Coast Guard and is going to boot camp in February. After he ... A: You'll want to read my article at: ... | |
| Scout/Sniper | 10/8/2007 |
| Q: I was thinking about joining the Navy, but what i really wanted to do was to become a sniper/scout, ... A: The Navy doesn't have "Scout/Snipers." The closest you could get in the Navy would be to become a ... | |
| colorblindness in snipers | 10/7/2007 |
| Q: I want to become a sniper in some branch of the military, but I am colorblind. I have read that ... A: There isn't any AFSC (Air Force), MOS (Army & Marine Corps) or Rating (Navy & Coast Guard) for ... | |
| reenlistment US Army | 6/5/2007 |
| Q: Well sir hopefully you can give me some advice here. I'm prior service regular Army 96-2000. I ... A: Who can say? A single DUI arrest (even if the charges are later reduced) requires a waiver. I've ... | |
| Female ASVAB score | 6/5/2007 |
| Q: Rod, My daughter wants to join the Marines Corps. She went and talked with the Recruiter and was ... A: Both the Navy and the Marine Corps have been known (from time to time) to restrict the number of ... | |
| Reenlistment Options | 6/5/2007 |
| Q: I served 2.5 years AD AF, discharged 18NOV03. To cut through the BS, I was diagnosed with ... A: Getting the discharged changed doesn't alter the fact that you were once diagnosed (presumbably by a ... | |
| The Navy's Non-Prior Service Progam (NPS) | 6/5/2007 |
| Q: I enlisted into the Navy's NPS program in 04/2002, I was excited about all the future opportunities ... A: The fact that you never went to basic (or the Navy's abbreviated basic for the Navy Reserves -- a ... | |
| Separated for failing PFA run in Navy bootcamp | 6/4/2007 |
| Q: My son joined the Navy and made it almost all the way through bootcamp (he was even on Ship Staff), ... A: All waiver cases are examined on a "case-by-case" basis. The good news is that, other than this ... | |
| Medical Discharge-On Duty Injury | 6/4/2007 |
| Q: My son is being discharged due to an injury received on duty which keeps him on Restricted Duty ... A: The article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/a/medseparation.htm should answer most ... | |
| MEDICAL DISCHARGE | 6/4/2007 |
| Q: MY SON HAS BEEN STATIONED IN KOREA FOR APPROX 2 YEARS. OVER THE WINTER HE DEVELOPED ULCER-COULTIS ... A: Actually, the discharge probably isn't set in stone yet. This will most likely be decided by a ... | |
| army reserve discharge | 6/4/2007 |
| Q: My daughter joined the Army Reserve last summer and completed her basic training at the end of ... A: I'm afraid one can't just quit the Military (even the Reserves), just because they want to, without ... | |
| Direct Appointment | 6/4/2007 |
| Q: I have been thinking about going back into the service I have 6 and a half years of active duty ... A: The Army only offers "direct commissions" in three of its officer branches: (1) JAG, (2) Medical, ... | |
| Switch military branch while active duty | 6/4/2007 |
| Q: My husband signed on for 3 years with the Army and would really like to change to the Air Force now ... A: Ni Nichole, I'm afraid that enlisted members cannot simply "transfer" from one active duty branch ... | |
| Military Housing | 6/4/2007 |
| Q: If there is a suspicion that off base military housing is being used by more then a spouse and ... A: Is the off-base housing owned or contracted by the Military? Or does this member live off-base at ... | |
| Question | 6/4/2007 |
| Q: my name is Irma Cisneros. I recently graduated from University of Texas at Brownsville with a B.S. ... A: I'm sorry, but there's really no specific question here that I can answer. My best advice is that ... | |
| about to join | 6/4/2007 |
| Q: I'm sixteen years old and I'm considered in joining the marines this summer when i turn seventeen i ... A: I'm afraid that both the Asthma and the ADHD are disqualifying for any branch of the service. For ... | |
| Going from reserve to active | 6/4/2007 |
| Q: My name is Jennifer. I was in the Navy for four years, I got out and a couple of years later decided ... A: When you joined the National Guard, you became a *member* of the National Guard. You're committed to ... | |
| son being discharged from af | 6/4/2007 |
| Q: Son is being discharged from air force, the reason to me dont warrant a discharge. I am prior army. ... A: Here's the thing. While it may not warrant it for you, the simple fact of the matter is that the Air ... | |
| Medical discharge for marine recruit | 6/3/2007 |
| Q: Would a Marine recruit lose sign on bonus if he was discharged for Entry level medical discharge? ... A: The enlistment bonus ("sign on bonus") isn't paid until the recruit comples entry-level training ... | |
| navy discharge | 6/3/2007 |
| Q: Is it possible for someone to be discharge from the Navy for having dyslexia or a reading ... A: As I said, it's primarily up to his commanding officer whether or not he will be discharge, and -- ... | |
| navy discharge | 6/3/2007 |
| Q: Is it possible for someone to be discharge from the Navy for having dyslexia or a reading ... A: >>A JAG attorney told my son that the Army accepts RE-4 recruits with a waiver.<< The Army does, in ... | |
| Active duty married to active duty | 6/3/2007 |
| Q: I am about to marry another Marine, we have both just pinned on LCpl,and are currently in school. He ... A: If you get married, neither one of you is a "dependent" to the other. Because there are no children, ... | |
| Changing brances of service | 6/3/2007 |
| Q: I am a gunnersmate 3rd class in the navy. I enjoy being a gunnersmate but the navy wasn't what i ... A: You'll want to see my article about "Prior Service Enlistments" at: ... | |
| Asthma and PFA | 6/3/2007 |
| Q: I have been in the Navy for five and a half years now and BCA has been a constant battle every PFA ... A: I can't find anything in the regualtion or the NAVADMIN messages which state that if you've received ... | |
| Separated for failing PFA run in Navy bootcamp | 6/3/2007 |
| Q: My son joined the Navy and made it almost all the way through bootcamp (he was even on Ship Staff), ... A: I can't say for sure, because I don't know the RE Code. However, because they told him that he would ... | |
| Eyesight question about the Navy | 6/3/2007 |
| Q: My son is 20 years old and is considering joining the Navy, He has been legally blind in one eye ... A: I'm afraid the chances are pretty small, depending on what his actual vision is. See: ... | |
| navy discharge | 6/2/2007 |
| Q: Is it possible for someone to be discharge from the Navy for having dyslexia or a reading ... A: The medical doctor doesn't recommend the RE Code, and -- in all actuality, probably doesn't even ... | |
| ADHD and the Air Force | 6/2/2007 |
| Q: I am Currently in my 4th year of my first enlistment with the Air National Guard and in January my ... A: You need to report the medical condition to your unit during your next drill. If they conduct a ... | |
| Minimum enlistment for Navy during war time | 6/2/2007 |
| Q: Powers, My 30-year-old-brother is looking to join the Navy. He was told the minimum enlistment ... A: You'll want to see my article, "What the Recruiter Never Told You" at: ... | |
| I have an RE 4 and want to enlist in the army | 6/2/2007 |
| Q: I received an RE 4 when I was discharged from the Navy. The reason was for a condition not a ... A: I'm afraid with an RE Code of "4" from the Navy, re-enlistment in the Army is not an option, as it's ... | |
| Joining the Corps | 6/1/2007 |
| Q: I have a few questions. The first is when I was 17 I was arrested for retail theft, adjudicated and ... A: Both the arrests and the job-thefts will most likley all require a waiver. When you complete your ... | |
| Child Custody and the Army | 6/1/2007 |
| Q: I am a divorced father of one and would like to enlist in the Army. My ex-wife has sole physical ... A: Here's what the Army Recruiting Regulation has to say about it: "(a) When a joint custody agreement ... | |
| USN RESERVE | 6/1/2007 |
| Q: I spent 4 years active duty in the US Navy, and was honorably discharged. I then received my ... A: Your age won't be a factor. Subtracting your previous active duty time (4 years) from your current ... | |
| Pay For the Coast Guard Reserve | 6/1/2007 |
| Q: At Slippery Rock University. I'm thinking about joining the Coast Guard Reserve, and once ... A: During Active Duty For Training (Basic Training), you'll receive full base pay (see charts at: ... | |
| navy discharge | 6/1/2007 |
| Q: Is it possible for someone to be discharge from the Navy for having dyslexia or a reading ... A: As you said "discharged," I'm assuming this person is already in the Navy? If so, one could be ... | |
| joining the airforce | 6/1/2007 |
| Q: I have about a million questions to bundle into one. I will just jump right in and get to the point. ... A: With the exception of the Army National Guard, you must have a *bachelor's degree* to become a ... | |
| dep worried | 6/1/2007 |
| Q: i was sworn into the navy dep and i already have a wife and a 28 month old daughter, but i just ... A: It shouldn't be a problem. For Navy enlistments, you don't require a "dependency waiver" unless you ... | |
| in the process of joining | 6/1/2007 |
| Q: I'm in the process of joining the national guard. I've always wanted to join the coast guard but ... A: It very easily could happen. Of all the branches, the Army (this includes the active duty Army, the ... | |
| A Few Coast Guard OCS Questions | 5/31/2007 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, I am very sorry to bother you with a few seemingly trivial questions but I cannot ... A: For Army commisssioning programs, "the inability to distinguish and identify without confusion the ... | |
| A Few Coast Guard OCS Questions | 5/31/2007 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, I am very sorry to bother you with a few seemingly trivial questions but I cannot ... A: I'm afraid not. It's a requirement for any Coast Guard commissioning program. For more information ... | |
| career | 5/31/2007 |
| Q: i recently decided that i would like to do somthing army related when i get my highschool diplma in ... A: There's a world of difference between the Army and the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard is primarily a ... | |
| Re-enlistment | 5/31/2007 |
| Q: I have a question about RE-4, I was discharged from the Marines in 1999, because I had an ... A: It's extremely difficult to re-enlist with a "4" RE Code. The Marines will generally only consider a ... | |
| Joining the Corps | 5/31/2007 |
| Q: I have a few questions. The first is when I was 17 I was arrested for retail theft, adjudicated and ... A: The infractions are going to require a waiver (see: ... | |
| Re-enlistment Eligibility | 5/31/2007 |
| Q: My husband has been in the Navy for 6.5 years. He is an E5 and he is being discharged later this ... A: Whether or not he will be eligible to re-enlist at a later time depends primarily upon the RE Code ... | |
| Re-enlistment with bipolar history | 5/31/2007 |
| Q: Powers. I was in the USMC for 2 short years and was medically discharged because of depressive ... A: First of all, it depends a lot on the Reenlistment Eligibility Code (RE Code) which was entered on ... | |
| a new officer | 5/31/2007 |
| Q: my grandpa was a B-17 pilot in ww2 what jet could i follow in his footsteps with in todays military. ... A: The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is an American four-engine heavy bomber aircraft developed for the ... | |
| Navy | 5/31/2007 |
| Q: I know that you have to be married to live in family housing, but is there a certain amount of time ... A: >>but is there a certain amount of time you have to be married for before you can do so?<< Nope, ... | |
| Wife to TBS | 5/31/2007 |
| Q: Rod, When at The Basic School, USMC, does the government move your wife to on base housing? Does ... A: Under the current rules, if one is assigned to a training school that exceeds 20 weeks in duration ... | |
| Enlisting in the Marines after BA. | 5/31/2007 |
| Q: I am interested in becoming an officer in any military branch, but preferably the USMC. My question ... A: Your chances (in most branches, including the USMC) of being selected for OCS (Officer Candidate ... | |
| Failure to Report to Unit | 5/30/2007 |
| Q: I enlisted in the Navy Reserve about a year ago. After training I was assigned to a unit. It has ... A: I'm afraid that it's completely up to your commanding officer. Punishment can range anywhere from ... | |
| Reenlistment | 5/30/2007 |
| Q: My long time friend was medically discharged during AFNG basic training for a knee injury. He would ... A: I'm afraid I don't have good news. This is covered by the Army Recruiting Regulation (AR 601-210), ... | |
| Air Force enlistment | 5/30/2007 |
| Q: again I have had 2 meetings with my Air Force recruiter now and I am a little worried that I may ... A: Your recruiter is correct. He can't guarantee you that any of your specific job choices will come up ... | |
| seal and asthma | 5/30/2007 |
| Q: I asked another expert a question, but I have a follow up. Carson is unavailable and was hoping ... A: A history of childhood asthma is no longer an "automatic disqualifier" to join the U.S. Military. In ... | |
| "Direct Appointment/Commission" | 5/30/2007 |
| Q: I read an answer you gave to someone and I wanted to have you clarify. Regarding "Direct ... A: Army -- Age 46 Navy -- Age 40 (waivers up to age 47 will be considered) Air Force -- Age 35 (waivers ... | |
| veteran-owned small business | 5/30/2007 |
| Q: I was in the USNR from August 23, 1985 to June 18, 1991. I was honorably discharged. My active ... A: For the purposes of the "veteran-owned small business" program, I don't think you meet the legal ... | |
| renlistment codes | 5/30/2007 |
| Q: I'm in the navy now and they are trying to give me a enlistment code of 4. I thought that was for ... A: Your Reenlistment Eligibility Code (RE Code) is determined by your commanding officer, and is ... | |
| A question | 5/29/2007 |
| Q: Rod, on about.com, you specified that the draft ended in 1973. How come my lottery number for my ... A: I don't know. You'll have to ask the Selective Service. The information in that article, concerning ... | |
| Direct Commission Age Limit? | 5/29/2007 |
| Q: With a BA Degree / 4 years prior Active Duty Infantry experience & since 10 years Professional ... A: We may be defining the term "direct commission" differently. There is no such thing as a "direct ... | |
| A Few Coast Guard OCS Questions | 5/29/2007 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, I am very sorry to bother you with a few seemingly trivial questions but I cannot ... A: You'll want to see this page: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/capemay/e-oprograms.htm. As it mentions on ... | |
| Moving after Navy career is over. | 5/29/2007 |
| Q: My husband will be out of the Navy in March of 2008 and we will be moving back to our hometown. I've ... A: Assuming his discharge is honorable (such as he's getting out after completing his enlistment ... | |
| Interservice Transfers | 5/29/2007 |
| Q: I am an E-6 with 10 years in the Navy and have been considering an Interservice Transfer to the ... A: I'm afraid that Interservice Transfers for enlisted members are extremely limited. There are only ... | |
| Early Release to Further Education (USN) | 5/29/2007 |
| Q: I am a MC(Mass Communication's Specialist-previously PH) in the USN. I am serving a four year term ... A: You've answered your own question. As you point out, MILPERSMAN 1910-108 authorizes early release ... | |
| Coast Guard Pilot | 5/29/2007 |
| Q: I'm am a Junior in High School and I'm wondering what i would need to do to become a helicopter ... A: The Coast Guard does not accept pilot applications, unless the person has already been a military ... | |
| Coast Guard | 5/29/2007 |
| Q: I am currently a junior in high school and I am homeschooled. I understand that I need college ... A: You'll want to see my article about enlistment standards at: ... | |
| Reenlistment | 5/29/2007 |
| Q: My long time friend was medically discharged during AFNG basic training for a knee injury. He would ... A: Much would depend on the "reenlistment eligibility code" (RE Code) entered on his DD Form 214 ... | |
| COMMANDING OFFICER | 5/29/2007 |
| Q: My boyfriend and I have been together for a year and half. we were living together until this past ... A: At this point in time, there's nothing much his commanding officer could do. You're not legally his ... | |
| deployment | 5/29/2007 |
| Q: I am interested in joining the U.S. Air Force and going into the following career fields as: ... A: See my Air Force job description pages at: ... | |
| Medical Complications/my husband | 5/29/2007 |
| Q: my husband had 4 years and 8 months in the navy as an enlisted that he really wants to join any ... A: I'm sorry, but it he has a "90 percent" disability rate, he is not going to be able to join any ... | |
| Air force to Coast guard | 5/28/2007 |
| Q: I have two years active duty in the air force as a 3p051 security forces (MP) clean record I signed ... A: In most cases, enlisted members cannot simply "transfer" from one military branch to another. There ... | |
| mother-in-law become a dependant?? | 5/28/2007 |
| Q: In about 40 days we are going to be PCSing to Eielson AFB, Alaska. So me and my wife were wondering ... A: You'll want to visit your local Air Force Finance Office. They can provide you with the forms you'll ... | |
| will they like me ? | 5/28/2007 |
| Q: I'm thinking about joining the military this summer. But I'm a progressive aka liberal. I was warned ... A: In my experience, U.S. Military members are comprised from all walks of life, and make up a variety ... | |
| discharge | 5/28/2007 |
| Q: On a Bad Conduct Discharge, it is my understanding that a review board is not apt to consider an ... A: Only the President of the Untied States can grant a *pardon* for Military court-martial convictions ... | |
| status of discharge if you resign | 5/28/2007 |
| Q: If my husband is able to resign from the Army Reserves, what kind of penalty would he face? What ... A: I'm sorry, but one cannot simply "resign" from the U.S. Military, whether it's active duty or ... | |
| Airforce Pilot | 5/28/2007 |
| Q: I'm not sure if you would know much in about being a pilot in the airforce. I just wanted to know if ... A: Funny you should ask this today. I just posted an article on my U.S. Military Information Site, that ... | |
| Medical Waiver for Pilot | 5/27/2007 |
| Q: My question is if i had a kidney nerphyctomey when i was 4 am i able to become a fighter pilot? I ... A: It doesn't have so much to do with PRP (Personnel Reliability Program) as it has to do with the ... | |
| Air Battle Manager | 5/26/2007 |
| Q: I am putting a package together to become an officer in the Air Battle Manager career field. I ... A: Commissioned Air Battle Mangers fly alot (up to 12 to 14 hour missions), and they deploy a lot. I ... | |
| I had an ACL injury while running to lose weight. | 5/26/2007 |
| Q: I'm a 19years old male. I was down at the MEPS took the ASVAB for the Navy nuke program which i ... A: You're asking for a specific "yes" or "no" answer, and I'm afraid with it comes to medical ... | |
| DD214 SPN codes | 5/25/2007 |
| Q: I receieved an Honorable Discharge in 1972, from the Navy, with about 16 months left on my ... A: I have a partial list of Numerical Separation Codes on my site at: ... | |
| Re-enlistment | 5/25/2007 |
| Q: I was discharged from the Marines in 2003 for a personality disorder. It was a life changing ... A: See my article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/generalinfo/a/milrecords.htm. For more ... | |
| son discharged from bootcamp | 5/25/2007 |
| Q: My son went in navy bootcamp Nov 15,2006. It is now May 25,2007, he is still not seperated but he ... A: I'm sorry, but there's no way I can answer the question, because I don't know the characterization ... | |
| MIlitary Reserve Direct Appointment Programs | 5/25/2007 |
| Q: Rod: Can you tell me which service branch offers the best Reserve opportunities relative to ... A: I'm afraid I don't have good news for you. A "Direct Appointment/Commission" is only available in ... | |
| Army medical waiver; hypertension. | 5/25/2007 |
| Q: I'm looking to join the Army Reserve and have recently discovered that I might have hypertension. ... A: Medical Standards for enlistment (in any branch of the service) can be read at: ... | |
| ROTC/OCS | 5/24/2007 |
| Q: My son was awarded a 4 year Army ROTC scholarship last year and it was subsequentally taken away ... A: Well, the letter of recomendation from the Colonel certainly couldn't hurt when it comes to applying ... | |
| re-enlisting | 5/24/2007 |
| Q: I love the military. Most of my friends and family are enlisted so when I decided to follow in their ... A: I'm afraid the answer is "probably not." You may wish to see the Military's policy on Asthma at: ... | |
| meps | 5/24/2007 |
| Q: I went to meps a year ago, and was DQ'd for a bp of 141/89. since then I have lost 70 pounds, but my ... A: It's very possible. It would likely require a waiver, but if you are current off the medication and ... | |
| Navy Sports Scholarship ?? | 5/24/2007 |
| Q: My daughter is a really good athlete and I'm wondering if there’s such a thing as a Naval ... A: I'm afraid not. The Navy offers two type of scholarships for college students. Both require that ... | |
| Blackhawk Helicopter pilot | 5/24/2007 |
| Q: Powers: I am a sophmore in High School my name is Abbey, I was wondering if you go through the Army ... A: First of all (in case you didn't know), the Army is the only service which allows qualified ... | |
| Joining Coast Guard with Physical disability | 5/23/2007 |
| Q: Can you enter the Coast Guard with a physical disabilities - slight limp, plate and pin in foot, and ... A: Medical standards which are disqualifying for Military service (for any branch of the U.S. Military) ... | |
| from navy to coast guard | 5/23/2007 |
| Q: my son just got a general discharge from the navy. can he join the coast guard? A: It's possible, but depends on a couple of factors: If his DD Form 214 (Record of Service) shows an ... | |
| recruitment questions | 5/23/2007 |
| Q: My son has a shellfish allergy - actually only to clams. No other sea food. Anyway, the recruiter ... A: The Department of Defense (DOD) medical standards (see: ... | |
| prior drug use and military | 5/23/2007 |
| Q: I want to join the Air Force or Coast guard. Two years ago in college I used Marijuana on a regular ... A: None of the services give lie detector tests as part of the enlistment process. However, you may ... | |
| MOS Change | 5/23/2007 |
| Q: I'm a split opper, shipping for basic in 9 days. I'm doing AIT next year, and I'd like to try to ... A: The only way to change your MOS in the Guard or Reserves is through your United Training NCO, and ... | |
| Germany bound | 5/22/2007 |
| Q: My fiance is in the AirForce and is stationed in Germany. I am flying over there in about a month or ... A: "Fiances" are not military dependents, and -- as such -- the U.S. Military isn't sponsoring your ... | |
| Joining the Marine Corps with Felonies and a false Bipolar Disorder Diagnoses | 5/22/2007 |
| Q: Ok down to the point shall we? i am currently serving a sentance of 2 years executed at 1 successful ... A: I'm afraid I don't have very good news to offer. First of all, the felony conviction disqualifies ... | |
| ROTC/OCS | 5/22/2007 |
| Q: My son was awarded a 4 year Army ROTC scholarship last year and it was subsequentally taken away ... A: The waiver system is different for each branch of service, and -- within a specific branch, often ... | |
| medical discharge | 5/22/2007 |
| Q: If you are diagnosed with juvenille myoclonical epilepsy that is easily controlled with medicine, ... A: That's completely up to an MEB (Medical Evaluation Board). I've written an article which explains ... | |
| Disqualification | 5/22/2007 |
| Q: Rod, I am 19 and I was recently disqualified from joining the Coast Guard because when I was fifteen ... A: I'm not sure where you read that a pediatrician was not allowed to diagnose Asthma. I certainly ... | |
| Non payment of enlistment bonus | 5/22/2007 |
| Q: I've been in the army for a little over a year now. When i signed up, i was supposed to recieve a 9k ... A: This is exactly what the local IG (Inspector General)'s office was designed for. You have a problem ... | |
| Enlisting with a GED | 5/22/2007 |
| Q: Can you please tell me which branch is more likely to accept someone with a GED? I talked to a Navy ... A: This is a simple question. By far, the Army is the service that accepts the most GED-holders. ... | |
| Shellfish allergy | 5/22/2007 |
| Q: My son spoke to a recruiting officer last week. The recruiter told him that he would not be accepted ... A: Yes, it can be disqualifying. I have seen people disqualified for Militay Service for allergies to ... | |
| US Coast Guard | 5/22/2007 |
| Q: I was discharged a little over 2 years ago from the US Coast Guard as a deck seaman. I AWOL for 3 ... A: I'm sorry you feel that way. I most certainly didn't intend to insult you. However, I tell it the ... | |
| Medical Waiver for Pilot | 5/22/2007 |
| Q: My question is if i had a kidney nerphyctomey when i was 4 am i able to become a fighter pilot? I ... A: The problem is that you are looking for a definate "no" or "yes" answer, and there isn't any. The ... | |
| US Coast Guard | 5/22/2007 |
| Q: I was discharged a little over 2 years ago from the US Coast Guard as a deck seaman. I AWOL for 3 ... A: I'm afraid you can't get back in with an RE (Reenlistment Eligibility Code) of "4." This is ... | |
| AirForce Scholarship | 5/21/2007 |
| Q: Rod, I am trying to map my daughters career, and I need guidance on where to begin for her to go to ... A: There are basically two types of Air Force "scholarships." The first is attendence at the Air Force ... | |
| Special Forces | 5/21/2007 |
| Q: Powers, I am about to enter West Point this year and have been thinking greatly about what I ... A: Congratulations on your selection to the U.S. Military Academy! I hope you realize how selective the ... | |
| USNA | 5/21/2007 |
| Q: I'm a freshmen and really want to go to the USNA. I've done lots of searches and really know what ... A: You may wish to read my article, "The Perfect University" at: ... | |
| changing branch of service | 5/20/2007 |
| Q: I am currently an active duty E-5 in the Army looking for a career change. I am a petroleum supply ... A: I'm afraid your chances are small.....very small. Enlisted members cannot simply transfer from one ... | |
| Transferring Officer Commissions to another service component | 5/20/2007 |
| Q: I am a 1st Lt in the Army and I am interested in transferring my commission to the Marines (I am a ... A: The applicable directive is DOD Directive 1300.4., Inter-Service Transfer of Commissioned Officers" ... | |
| KERATACONOUS | 5/20/2007 |
| Q: Is there anyway that i can get around this? A: Keratoconus (KC) is a condition of the eye meaning conical conea. It is a rare condition. Numbers ... | |
| MP Husband thinking about reclassing to Signal | 5/19/2007 |
| Q: My husband is a SGT promotable. He is currently an MP. He is working on his BIT(Bachelor Information ... A: Army MP (Military Police) is MOS 31B. There are several individual MOS's in the Signals Field (see: ... | |
| Felonies... | 5/18/2007 |
| Q: I'm 23 years old. I always dreamed of serving in the armed forces but ran into a little trouble when ... A: I'm sorry, but your chances of joining any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces are small. You have at ... | |
| Military Rules | 5/18/2007 |
| Q: In 1998 I enlisted into the Army to find refuge for me and my pregnant(homeless) wife. During basic ... A: An RE Code of "3" generally means that re-entering the U.S. Military (either as enlisted or officer) ... | |
| geeting out of navy deployment | 5/18/2007 |
| Q: a friend of ours is active duty navy. she is on ship which deploys in late july. she is married with ... A: I wish I had better news for you, but the simple fact of the matter is that the Navy exists to ... | |
| Going from Army to Coast Guard | 5/18/2007 |
| Q: My husband is currently in Afghanistan right now and we both want to know what he has to do to go ... A: He would first have to be discharged from the Army, and then apply (through a Coast Guard ... | |
| Age limit to be a Nurse in the ARNG | 5/18/2007 |
| Q: I joined the MTARNG in April 07. I will be going to college to get my BSN. The college I will be ... A: The maximum age for nurse commissions in the U.S. Army (including the U.S. Army Reserves and Army ... | |
| prior "prior" service | 5/18/2007 |
| Q: I got out of the Navy in 2005 honorably as an IT2/E-5 with a satisfactory re-enlistment code. Three ... A: Sure, it's possible, but lots depends on whether or not the Navy needs people in that rating, at ... | |
| AF vision regs | 5/18/2007 |
| Q: I'm a TDSP candidate, with a projected graduation date of December 2008 (BS in Computer ... A: Currently, the Air Force does not allow aircrew applicants who have had Lasik or PRK. Under a test ... | |
| military jobs and my asvab score | 5/17/2007 |
| Q: My names is john I am about to turn 18 (less than 13 days now) and I am preparing to join the ... A: It helps you in that it makes you a more attractive candidate (overall) to join the Air Force. It ... | |
| Top secret clearance and discharge. | 5/17/2007 |
| Q: I recieved a General other than Honorable discharge, is it possible to obtian a Top Secret clearance ... A: An UOTHC discharge *could* possibly result in denial of a Security Clearance, but it would probably ... | |
| Enlisted Pilot | 5/17/2007 |
| Q: I had once heard that Coast Guard enlisted personnel can become pilots... is this similar to the ... A: I'm afraid not. Enlisted personnel (in any branch) cannot be pilots. For the Coast Guard, in fact, ... | |
| Top secret clearance and discharge. | 5/16/2007 |
| Q: I recieved a General other than Honorable discharge, is it possible to obtian a Top Secret clearance ... A: You may wish to re-check your discharge paperwork. There is no such thing as a "General Other than ... | |
| military jobs and my asvab score | 5/16/2007 |
| Q: My names is john I am about to turn 18 (less than 13 days now) and I am preparing to join the ... A: I'm sorry, but I'm afraid (for enlistment purposes), the Air Force (nor any of the other services) ... | |
| Age cut off | 5/16/2007 |
| Q: What is the age limit for joining the Army / Army reserves........ A: See my article, "Enlistment Qualification Standards," at: ... | |
| coast guard/ com tech | 5/16/2007 |
| Q: A: The Coast Guard only has 23 enlisted jobs. For complete descrptions of those jobs, see: ... | |
| Marines and education | 5/15/2007 |
| Q: First of all ive been thinking about joing the marines but I dont know if im physically able to ... A: I'm afraid I have bad news for you. First of all, if you have a medical condition which ... | |
| Air Force Officer | 5/15/2007 |
| Q: Powers I am planning on becoming an Air Force officer, but I would like to know how to get myself on ... A: Officer promotions in the Air Force (especially in the senior ranks are complicated, and rather ... | |
| BNCOC | 5/15/2007 |
| Q: I have a soldier who was promoted to E-6 in 1987. he had complted PLDC and BNCOC phase 1 as that's ... A: As far as I can determine, if he's previously graduated BNCOC, then that still stands. He should be ... | |
| Re-enlistment to Coast Guard with prior Army | 5/15/2007 |
| Q: In 23 DEC 05, I was medically seperated from the Army with the code SFK (temporary retirement) ... A: Okay, I'm confused. "Temporary Retirement" would usually indicate that you have been placed on the ... | |
| marry ranger | 5/15/2007 |
| Q: My boyfriend and I are planning to get married this summer. Can you be married and still join the ... A: Sure, you can. Why would you think not? There are only two prohibitions against marriage in the ... | |
| Age Waiver for Officer | 5/15/2007 |
| Q: First let me say, your "About" info site is remarkable and informative. I have read hundreds of it's ... A: A couple of years ago, Congress changed the law to change the maximum age of joining the U.S. ... | |
| Prior Service Re-enlistment | 5/15/2007 |
| Q: I served in the Marines in an Infantry unit from 1998 to 2002 and was discharged Honorably with a ... A: If you have an honorable discharge, and an RE Code of "2," then there is nothing that would keep you ... | |
| AFROTC Scholarship | 5/15/2007 |
| Q: Hey there~ It's a miracle I found this place because there's something that's been worrying me ... A: As I said before, the AFROTC Scholarship program is "competitive." What that means is that there ... | |
| Can an unofficial dependant parent move with us? | 5/14/2007 |
| Q: My husband just enlisted Army 63M. My mother has lived with us and we have supported her living ... A: It's possible to claim a mother or mother-in-law as a military dependent, but it's not an easy ... | |
| AFROTC Scholarship | 5/14/2007 |
| Q: Hey there~ It's a miracle I found this place because there's something that's been worrying me ... A: Military officers are leaders. That's what they are. That's what they do. All things being equal, ... | |
| marine corp mos | 5/14/2007 |
| Q: My son left for boot camp today at Paris Island. He originally signed up for a job under the ... A: I'm not sure. First of all, most people who sign up for the Marine Corps don't get to pick a ... | |
| vision question. | 5/14/2007 |
| Q: I've wanted to join the Marines for the past year. However my vision is less than perfect. An ... A: Medical standards for joining the U.S. Miltary can be read at: ... | |
| marine enlistment | 5/13/2007 |
| Q: I have a question regarding enlistment in the marine corps. When I was younger I tried to commit ... A: Anything is *possible*, but you should know up front that a waiver for a previous suicide attempt is ... | |
| Joining the army with asthma | 5/13/2007 |
| Q: I was diagnosed with asthma when i was in about 3rd grade. It hasn't bothered me since i was in ... A: As long has you haven't been taking medication since the age of 13, and haven't experienced any ... | |
| i want to join the army | 5/12/2007 |
| Q: Rod, I am wanting to join the military but i have a 4th degree felony that was deferred that ... A: A single felony can be waived. The question is, whether or not it will be waived. A felony ... | |
| army ? | 5/12/2007 |
| Q: My brother is an e2 in the us army is he able to live off of base and the army pay for it? A: Unless he is married, then probably not. The Army generally allows single (unmarried) soldiers in ... | |
| navy regulations regarding prt failures | 5/11/2007 |
| Q: Rod Powers, I have a few questions regarding the navy's policy and regulations on prt failures. ... A: Zach, I'm sorry, but it's not like this is anything new. In fact, this rule has probably been ... | |
| 18x contract | 5/11/2007 |
| Q: I am interested in theis contract very much i am currently deployed overseas with my MA Guard unit. ... A: The 18X (Special Forces) Contract is a special program for non-prior service enlistees. I'm afraid, ... | |
| LASIK and Rangers | 5/11/2007 |
| Q: Is LASIK considered medically disqualifying for Rangers school if i have had a successful surgery 6+ ... A: In order to join any branch of the U.S. Military, it requires a waiver, if one has had LASIK, or any ... | |
| Depression ??? | 5/10/2007 |
| Q: my daughter is trying to join the coast guard active duty and we were wondering about her past ... A: I'm afraid that it's probably going to require a waiver. Medical Standards for joining the U.S. ... | |
| CG salary range | 5/10/2007 |
| Q: hey! i was just wondering if you knew the average salary range for a coast guard reservist? A: Regardless of service, (whether Coast Guard, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, etc.), military ... | |
| Can he qualify for Military enlistment? | 5/10/2007 |
| Q: My 19 year old son is seriously considering joining the military (Navy or Air Force. The potential ... A: "Purged" charges don't really matter a whole lot when it comes to joining the U.S. Military. ... | |
| Navy WSO requirements | 5/10/2007 |
| Q: I know i cannot become a pilot because of my vision, i don't know how bad it is but i do need ... A: Ni Nicholas, You may wish to see my Aviator Vision Requirements Page at: ... | |
| tests | 5/9/2007 |
| Q: I was wondering if you have or ever had hepatitis b if you can join the army/navy/miltary? Do they ... A: Medical conditions which are disqualifying for military service can be read on my site at: ... | |
| reenlising after a medical discharge | 5/9/2007 |
| Q: I served in the army for almost 12 years, 6 years active and the rest national guard. I was ... A: I wish I had better news for you, but your chances of coming back into the Military (Army) are small ... | |
| Pregnancy | 5/9/2007 |
| Q: My daughter broke her hip in boot camp, they still sent her on to AIT, where it was discovered she ... A: You didn't say for which service, but your use of the term "AIT," and "Chapter 8," lends me to ... | |
| dui | 5/9/2007 |
| Q: Powers One of my employees is 19. He got a dui recently and has been talking about joining the ... A: Okay, first of all, you said "recently." He's not eligible for *ANY* of the military services, until ... | |
| Any chance I can commision? | 5/9/2007 |
| Q: Education Degree: BS in Psychology (soon) Minor in Sociology College: Mount Olive College GPA: ... A: What service are you looking to get a commission in? Right now, for the Air Force and Navy, OTS/OCS ... | |
| PT Test | 5/9/2007 |
| Q: I was told that if I fail my next Pt test that I will be booted. I was wondering what kind of ... A: The vast majority of Navy PT failure dishcarges are characterized as honorable. However, your ... | |
| general disharge and re-enlistment. | 5/9/2007 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, my name in Melissa and I am asking a question for my boyfriend Travis. He server 4 years ... A: I'm afraid that's not enough information for me to correctly answer the question. The "General" ... | |
| Air Force | 5/9/2007 |
| Q: I am a 28 year old single female with no dependants, and I am very interested in joining the ... A: A bachelor's degree would qualify you to apply for Navy OCS (Officer Candidate School), or Air Force ... | |
| Prior Service Enlistment | 5/8/2007 |
| Q: I served in the Marine Corps from 2001-2005, I was honorably discharged. I spent 1 year in Okinawa ... A: The Marine Corps Recruiting Regulation, MCO P1100.72C (see: ... | |
| Army Retirement vs. Officer Commission | 5/8/2007 |
| Q: Rod, I will try and provide as much of my background information as possible... I enlisted in the ... A: , It's from the Department of Defense Pay Regulation, Volume 7B, Chapter 1 (see: ... | |
| getting released from active duty | 5/8/2007 |
| Q: I am a Navy Nurse Corps officer. I was commissioned in May 2003 out of ROTC. My obligation is 4yrs ... A: I'm afraid your command is correct. There are certain factors which will add to an officer's ... | |
| coast guard | 5/8/2007 |
| Q: I want to be a rescue swimmer. Can I pick what I want to be? A: You'll want to read my article, "What the Recruiter Never Told You," at: ... | |
| UCMJ in conjunction with a Doctor's recommendation to administratively seperated from the Army | 5/8/2007 |
| Q: If a Soldier is pending seperation from the militarydue to "other physical or mental conditions" and ... A: In civilian life, there is a person who gets to decide whether or not someone who has committed an ... | |
| 319? | 5/8/2007 |
| Q: My brothe ris in week 5 of BMT and have been sent to '319'...what is that and what does that mean? A: The 319th Squadron at Air Force Basic Training is a "Transition Squadron." It's a "holding area" for ... | |
| Which Branch has the best Security Force | 5/7/2007 |
| Q: i am currently in the navy and part of my security force abaord my ship and i somewhat enjoy the job ... A: <sigh> I hate it when I'm asked what is the "best." There is no "best." They are "different," which ... | |
| Breach of contract | 5/7/2007 |
| Q: Yes i have red a few of the questions and none really related to mine closely, I am in the Navy have ... A: You may wish to make an appointment to speak with your local JAG office, but I don't think you have ... | |
| family in service | 5/7/2007 |
| Q: I don't know if this is a rumor or a story i heard a long time ago but I was wondering, If a family ... A: Actually, both scenarios are incorrect. For details, see my article at: ... | |
| awards & decs | 5/7/2007 |
| Q: Powers -- I am currently a nurse in the Air Force Reserve and have been working with a recruiter ... A: This is covered by the Navy Uniform Regulation, Chapter 5, Section 3. Paragraph 5301.2 states: ... | |
| Army Retirement vs. Officer Commission | 5/7/2007 |
| Q: Rod, I will try and provide as much of my background information as possible... I enlisted in the ... A: , As long as you have between 16 and 20 years of military service, you are protected against ... | |
| questions about reenlisting | 5/6/2007 |
| Q: my question is if i want to try to reenlist what is the best route .... basically i was on a profile ... A: Your follow-up message indicates you received an Other-Than-Honorable administrative discharge and ... | |
| navy to coast guard | 5/5/2007 |
| Q: I got discharged from my delayed entry program four days before my ship date because my recruiter ... A: You'll want to read my DEP article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/joiningup/a/dep.htm. It's not ... | |
| USMC Discharge | 5/5/2007 |
| Q: ) i have not gone to boot camp yet and would now like to chage branches.how long does a USMC DEP ... A: You should submit your DEP Discharge request, in writing, and include a statement in your request ... | |
| Which Branch has the best Security Force | 5/5/2007 |
| Q: i am currently in the navy and part of my security force abaord my ship and i somewhat enjoy the job ... A: I'm not sure how to respond, because the term "security forces" mean different things in different ... | |
| History of mental disorders | 5/4/2007 |
| Q: I was in an institution for about a month when I was 14 for depression and anxiety. Was also ... A: Any history of treatment and/or medication for any mental health disorder is disqualifying (see: ... | |
| Becoming HM in the Navy | 5/4/2007 |
| Q: I know beyond any doubt that I want to join the Navy as an HM, but I have some questions before I ... A: Those who enlist as an HM in the Navy, begin by completing Navy HM training (see the job description ... | |
| navy to coast guard | 5/4/2007 |
| Q: I got discharged from my delayed entry program four days before my ship date because my recruiter ... A: I don't know. In most cases, a discharge from one service's Delayed Enlistment Program does not ... | |
| Son's medical discharge from Coast Guard | 5/4/2007 |
| Q: My son called from boot camp on his third day. The base Dentist declared him medically unfit ... A: I can't speak as to what is going to happen. That depends on several factors, including what the ... | |
| Enlisting in the Air-Force again. | 5/4/2007 |
| Q: I have been seriously thinking of getting back into the service. I'm 26 years old, and am turning ... A: I'm afraid I've got bad news for you. The Air Force accepts very, very, very, very, very, very few ... | |
| joining | 5/4/2007 |
| Q: My newly turned 19 year old daughter suddenly came home saying she was joining the Air Guard with ... A: For the pros and cons of Military service (regardless of branch), see my article, "What the ... | |
| From Enlisted to Officer? | 5/3/2007 |
| Q: I am 21 and have only completed some college at this point, & have not earned a degree. I am ... A: You can apply for a commission (with a college degree), through Navy OCS (Officer Candidate School), ... | |
| Discharge for failing initial drug test at Naval Boot Camp | 5/3/2007 |
| Q: I signed up for the Navy in either 1994 or 1995. On the day we were to be stamped "fit for full ... A: Well, first of all, you have to find out what kind of discharge you were given. That means you need ... | |
| crossing over | 5/3/2007 |
| Q: hey i was looking to use condition release form to get out of the navy and go to coast guard as a ... A: There's a reason for this. A "Conditional Release" cannot be used to go from one active duty service ... | |
| discharge upgrading | 5/3/2007 |
| Q: I was wondering what happens if a discharge is not upgraded. Lets say that happens and I still have ... A: Okay, you may be confused over terms. A discharge "upgrade," refers to characterization of the ... | |
| drug/alcohol abuse in army | 5/3/2007 |
| Q: A friend of mine joined the Army about a year ago and he tells me that there's alot of drinking that ... A: It's clear that you don't understand discharge characterizations. A "dishonorable discharge" can ... | |
| U.S.C.G. | 5/2/2007 |
| Q: i have a few questions for you regarding the coast guard. i have a few pending charges(agg. battery ... A: There are certain military services which are harder to join than others. This is based on how many ... | |
| drug/alcohol abuse in army | 5/2/2007 |
| Q: A friend of mine joined the Army about a year ago and he tells me that there's alot of drinking that ... A: It's not just the Army, it's the same for all of the branches. However, I should mention that "a lot ... | |
| the marines and navy vs the air force and army | 5/2/2007 |
| Q: if a war broke out who would be deployed frist,the air force and army or the navy and marines?and ... A: If a war broke out, the Joint Chiefs (Four Star Generals from each of the Branches) would develop a ... | |
| 3 PRT Failures | 4/30/2007 |
| Q: Sir, I have a question, I have served 4 of my five year contact in the Navy and currently have 2 ... A: R., I'm afraid I have bad news for you. Generally, involuntary separations for such matters as ... | |
| skin problems in the army | 4/30/2007 |
| Q: I have had a severe diagnosis of eczema and a few other skin problems since I have joined the army.I ... A: In order to qualify for a medical discharge, first, a military doctor must make a decision that your ... | |
| MEPS? | 4/29/2007 |
| Q: I will be joining the coast guard and i was wondering what is the MEPS and its requirements. ANSWER: ... A: For active duty? Nope (in any of the services). Some of the Reserve branches (Reserve or National ... | |
| Asthma! | 4/28/2007 |
| Q: Rod- I have recently taken an interest in the Air Force for many obvious reasons, and I am looking ... A: I'm sorry, but I'm afraid you're going to have to find a new dream. Prior to 1990, the military ... | |
| re-code 3 | 4/27/2007 |
| Q: My son was discharged under els chap 11 with a re-code 3 JGA, He was hurt during basic and could ... A: He can contest the discharge. As part of the discharge process he will be given an appointment with ... | |
| Older enlistees??? | 4/27/2007 |
| Q: I am 36 (will be 37 in December.) I am prior service 1989-1992 (Desert Storm Vet) active duty Army, ... A: Are you wishing to come back in as a prior-service enlisted member, or as a registered nurse, ... | |
| oth | 4/27/2007 |
| Q: I was discharged from the Marine Corps with an OTH. I received this for violating art 112A, Drugs. ... A: I'm not sure I understand the question????? I don't know about "government jobs." That's not my ... | |
| navy entrance | 4/27/2007 |
| Q: Is it possible to get into the navy with only a ged? and if so what are the requirements/drawbacks? A: It's possible, but not very likely. Both the Air Force and the Navy are currently going through a ... | |
| Demobilization | 4/26/2007 |
| Q: I have been in the AD/ANG for a total of 10 years. I have been mobilized for 2 years and during ... A: To find out whether or not you are eligible for VA Disability Compensation, you'll have to make a ... | |
| felonys | 4/26/2007 |
| Q: I was wondering if i am eligible to enlist with more the one felony conviction? A: I'm afraid not. In most of the branches, you could not join with even one felony conviction. In ... | |
| Coast guard Law enforcement | 4/26/2007 |
| Q: Im interested in becoming a police officer and i have been looking into the reserve and guard aspect ... A: In my experience (and from what others have told me), local law enforcement agencies may give ... | |
| BMT 319 TRS | 4/26/2007 |
| Q: My son just completed zero and the first week of BMT. He had been sore of the hips to the point that ... A: I wish I could give you specifics about what *will* happen, but I can't. Air Force Basic Training ... | |
| re-code 3 | 4/25/2007 |
| Q: My son was discharged under els chap 11 with a re-code 3 JGA, He was hurt during basic and could ... A: I don't think your Son told you the entire truth, about his discharge (not to worry, most people ... | |
| MEPS? | 4/25/2007 |
| Q: I will be joining the coast guard and i was wondering what is the MEPS and its requirements. ANSWER: ... A: You may wish to see my article about Coast Guard Basic Training at: ... | |
| medical waivers | 4/25/2007 |
| Q: My son is trying to enlist but has been told that he can not due to having only one kidney. He had ... A: Medical disqualifying factors for enlistment can be seen on my site at: ... | |
| Joining the Army | 4/25/2007 |
| Q: I recently retired from the Air Force after almost 21 years (11 years enlisted, 10 years as an ... A: Sure, it's possible. It would depend primarily on how bad the Army needs your particular warm body, ... | |
| is a Ged acceptable | 4/24/2007 |
| Q: my son recently got his ged,he is very smart but i am afraid he cannot get in the coast gaurd or air ... A: The two services which have the highest enlistment standards are the Air Force and the Coast Guard. ... | |
| spouse's benefits | 4/24/2007 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, If I joined a reserve, would my husband receive educational benefits? * Here's a ... A: It doesn't matter if you join the Reserves, or active duty. The Military services do not offer ... | |
| reenlisting | 4/24/2007 |
| Q: I was recently discharged from the navy for "Homosexual Conduct," with an re-4 reenlistment code. ... A: An RE Code of "4" generally means one cannot reenlist into any of the Military services. Unless you ... | |
| Medical Waivers | 4/23/2007 |
| Q: I'm 16 years old and I was diagnosed with crohn's earlier this year. I'm pretty fit 6'0 170lbs so I ... A: I'm not a doctor, so I'm not an expert in any disease. It's my understanding that "crohn's" is also ... | |
| Medical Disqualified | 4/23/2007 |
| Q: I wanted to try for an Army ROTC Scholarship for Nursing but I have a feeling that I will be ... A: Conditions which are disqualifying for Military service can be read on my site at: ... | |
| re-code 3 | 4/23/2007 |
| Q: My son was discharged under els chap 11 with a re-code 3 JGA, He was hurt during basic and could ... A: "Uncharacterized" would be the characterization for discharge. What was the actual "reason" for ... | |
| Aceing the ASVAB to become Load Master? | 4/23/2007 |
| Q: My name is John. I turn 28 years of age in Oct. I have always wanted to answer my call and join the ... A: See My Aircraft LoadMaster job description and qualification factors at: ... | |
| Commissioning through Army ROTC | 4/23/2007 |
| Q: To start I recieved a DUI almost two years ago. I'm currently active duty enlisted right now but i ... A: A DUI (whether applying to join the military as an enlisted member or an officer) requires a waiver. ... | |
| Med board | 4/22/2007 |
| Q: I am an army aviator diagnosed with Obstructive sleep apnea. The doctors have tried everything, but ... A: You'll want to view my article at: ... | |
| Fighter pilot | 4/21/2007 |
| Q: do you have to be a native born American to become an officer in the united states armed forces? the ... A: You don't have to be "Native Born," but -- in order to become an officer in the U.S. Armed Forces, ... | |
| IRR commitment vs MSO Selection Form | 4/21/2007 |
| Q: Rod, I am a commisioned officer and served my 8 yrs commitment finishing it up in 98' i stayed in ... A: Gads, I hate it when people as my "opinion." If you resign your commission now, you lose your ... | |
| Administrative Boards | 4/21/2007 |
| Q: If you're being ADSEPed, and you have over 6 years of service, your entitled to an Administrative ... A: You might want to see my article about administrative discharge procedures at: ... | |
| Army Rangers and DUI | 4/20/2007 |
| Q: I have a question about DUI's and how they affect joining the Rangers. My recruiter told me that, ... A: Your recruiter is probably correct, but he/she is not the final word. When you process through MEPS, ... | |
| Divorce! | 4/20/2007 |
| Q: I am an E-4 I have been in the NAVY almost 3 years. I am transferring commands and I am also ... A: When your divorce is final, unless you are under *court order* to pay child support support in an ... | |
| re-code 3 | 4/20/2007 |
| Q: My son was discharged under els chap 11 with a re-code 3 JGA, He was hurt during basic and could ... A: Something is not right here. Generally, when one is delayed in basic training due to a temporary ... | |
| Enlisting from Army to Navy | 4/20/2007 |
| Q: I'm an Medic is the Army and E-4(P) and I'm looking at reenlisting. However, I'd like to look at my ... A: You cannot simply transfer or re-enlist directly into a different military service. Note: This is ... | |
| IRR commitment vs MSO Selection Form | 4/19/2007 |
| Q: Rod, I am a commisioned officer and served my 8 yrs commitment finishing it up in 98' i stayed in ... A: I'm afraid I need a little more information. Were you commissioned on active duty? After your active ... | |
| Inactive army reserve paperwork | 4/19/2007 |
| Q: I went through basic training back in 1983 for the army reserve, was stationed in NJ after basic, ... A: My best guess is that you were (ultimately) discharged for "failure/refusal to participate in ... | |
| INVOLUNTARY RECLASS | 4/18/2007 |
| Q: I SIGNED UP FOR THE ARMY HAS A FIREFIGHTER AND THE SHORTEST ENLISTMENT I COULD GET WAS FIVE YEARS I ... A: I'm afraid that's not what option 9A guarantees. What it guarantees is that you will be trained in ... | |
| MEPS? | 4/18/2007 |
| Q: I will be joining the coast guard and i was wondering what is the MEPS and its requirements. ANSWER: ... A: To the best of my knowledge, Coast Guard trainees don't have to go through the Gas Chamber during ... | |
| re-code 3 | 4/18/2007 |
| Q: My son was discharged under els chap 11 with a re-code 3 JGA, He was hurt during basic and could ... A: H Penny, There are different waiting periods, depending on (1) the exact reason for discharge, and ... | |
| reenlistment | 4/18/2007 |
| Q: I received an entry level separation in 2006 from the Marine Corps during recruit training because I ... A: No one can tell you your "chances." Each and every case are evaluated individually, and judged on ... | |
| MEPS? | 4/18/2007 |
| Q: I will be joining the coast guard and i was wondering what is the MEPS and its requirements. ANSWER: ... A: You may wish to see my article, "Surviving Coast Guard Basic Training" at: ... | |
| PFA Separation | 4/17/2007 |
| Q: I have learned alot from reading the other questions you answered on this site. I have a few ... A: In such cases, the burdon of proof that you failed the physical fitness test is on the government ... | |
| MEPS? | 4/17/2007 |
| Q: I will be joining the coast guard and i was wondering what is the MEPS and its requirements. A: You're in luck. I have three articles on my site that explain the MEPS process: (1) "MEPS at a ... | |
| being seperated from the reserves | 4/17/2007 |
| Q: i recently missed a drill weekend, and this i believe will put me over the limit. I have been in the ... A: For the Reserves (or National Guard), it's figured from six months from the date you performed your ... | |
| switch | 4/17/2007 |
| Q: I am an active duty Army nurse (1LT)currently serving in Iraq. My scholarship commitment requires me ... A: Sorry, but you cannot simply switch from one service to another. Having said that, everyone who ... | |
| PFA Separation | 4/16/2007 |
| Q: I have learned alot from reading the other questions you answered on this site. I have a few ... A: Unless there is evidence that you've failed the physical fitness assessment on purpose, the chances ... | |
| Erroneous commission | 4/16/2007 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, I recently resigned my AF commission after I discovered I hadn't yet completed my ... A: I honestly don't know. The applicable instructions (AFIs) don't say anything about it, one way or ... | |
| Dep Discharge | 4/16/2007 |
| Q: A few years back i had myself a dep discharge from the navy since i was accepted to the medical ... A: Not at all. As I said, enlistment/accession waivers for those who were previously discharged from ... | |
| MY CHILD WANTS OUT OF THE NAVY | 4/15/2007 |
| Q: My daughter is in bootcamp. She does not want to be in the Navy. She is not having problems with the ... A: The Military is not like getting a job at K-Mart or McDonalds. Your daughter can't just quit because ... | |
| re entry with re-4 | 4/15/2007 |
| Q: i enlisted in the RA in aug of 04 i was in for in 1 year and got into some trouble i came up hot on ... A: With an RE Code of "4," the chances of re-enlisting is *highly* unlikely (in any of the branches). ... | |
| Army to Navy transfer for Aviator | 4/15/2007 |
| Q: my husband is a Warrant Officer helicopter pilot in the Army. He is soon deploying with his current ... A: I'm afraid it's not going to happen. The Army is currently undermanned, and the Navy is currently ... | |
| being seperated from the reserves | 4/14/2007 |
| Q: i recently missed a drill weekend, and this i believe will put me over the limit. I have been in the ... A: Lot's of people are confused about discharge characterizations and what they mean. There are two ... | |
| Resigning commission | 4/14/2007 |
| Q: I read your response to the Marine trying to resign commission. My question is this. Say you ... A: Assuming one's total military commitment is complete (IRR is over), I don't know of any ... | |
| I have a question about the Air Force | 4/14/2007 |
| Q: I really want to join the Air Force and,don't think I can with a GED.I have asked allot of people ... A: "Technically" one can join the Air Force with a GED, as long as they have a 65 or above ASVAB score. ... | |
| Question about prior arrest. | 4/13/2007 |
| Q: I am interested in joining the Navy/Air Force/Coast Guard and working in Intelligence. I am a first ... A: First of all, the "academic" sanctions won't mean a thing. However, as part of enlistment, you must ... | |
| OTH reserves | 4/13/2007 |
| Q: I have been in the Marine reserves for 3 years and am about to get a OTH discharge for ... A: An Other Than Honorable Discharge is the worst possible administrative discharge one can receive ... | |
| Does a GED affect me getting into the Marines? | 4/12/2007 |
| Q: Hows it going? I'm planning on becoming a firefighter, but first I want to enlist in the Marines ... A: In the Military, there are "Tiers," related to education levels for enlistment. "Tier I" is a high ... | |
| joining | 4/12/2007 |
| Q: 1) I am very intrested in joining the U.S. Coast Guard and I have a pet that means a lot to me. How ... A: I'm assuming you're not married? I'm afraid there's no real way to answer your question. When you ... | |
| 17 in coast guard | 4/12/2007 |
| Q: I'm 16 right and next year i want to join the coast guard. i have a few questions. 1.what kind of ... A: I'm confused. Are you planning on joining the active duty Coast Guard, or the Coast Guard Reserves? ... | |
| Officer candidates | 4/11/2007 |
| Q: Where do officer candidates fit on the rank ladder in the Air Force? I've heard that technically, ... A: Officer Candidates *don't* fit into the rank structure. Officer candidates, whether Air Force ... | |
| switching branches | 4/10/2007 |
| Q: I've got a question regarding the potential to switch branches after the first term. I have the ... A: I'm afraid that probably won't work. As part of the application process, you are required to provide ... | |
| Waivers | 4/10/2007 |
| Q: I was granted a waiver in 1998 for hearing loss to enter the Marine Corps. In 2003, I got out but ... A: In short, they can. The Department of Defense (DOD) sets general medical standards for enlistment ... | |
| Part II ETS Physical | 4/10/2007 |
| Q: I am scheduled to have my Part II physical done next week. I have already spoke with the PA and she ... A: Your First Sergeant is "blowing smoke." Assuming the medical doctors issue a profile waiver, you ... | |
| switching branches | 4/9/2007 |
| Q: I've got a question regarding the potential to switch branches after the first term. I have the ... A: I'm sorry, but -- unless your a medical doctor -- the chances of "switching" is rare. Because, in ... | |
| join navy... | 4/9/2007 |
| Q: Lets say I have a GED. I take 15 hours of college classes to bump it up to a Diploma. Do you think I ... A: If you have a GED and you get 15 or more college credits, you become Tier I Education Level. In ... | |
| medical | 4/9/2007 |
| Q: could i join the army/navy if i had a broken arm seven years ago A: As long as there are no medical complications, I don't see why not. Medical standards which are ... | |
| chapter 11 discharge | 4/8/2007 |
| Q: my son was discharged under els chapt 11 with a re code of 3. what is the waiting period to ... A: A Chapter 11 discharge refers to Chapter 11 of Army Regulation 635-200 (see: ... | |
| INVOLUNTARY RECLASS | 4/7/2007 |
| Q: I SIGNED UP FOR THE ARMY HAS A FIREFIGHTER AND THE SHORTEST ENLISTMENT I COULD GET WAS FIVE YEARS I ... A: I'm afraid it's not, and many people misunderstand the contract guarantee, when it comes to ... | |
| renlistment | 4/7/2007 |
| Q: With 4 sat active years and 2 sat inactive. What is the current max age to reenlist? ANSWER: Hi Jim, ... A: Okay, same article that I referenced the first time ... | |
| renlistment | 4/7/2007 |
| Q: With 4 sat active years and 2 sat inactive. What is the current max age to reenlist? A: For which branch of service? They're not all the same. You may wish to see my Enlistment ... | |
| OCD and the Army | 4/6/2007 |
| Q: I am 14 and have mild OCD. I am currently on Zoloft but am about to get off of it. When I am ... A: It's a disqualifier. In fact, any treatment for a mental health condition is a disqualifier. That ... | |
| Navy boot camp - unfit for the Navy | 4/6/2007 |
| Q: Our daughter called yesterday to tell us that during the processing at boot camp they determined ... A: I've heard of it all the time. Once someone goes onto active duty, they are *IN* the military, ... | |
| NAVY JAG vs USCG JAG | 4/5/2007 |
| Q: I am entering law school next year and am particularly interested in the JAG program, either Navy or ... A: To be truthful, I don't know a whole lot about the USCG legal program. You can read about their ... | |
| promotion of marine corp ranks | 4/5/2007 |
| Q: i know in the marine corps you start off as a private. Get some college unit and your become private ... A: I'm afraid not. You're speaking of the Marine Corps Meritorious Promotion Program. Did your ... | |
| Re-enlistment into the Army | 4/4/2007 |
| Q: entry into service. The reason why I was discharged was for taking medication (Pamelor and Adderall) ... A: You're asking for "chances," or a "go/no-go" listing for the possibility of a waiver, and I'm sorry, ... | |
| joining the navy | 4/3/2007 |
| Q: I was wondering if it is possible for me to join the navy with a prior felon(about 5 years ago) with ... A: Felony convictions are disqualifying for military service. It's that simple. In other words, you are ... | |
| Coast Guard | 4/2/2007 |
| Q: Ok, I was sworn in the Navy a while back and i ended up not completing High School before my ship ... A: You may wish to see my article, "What the Recruiter Never Told You" at: ... | |
| Severance pay | 4/2/2007 |
| Q: After being taken off of TDRL, how long does it take to receive the awarded severance pay? Also, do ... A: Are you talking about Military medical retirement pay? If so, it should be almost immediate. Are ... | |
| promotion of marine corp ranks | 4/2/2007 |
| Q: i know in the marine corps you start off as a private. Get some college unit and your become private ... A: Each of the military services offer advanced enlistment rank (ranging from E-2 to E-4 -- depending ... | |
| Resignation of Marine Corps Commission | 4/1/2007 |
| Q: I would like to know if I am eligible to resign my commission. I was commissioned on 4/6/01, EAS ... A: Okay, let me try to explain this: Everyone who joins the U.S. Military (any branch) for the first ... | |
| coast guard | 4/1/2007 |
| Q: Hey I have to Questiolns 1. Does the Coast Guard have a Shorter boot camp like the Navy or they ... A: A.B., I'm afraid the Navy doesn't have their "short" version of basic training for Navy Reserve ... | |
| PRT failures | 4/1/2007 |
| Q: I am currently in the Navy, And have 2 PRT failures. The first I failed both the BCA and the actual ... A: Generally, if you've received an SRB (Selective Re-enlistment Bonus) and are discharged before your ... | |
| Enlistment requirements for the US Marines | 4/1/2007 |
| Q: hi how are you i have a question for my husband he wants to go full time active duty and tonight at ... A: First of all, he's asking the wrong person. He needs to meet with an active duty Marine Corps ... | |
| Resignation of Marine Corps Commission | 3/31/2007 |
| Q: I would like to know if I am eligible to resign my commission. I was commissioned on 4/6/01, EAS ... A: You can request separation from active duty or the active reserves at anytime after your initial ... | |
| PRT failures | 3/31/2007 |
| Q: I am currently in the Navy, And have 2 PRT failures. The first I failed both the BCA and the actual ... A: First of all, with the exception of punitive discharges imposed by court-martials, *all* discharges ... | |
| Air Force Health Administrator | 3/30/2007 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, I have recently been in contact with an Air Force recruiter. Based on my MBA and high ... A: Unlike enlisted, commissioned officers do not re-enlist. Once their initial service obligation is ... | |
| Disqualified from three contracts, want out | 3/30/2007 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, I recently decided to actively seek an early separation from the Navy. I joined at age ... A: You may wish to seek a "breach of contract" discharge. From what you've stated, it seems that you ... | |
| Juvenile Misdemeanor Offenses | 3/30/2007 |
| Q: I'm sure this question may have been asked a million times but here goes, about 5 years ago when I ... A: This is exactly it. It may be an "old fashioned" notion, but the military is "old fashioned." ... | |
| Juvenile Misdemeanor Offenses | 3/30/2007 |
| Q: I'm sure this question may have been asked a million times but here goes, about 5 years ago when I ... A: It's going to require a waiver, no matter how you look at it. Your chances for a waiver for the Air ... | |
| D.E.P. | 3/29/2007 |
| Q: I've been enlisted in the u.s. marines for the past 7 months in the (D.E.P.) and i've always been ... A: I'm afraid that one can't simply "switch branches." In order to join the Army, you would have to (1) ... | |
| Navy Commission | 3/29/2007 |
| Q: Does the Navy have a commissioning program similar to the PLC in the Marine Corps, where a student ... A: Nope. In fact, the Marine Corps is the only service which offers any kind of program that "splits ... | |
| army jobs | 3/29/2007 |
| Q: I'm am going to join the Army and I want a position where I can fight, provide security, stand gaurd ... A: Gads, I had these kinds of questions. The truth of the matter is that everyone is an individual, and ... | |
| reenlistment | 3/29/2007 |
| Q: I had a positive drug test back in feb of 06. I did everything that was asked of me by my unit and ... A: I think your recruiter may be leading you on, or may not understand the system. Yes, your military ... | |
| questions about BAH | 3/28/2007 |
| Q: I wanted a few answers regarding BAH. I don't know if it makes particular difference in which branch ... A: It doesn't matter which service. BAH is payable according to the Department of Defense Pay ... | |
| Coast Guard Reserve | 3/28/2007 |
| Q: I am currently attending college, about 3 years in. I have an interest in joining the coast guard ... A: Most certainly they do, but not nearly to the extent of the other services. The following article ... | |
| Air Force Health Administrator | 3/28/2007 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, I have recently been in contact with an Air Force recruiter. Based on my MBA and high ... A: So far, for the Air Force Officer "downsizing," they've been cutting from the lower officer ranks ... | |
| re-4 kbk upgrade | 3/28/2007 |
| Q: i received an re-4/kbk discharge after 9 years in the navy. it was an honorable discharge. the ... A: An RE Code (Reenlistment Eligibility Code) of "4" generally means one is not eligible to re-enlist ... | |
| What would be the most direct path to becoming a pilot? | 3/27/2007 |
| Q: I have always entertained the thought of becoming a pilot, but certain things have stopped me from ... A: I assume you're talking about a Warrant Officer Helicopter Pilot? For most Army Warrant Officer ... | |
| Ashtma | 3/27/2007 |
| Q: When I was little, probably 10-13, I had a little trouble with athsma. Now it seems it is ... A: Giving false information on any enlistment or accession documentation is not a good idea (see my ... | |
| Army... | 3/27/2007 |
| Q: I was wondering if it is possible to join the Army or Marines with a GED. If it is possible, I would ... A: Of all the services, the Army accepts the most GEDs. About 25 percent of current Army enlistments ... | |
| PLC Aviation Guarantee | 3/27/2007 |
| Q: I am a senior in high school and had some questions about the marine PLC program. I would like to ... A: The primary difference between PLC and OCC is that -- for OCC, you do the entire officer training ... | |
| Pets? | 3/27/2007 |
| Q: How many pets can you have on base in a house? A: I assume you're talking about on-base family housing? If so, every base has their own requirements ... | |
| reenlistment | 3/26/2007 |
| Q: I had a positive drug test back in feb of 06. I did everything that was asked of me by my unit and ... A: >>My second question is if it matters if I was in the reserves. Im not active duty. Im in reserves ... | |
| Juvenile legal transgressions/fighter pilot requirements.. | 3/26/2007 |
| Q: Hey, I've read many of your articles and they've helped me out alot but I have a problem. I want to ... A: Okay, I'm confused. When a criminal court finds someone "not guilty" of a charge, that means the ... | |
| EPTS - Admin Sep Marine Corps | 3/25/2007 |
| Q: Our son is a Marine in Advanced Training in Avionics (Pensacola. FL). Severe back problems since ... A: As you said, "verbal" doesn't count. Your son has a very important right (that many young people ... | |
| is there? | 3/25/2007 |
| Q: Umm, I was kind of wondering if there is any part of the military at all that I could get into if I ... A: Don't drop out of high school. Your chances of joining (any branch) of the U.S. Military go down the ... | |
| waiver | 3/25/2007 |
| Q: i Have psoriasis that flared up three weeks before graduating at MCRD San Diego and discharged just ... A: I don't have a copy of the paperwork, so I can't say. For the most part, Army medical waivers are ... | |
| EPTS - Admin Sep Marine Corps | 3/24/2007 |
| Q: Our son is a Marine in Advanced Training in Avionics (Pensacola. FL). Severe back problems since ... A: Refusing PT, without legal representation would be a mistake. It would be a violation of Article 92 ... | |
| What would be the most direct path to becoming a pilot? | 3/23/2007 |
| Q: I have always entertained the thought of becoming a pilot, but certain things have stopped me from ... A: As long as the surgery isn't causing you any problems, it probably won't be a factor. To become a ... | |
| Medical Disability | 3/23/2007 |
| Q: Before joining the Navy I never experienced any knee pain. While on deployment (April 06) my knee ... A: I'm afraid that there's not a whole lot you can do, except to keep pestering your examining medical ... | |
| waiting for a decision | 3/23/2007 |
| Q: I have requested your expertise before via your military info website (?) and you have been very ... A: As you said, "no news is good news." It means your waiver request hasn't been disapproved. Medical ... | |
| reenlistment | 3/23/2007 |
| Q: I had a positive drug test back in feb of 06. I did everything that was asked of me by my unit and ... A: To be blunt, your chances of re-enlisting are not great. You need to realize this, up-front and ... | |
| NAVY SEALs | 3/22/2007 |
| Q: Hey, I am a Jr, in highschool and I have made up my mind that I want to be a NAVY SEAL when I get ... A: The Navy has a program called SEAL CHALLENGE, in which qualified applicants can apply through a ... | |
| Requirements for being pilot in the navy or airforce | 3/20/2007 |
| Q: I would love to be pilot, I am only a sophmore in high school but it is honestly my dream. I want ... A: To become a pilot in the U.S. Air Force or the U.S. Navy, you must be a commissioned officer. To ... | |
| My boyfirned wants to join the marines... | 3/20/2007 |
| Q: My boyfriend is 19 and wants to join the marines but i have concerns he has a heart problem, it ... A: Okay, first of all, he's not going to be able to join while he's on probation, unless it's a ... | |
| Separation from Navy during Boot Camp | 3/20/2007 |
| Q: My son is in boot camp in the Navy and was charged with "failure to report" which involved several ... A: Yes, it is "right." In civilian life, whether or not (or how) a criminal offense is prosecuted is ... | |
| husband medical / RE 3 code | 3/20/2007 |
| Q: My husband signed his Army contract in Dec 2006, left for boot camp Jan 2007 to Fort Benning, GA. ... A: Your husband apparently had problems getting through the training. That's why they discharged him. ... | |
| FORMER MILITARY SPOUSE | 3/19/2007 |
| Q: Having been diviorced since this law took effect and my former wife has since remarried and is a ... A: I'm afraid none of this would make any difference. For details on the USFSPA, see my article at: ... | |
| Modern weapon sounds and impact effects | 3/19/2007 |
| Q: I am currently writing various short military sci-fi stories for personal enjoyment. I strive to ... A: I've visited the site you gave, but I still don't think I can give any information other than what I ... | |
| Getting in the Navy | 3/18/2007 |
| Q: My son was in the ROTC during H.S. and had his heart set on joining the Military. All his buddies ... A: The Department of Defense medical standards for enlistment in the U.S. Armed Forces can be viewed on ... | |
| Re-enlisting after TDRL, with a RE4 | 3/18/2007 |
| Q: I have been searching the Internet, networking with old contacts from the Army and even talking to ... A: You're asking for a "magic solution," and there ain't none. I'm afraid that the only way to change ... | |
| Survivor TV and the military | 3/18/2007 |
| Q: Can an active-duty soldier be on the TV show Survivor? I know that way back before 9/11, an ... A: Sure they can. I know of no regulations which would exclude this. The problem would probably be ... | |
| GED | 3/18/2007 |
| Q: IS IT TRUE THAT YOU CAN GO INTO THE MILITARY WITHOUT A GED AND EARN IN WHILE YOUER IN BOOTCAMP? A: I'm afraid not. You can't earn a GED while in basic training. Basic training teaches a lot of ... | |
| California Natioinal Guard | 3/17/2007 |
| Q: I'm an army veteran with no obligation left. I recently enlisted in the california national guard. I ... A: My best advice is that you should write a letter to your National Guard Commander, requesting a ... | |
| Modern weapon sounds and impact effects | 3/17/2007 |
| Q: I am currently writing various short military sci-fi stories for personal enjoyment. I strive to ... A: I'm not sure one can verbally describe the sound effects of any weapon. When launched, missles go ... | |
| Medical Discharge or Not? | 3/7/2007 |
| Q: My friend and I both signed up for the USAF and I was wondering if Social Phobia would get him ... A: I seriously doubt it would result in a discharge. Medical discharges are generally granted (or ... | |
| Medical discharge from boot camp | 3/6/2007 |
| Q: My daughter just called, frantic. She's getting medical discharge from Air Force boot camp for ... A: A medical discharge doesn't happen fast. I doubt that she said "six months." It was more likely "six ... | |
| Navy Commission | 3/4/2007 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, Browsing through previous questions you seem to be extremely knowledgeable on military ... A: I'm not sure I've heard of the program you're talking about. It seem like maybe ROTC? In any event, ... | |
| Possible mental health disqualifier | 3/3/2007 |
| Q: My stepson just entered the Army Delayed Entry Program. A few months ago he began seeing a mental ... A: Your Step-Son is required, by law, to disclose medical information and/or mental health information. ... | |
| national guard waivers | 3/2/2007 |
| Q: I am currently in the process of getting my Navy discharge upgraded. It appears that it was issued ... A: The National Guard is operated by the individual *state* government, and not the Federal government. ... | |
| Direct Commission & Your OCS Book | 2/22/2007 |
| Q: Good Morning SGT Powers. Can a 32 year old Finance Major with a Master's degree and 5 years prior ... A: I'm not sure what you mean by "direct commission?" In the Air Force "direct commissions" are usually ... | |
| time as fighter pilot | 2/21/2007 |
| Q: if you go to navy the colloge and apply to be a fighter pilot how long is training and how long is ... A: I'm not exactly sure what you're asking? In order to become a Navy fighter pilot, you must first ... | |
| reenlistment codes | 2/18/2007 |
| Q: i was honorably discharged under chapter 9. my reenlistment code is RE3. Can i still enlist in army ... A: No way to tell. An RE Code of 3 requires a waiver. There is no way to say, for sure, whether or not ... | |
| colonel age | 2/17/2007 |
| Q: I have a question for a story I'm writing for school. I have a character who is Colonel in the ... A: While it's nice to think someone could make the rank of full-colonel (O-6) at a young age, at a very ... | |
| Navy | 2/15/2007 |
| Q: I was wondering if you can answer this for me, assuming you know you want to join, how long does the ... A: I know you're looking for a definitive answer, but there isn't one. It can take anywhere from one ... | |
| TDRL Decision and Formal Appeal | 2/14/2007 |
| Q: I hope you can help. My husband was placed on TDRL in November 2005 for asthma, rated at 30%. He ... A: It probably wouldn't hurt to appeal (afterall, all they can do is say "no" -- ie, disapprove the ... | |
| Duty Stations and housing | 2/13/2007 |
| Q: Good Afternoon, My fiancee is a US Marine, currently stationed at Camp Lejune, NC and I wanted to ... A: Your fiancé's MOS (job) is in use at pretty much any Marine Corps Base (and several Navy Bases, ... | |
| i have been despertly trying to join the military for 2 years | 2/8/2007 |
| Q: I have been trying to become a marine for 2 years now and have been unsuccessful. i have repetitive ... A: I'm not sure there is anything I can do to help. You simply have too much of a criminal record. Each ... | |
| is the navy or USAF better is you want to be a fighter pilot and why | 2/7/2007 |
| Q: Is the navy or the USAF better if you are going to join and want to be a fighter pilot and why? A: The acceptance rate for both services are about the same. First, one needs to be able to pass a ... | |
| how old is the cut off to join the airforce | 2/6/2007 |
| Q: my boyfriend is 23 and he has been thinking about joining the air force for some time now . so i ... A: You may wish to see my article at: ... | |
| Navet Reenlistment | 2/4/2007 |
| Q: I am a 44y.o. that served 8+ years in the US Navy. I was honorably discharged in July 1989. Is their ... A: For prior service enlistments, the general rules (when it comes to age) is that you take your total ... | |
| joining the army | 2/2/2007 |
| Q: I was really considering joining the military (not sure which branch but maybe the army) and I'm ... A: Each of the services have weight charts they use to determine if someone is or is not eligible to ... | |
| Joining the military as an Officer | 1/31/2007 |
| Q: I am currently a 2nd year student in college and I've been thinking about joining the military for a ... A: I'm sorry, but you're asking questions that I can't answer. You asked, "Are these good reasons to ... | |
| Rangers vs. SF | 1/31/2007 |
| Q: I now have 2 questions, what is the main difference between the Army Rangers and the Special Forces? ... A: You may wish to see my article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/jointservices/a/specialops.htm. ... | |
| Marine PLC | 1/30/2007 |
| Q: I've been thinking about joining the marines as an officer. I did some research and came across a ... A: I just answered the exact same question you sent to me, via the About.com Website. It's not ... | |
| Medical Waiver | 1/25/2007 |
| Q: I am currently a freshmen in college and I am participating in the Army ROTC program. As a child I ... A: First of all, if you were diagnosed with Asthma before the age of 13, and have not have an attack ... | |
| Navy pilot vs aircrew | 1/23/2007 |
| Q: In Navy terminology, what is the difference between a F/A-18 pilot and the F/A-18 aircrew? Is a ... A: In an F-18 (or any other Navy aircraft), the pilot is called "a Navy Pilot." In a two-seat aircraft, ... | |
| Coast Guard Enlistment | 1/18/2007 |
| Q: My 21 year old son would like to enlist in the CG. He was just turned down because he had a DUI in ... A: A DUI is disqualifying for joining any of the military branches. With that being said, each of the ... | |
| medical discharge | 1/16/2007 |
| Q: My daughter enlisted in the army in July 04. Since then she has had surgery on both feet to correct ... A: No way to say for sure. Whether or not she is deployment eligibile is up to the medical ... | |
| Marine Corps enlistment | 1/15/2007 |
| Q: My friend enlisted in the Marine Corps and he said you don't get to choose your mOS,you just choose ... A: Yep. That's true. For details, see the "job selection" portion of my article, "What the Recruiter ... | |
| Hello Mr. Powers | 1/12/2007 |
| Q: My name is Henry and I really want to join the navy. I am 31 years old and when I was 18 years old I ... A: Waiver approval is dependent on several factors. One of the factors is how bad that particular ... | |
| Questions??? | 1/11/2007 |
| Q: My husband is about to graduate in a week and go straight to AIT, then to Airborne, Is there a way ... A: Passes in the Army, during AIT are generally based on the recruit's training progress and their ... | |
| Navy vs. Marine aviation | 1/11/2007 |
| Q: ..I sent you a ? a while back and you were very helpful. If you don't mind I have 1 or 2 more. I ... A: The primary difference is in the "life-style" of a Marine and a Sailor. Marines all consider ... | |
| Tanks in Iraq | 1/11/2007 |
| Q: Why doesn't America patrol Iraq in tanks? Canada had the same problem as USA regarding soldier ... A: We do have tanks in Iraq (and Afghanistan, and Kosovo, and Bosnia). Lot's of them. Tanks are useful ... | |
| USAF re-entry | 1/8/2007 |
| Q: I served a six year active duty enlistement with Security Forces. I suffered a knee injury, had ... A: Wrong form. The DD Form 293 is a request to upgrade a discharge (in other words, if you had a ... | |
| Air Force | 1/8/2007 |
| Q: Are you able to take your family with you everywhere you go? What do you do on active duty?Have you ... A: If you are assigned to a base in the states, you generally can take your family (at government ... | |
| BAH | 1/7/2007 |
| Q: Powers. Spc Croxton is providing no support what so ever except for sending the BAH and that is ... A: That's pretty "standard." Unless you have a court-order or a signed agreement stating otherwise, ... | |
| U.S. Army and Asthma | 1/7/2007 |
| Q: Sir: i'm 25, employed as a Network Engineering Manager but have had a life long dream to become ... A: If you had any instances of Asthma after the age of 13, it will require a waiver, and -- to get the ... | |
| MEPS | 1/7/2007 |
| Q: When i graduate from High School i want to pursue a career in the Army hopefully getting into ... A: Medical Standards to join the Armed Forces can be found on my website at: ... | |
| BAH | 1/6/2007 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, How long can I receive BAH if; I filed for a divorce in March of 2005 at my husband's ... A: First of all, you need to understand that you are not entitled to receive BAH (Basic Allowance for ... | |
| Commisioning into the Air Force | 1/6/2007 |
| Q: I received an entry level separation from the army back in 97. I have now graduated from college and ... A: The entry-level separation probably won't be a problem. The biggest problem will probably be ... | |
| can a soldier join the service if he/she are on probation | 1/5/2007 |
| Q: S. Armed Forces but they are currently on probation how does that work or can they join. A: First of all, the fact that they committed a criminal offense will likely require a waiver. Because ... | |
| Surgeon General Wiaver | 1/4/2007 |
| Q: I was just recently DQ'ed for headaches that I had quite some time ago. I was wondering if there ... A: You didn't say which service you were trying to join? When MEPS medically disqualifies a person for ... | |
| Navy "time" question... | 1/4/2007 |
| Q: Sgt. Powers: Not sure you're the person I should be asking this, but didn't see any Navy personnel ... A: Military time is run on a 24 hour clock. In other words, 1:00 AM is 0100 hours. 1:00 PM is 1300 ... | |
| air force | 1/3/2007 |
| Q: I was an active duty AF Capt/nurse from 1998-2003. I was in the inactive reserve 2003-2005. Tried ... A: No way to say how long it will take to hear back from your Congressman, but I expect the news won't ... | |
| Resigning a commission | 1/2/2007 |
| Q: Rod, let me first thank you for your service to all of us who have questions, but can't get the ... A: When you get into the area of contract enforceability, you're asking for legal advice. Because I'm ... | |
| Army future | 12/30/2006 |
| Q: I am 12 years old and I want to be in the army when I grow up. More exact, I want to be a weapon ... A: See my article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/jointservices/a/specialops.htm. Of course, you ... | |
| Marine Corps vision requirements | 12/29/2006 |
| Q: I did go to the site you suggested but did not see any info on the vision requirements. Is there ... A: Um...Check it again ( http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/l/bleyes2.htm). It says ... | |
| Fighter Pilot requirements | 12/29/2006 |
| Q: Well, I have been doing some research and hve talked to some recruiters about joining either the ... A: Fighter jets have ejection seats, and the ejection seats are designed for individuals who fall ... | |
| navy reservist resignation | 12/29/2006 |
| Q: If I may ask one more follow up specific to my current situation. If a Notice of Basic Eligibility ... A: Nothing. This form is used to determine eligibility for the Reserve Montgomery G.I. Bill. Using your ... | |
| Military discharge | 12/28/2006 |
| Q: I got an Other than honorable discharge from the Marine Corps and I wanted to know if I would be ... A: There aren't any "federal" standards for qualification for becoming a police officer. It's ... | |
| Obliserv and Reenlistment | 12/28/2006 |
| Q: OK, I've spoke to the Navy Career Counselor, again, and I apparently got the wrong impression. Now, ... A: Okay, I asked a really good friend of mine, who has spent several years as a Navy Career Counselor, ... | |
| navy life | 12/27/2006 |
| Q: My little brother is going for the navy seals and has been training for it for almost a year now. ... A: SEALS are front-line, special operation forces for the Navy. That means they deploy (a lot). They go ... | |
| navy reservist resignation | 12/26/2006 |
| Q: I do have two follow up questions. How would I obtain information regarding my original commitment? ... A: Every single person who joins the military for the first time incurs a total 8 year total service ... | |
| Obliserv and Reenlistment | 12/24/2006 |
| Q: I have been in the USN for 9 years and I'm currently serving overseas in Japan. To get her I had to ... A: I've not been able to find any instruction or regulation which requires you to extend your tour ... | |
| navy reservist resignation | 12/21/2006 |
| Q: I am an officer having spent 13 years in the reserve. For complicated personal reasons it is time ... A: It depends on whether or not you have a remaining service obligation. Service obligations are ... | |
| help getting a waiver | 12/20/2006 |
| Q: I am just ready to get back into the militery, I will go natinal guard if that is the approach i ... A: An RE Code of "3" generally means re-enlistment is possible, if a waiver is granted. The problem is ... | |
| top secret clearence | 12/20/2006 |
| Q: I was wondering how hard it is to get a top secret Clearance? What type of things are important? If ... A: You'll want to read my article, "Security Clearance Secrets" at: ... | |
| Active duty with Crohn's disease | 12/19/2006 |
| Q: Sorry, but that really didnt answer what I was looking for. I found this link: ... A: The conditions shown are disqualifying conditions. In other words, if you have any of the conditions ... | |
| coast guard dd214 | 12/19/2006 |
| Q: I was in the Coast Guard for a year and a half. Absolutely loved it. My mom got sick with cancer in ... A: The only way to change your RE Code is to request a change to your military records. For details ... | |
| info concerning cars with US specs | 12/17/2006 |
| Q: I'm currently stationed in Bahrain. I will be here for another year or so. I have found a car that ... A: Not specifically, because it's different from one car to another. However, when I was stationed in ... | |
| What classes should I take? | 12/16/2006 |
| Q: I only know my uncle jay who was a commercial airline pilot, but he never likes to talk much. How ... A: The only way that I know of to get a private pilot's license is to enroll in a local flight training ... | |
| A Medical Concern | 12/15/2006 |
| Q: I'm really considering joining the navy soon but I have a concern about my medical history. Back in ... A: For the military's current policy on childhood Asthma, see my article at: ... | |
| Naval Operations | 12/15/2006 |
| Q: I'm writing a book centered around a carrier group (the Theodore Roosevelt, to be specific, which is ... A: (1) If there is a declaration of war, who is the TR most likely to hear it from? CINCLANT, NAVCENT, ... | |
| What classes should I take? | 12/15/2006 |
| Q: my name is Cody L. Brothers. I am 14 and I severley want to pursue a job in the Air Force. My ... A: You'll want to load up on the science and math courses as much as you can in high school. More ... | |
| Military starting pay | 12/14/2006 |
| Q: I'm assembling information about starting pay in marine-related careers, and I wanted to include ... A: Not everyone receives "sea pay." In order to receive sea pay, you must be (1) stationed on a ship ... | |
| Inverted Flag | 12/14/2006 |
| Q: What is the significance of inverted flag on the Army uniforms? A: The flag patch is worn in this manner as to give the impression that the flag is flying in the ... | |
| UPT age wavier??? | 12/14/2006 |
| Q: I am currently a regional pilot and been rushing a reserve unit for about a year and a half. The ... A: You didn't say for which service? (Army reserves, Air Force Reserves, Navy Reserves, Marine Corps ... | |
| What Do I Major In? | 12/13/2006 |
| Q: I want to be a Airforce pilot, and I don't know what I have to major in to be one. I know I have to ... A: Actually, for Pilots and Navigators, the Air Force doesn't much care what the degree is in. I've ... | |
| Drug Misdemeaner | 12/13/2006 |
| Q: My son is 18 and was recently charged with a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge for ... A: No two ways around it, he will need a waiver. Chances of getting a waiver for the active duty Air ... | |
| Law enforcement vs Military | 12/13/2006 |
| Q: I am a college student studying to go into law enforcement. Some people I know think I should just ... A: Whether you are a civilian or an enlisted member, you have to have a college degree to become a ... | |
| Navy reenlistment | 12/12/2006 |
| Q: Would it be possible for me to reinlist at the age of 36 in another duty rating? If yes, what are ... A: It might be. Right now the Navy and the Air Force are "down-sizing" for most enlisted jobs. SEALS is ... | |
| Navy reenlistment | 12/11/2006 |
| Q: I am a Navy UT4 who enlisted under the NCS National Call to Service Program to serve 2 years active ... A: BUPERS was correct. About a year (or so) ago, they issued a message that pretty much stated that ... | |
| Navy | 12/11/2006 |
| Q: I am only 13 years old ,but am thinking of a career in the military. The thing is that I have ... A: No way to say for sure. The military doctor at MEPS would examine your medical history and make a ... | |
| living arrangements | 12/10/2006 |
| Q: My boyfriend just joined the marine corps and he wants me to go with him wherever he is stationed. ... A: Sorry, but the military will not pay for single members to "shack up" (if they did, tax-payers would ... | |
| Aviation | 12/10/2006 |
| Q: First of all, I want to go to either the Air Force Academy or Naval Academy, but assuming i don't ... A: >>If i did, how many people(%) get to go to pilot training.<< In both services, about 30 to 40 ... | |
| Navy deployments | 12/9/2006 |
| Q: I was just wondering what the usual length of Navy deployments is? I cant seem to find anything ... A: Normal "Peace Time" deployments (on a ship) is about six months. However, this isn't "peace time." ... | |
| RE-3 for drug use | 12/9/2006 |
| Q: I heard the Navy tends to issue an RE-3 reenlistment code to recruits who fail the drug test in boot ... A: Each of the services have their own policy when it comes to illegal drug use, especially for ... | |
| Honorable with RE-4 | 12/9/2006 |
| Q: Okay, I see many questions that are very similar, but not quite the same. I was in the Coast Guard ... A: RE Codes (Re-Enlistment Eligibility Codes) have nothing to do with the service characterization (ie, ... | |
| tour lenght | 12/8/2006 |
| Q: ...i was wonder how long the tours were if your a pilot in the air force, marines, army, navy, coast ... A: First of all, I'm sure you know that becoming a pilot in the military is very competitive. With the ... | |
| wondering? | 12/8/2006 |
| Q: I am still attending high school this year is my last and i was always into making big time ... A: Sure. Read my article, "U.S. Military 101" to learn about the differences between the service ... | |
| medical injury | 12/7/2006 |
| Q: I am 2 weeks away from terminal leave, was on stop-loss. Yesterday I did my last airborne operation ... A: I wish I could give you an exact answer, but it's going to be up to your command. In short, yes, ... | |
| Reenlisting and releasing va disability | 12/6/2006 |
| Q: I understand it's a crap shoot trying to reenlist with a RE-3P. I would have to release my VA ... A: The law prohibits receiving military compensation and VA disability compensation at the same time. ... | |
| Militay, secret security clearance and bankruptcy | 12/6/2006 |
| Q: I am interested in joining the Army for quite a few reasons, yet I have a large concern. I graduated ... A: I wish I could answer "yes" or "no," but I can't (nor can any recruiter). Recent bankrupcy requires ... | |
| Military pilots | 12/4/2006 |
| Q: I have a private pilots license and a degree in aviation management. I was wondering how much this ... A: In the military services, pilots are commissioned officers. In the Army, there is an exception as, ... | |
| physical and education | 12/4/2006 |
| Q: airforceis there a physical strength test you have to past and are you going to go to missions why ... A: For the Air Force, there is a physical strength test you take at MEPS (Military Entrance Processing ... | |
| Resigning an Army Reserve commission | 12/4/2006 |
| Q: This will probably be my last group of questions. Finishing out my contract as an enlisted soldier ... A: All of this is entirely up to your command. It's possible, if you refuse to go to OCS, you could ... | |
| Shipment of POV | 12/4/2006 |
| Q: Mr Powers, You provided guidance on shipping a POV from an overseas deployment in an article you ... A: Can you give me the URL (address) of the article? Unless I'm forgetting something, military members ... | |
| History of Asthma | 12/4/2006 |
| Q: I joined the army several years ago despite having asthma. I got an EPTS discharge since they found ... A: The Department of Defense changed their standards for previous history of Asthma a couple of years ... | |
| Resigning an Army Reserve commission | 12/3/2006 |
| Q: I became an officer as the result of a direct commission. I am not scheduled to attend OCS ... A: Okay, it's a little more clear now. YOu won't be able to resign your commission until your current ... | |
| Resigning an Army Reserve commission | 12/3/2006 |
| Q: My predicament is actually a little more complicated; I don't think I explained it very well. I ... A: Okay, I am confused. How did you become an officer? Did you attend OCS? If so, you incurred a three ... | |
| Resigning an Army Reserve commission | 12/1/2006 |
| Q: I happily spent my first six years in the Army Reserves as an enlisted soldier who worked his ... A: As you probably know, everyone who joins the military incurs a total 8 year service obligation. It ... | |
| 17 year old with juvenile misdemeanor record | 12/1/2006 |
| Q: Do you know if it is possible for my son to join the Coast Guard if he was arrested when he was 14. ... A: Much would depend on what the charge was. The military services have their own definition of what ... | |
| Honorable and an OTH discharge | 11/30/2006 |
| Q: If a person served in the Air Force for 10 years and received an honorable discharge but then when ... A: I'm afraid I don't know, as I don't know the requirements of the company that is looking to hire ... | |
| physical and education | 11/30/2006 |
| Q: is there a physical strength test you have to past and are you going to go to missions why you are ... A: Which service are you asking about? Active duty Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast ... | |
| Coast Guard Disqualification Rules | 11/29/2006 |
| Q: My son passed drug test, physical, and all but was disqualified because he honestly answered a ... A: First of all, there isn't anything you can really do to fight any medical qualification ruling. ... | |
| pregnancy and awol | 11/29/2006 |
| Q: My boyfriend found out a few months ago that an ex (who happened to be in the army)of his was ... A: You're making the (very common) mistake of confusing criminal law with civil law. The Military has ... | |
| AWOL | 11/28/2006 |
| Q: So that means theres a possibiltiy that he could be discharged according to his case and not have to ... A: I know you want a "yes" or "no" answer, but there is no way I can provide one. There isn't any "what ... | |
| Question | 11/28/2006 |
| Q: I’ve been reading your post for a few months now and I have a few questions, I hope you don't mind ... A: The 12 years experience probably won't be a factor (for advanced rank). However the Army will ... | |
| AWOL | 11/27/2006 |
| Q: My brother, has been awol for a little over a year and a half going on two years,he was arrested ... A: I've afraid there's no way to answer the question with any certainty. In civilian life, the ... | |
| Navy Discharge | 11/27/2006 |
| Q: My name is Randi and I joined the Navy my senior year in 0ct of 2005. I was sent to bootcamp on Sep ... A: I'm afraid not. You'll want to check out the official Veteran's Administration website at: ... | |
| Question | 11/26/2006 |
| Q: I’ve been reading your post for a few months now and I have a few questions, I hope you don't mind ... A: I'm afraid your chances of a commission with a felony conviction are so slim as to be pretty much ... | |
| BNCOC | 11/22/2006 |
| Q: if a soldier was permoted to sgt in 1986 and it was not a requirement to go to pldc to get permoted ... A: Yep. While there was (at the time) no requirement to attend PLDC for promotion, BNCOC has ... | |
| Military Terms | 11/21/2006 |
| Q: What do the following mean: LR, TR, TLR, FLR, WC, MF(Meyer Factor)? TLR= TR + LR FLF= TLR divided ... A: I'm afraid you're going to have to be a whole lot more specific than that. For what service (Army, ... | |
| Resigning my commission | 11/20/2006 |
| Q: I have served 5.5yrs of my contract as a memeber of the National Guard & now the Reserves. I do not ... A: The process to resign your commission is not a "form," but rather a letter, addressed to your ... | |
| R K surgery | 11/19/2006 |
| Q: He had Radial Keratotomy. He only had about 6 icisions on each eye. It wasn't lazer. His eyes were ... A: I'm sorry, I shouldn't have called it "laser." I should have called it just "surgery." You're right ... | |
| R K surgery | 11/19/2006 |
| Q: My son wants to join the army. He has been in college for 5 yrs. to be a police officer and still ... A: By the term "R K surgery," I assume you mean "PRK surgery," which is a type of laser eye surgery? ... | |
| Naval aviation assignments | 11/16/2006 |
| Q: I am currently a Navy DEP right now shipping out in 2 months. I may be getting a bit ahead of myself ... A: You'll want to see my article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/joiningup/a/recruiter10.htm. It ... | |
| Military Retirees (20+ years) | 11/16/2006 |
| Q: I so hope you can help me find statistics regarding how many military personnel retired from service ... A: You'll want to see the FY 2005 Department of Defense Statistical Report on Military retirement at: ... | |
| renlistment | 11/15/2006 |
| Q: ok,what if i only had two years service before being put on tdrl?And,does being on tdrl mean time ... A: Time on the TDRL does not count toward total active military federal service. So, if you were ... | |
| renlistment | 11/15/2006 |
| Q: SINCE I'M AT 30% AND ON TDRL.IF I WAS TO GET FULLY PERMANENTLY RETIRED HOW MUCH WOULD MY PAY BE AND ... A: If you were "permantly medically retired" at 30 percent, you would receive the same in medical ... | |
| desertion or AWOL consequences | 11/13/2006 |
| Q: We read that the maximum punishment would be jail time for a years, no pay and a dishonorable ... A: Let's look at the absolute worse case scenario. If she turns herself in, she cannot be prosecuted ... | |
| Moving to Korea | 11/12/2006 |
| Q: He was sent to Korea Nov 2, 2006 and of course we are not married yet, but before he left a army ... A: There are three types of overseas tours: The first type are those to areas which are considered ... | |
| resignation of a commission | 11/12/2006 |
| Q: I have a friend who is comtemplating resigning his commission in the AF Reserve for a variety of ... A: I'm afraid there's not enough information for me to render an opinion. Commissioned officers incur ... | |
| enlisting.. | 11/12/2006 |
| Q: My fiancee is thinking about joining the marines, and i was wondering when he went off to bootcamp ... A: In basic training (boot camp), it doesn't matter if you're married or not. He won't be allowed any ... | |
| Nurse... | 11/10/2006 |
| Q: In your opinion... What branch of military offers the best Nursing Program? Army, Navy, or Air ... A: It isn't a matter of "best," but rather a matter of "focus." All of the branches have nurses ... | |
| uniformed military | 11/10/2006 |
| Q: How many men and women currently are in uniform in all branches of the military? A: It depends on if you include just active duty, or the Reserves, as well. For Fiscal Year 2007, the ... | |
| Felony Conviction | 11/8/2006 |
| Q: I have 3 agg batteries on my record but I do have a bachelors degree in sychology. Do I still fall ... A: I wish I had better news for you, but I don't. It's *possible* for a single felony conviction to be ... | |
| admin sep-benifits? | 11/7/2006 |
| Q: If my daughter is forced out of the Marines before her 180 days on an admin separation will she have ... A: Maybe. For many Veteran's Administration (VA) veteran's benefits, one must have a certain amount of ... | |
| Breach of Guaranteed Job Discharge | 11/7/2006 |
| Q: I reciently joined the army under the MOS 18x. I went to basic and found out that my foot condition ... A: I'm afraid not. Under the 18x option, if you fail to complete training for any reason, you are ... | |
| admin sep | 11/6/2006 |
| Q: my daughter has fractures in her legs, graduated boot camp on crutches. has not had time to heal ... A: Who said that she couldn't put on her resume that she was in the Marine Corps? When we're talking ... | |
| Resigning a commission | 11/6/2006 |
| Q: Are you saying it was their option to send me, but since I did not sign another contract (as you ... A: Some schools *do* add an additional service commitment. However, when such is the case, you are ... | |
| renlistment | 11/6/2006 |
| Q: Considering my 30% rating and being put on tdrl do you have any ideas on the outcome.Well i don't ... A: If you're on the Temporary Disabled Retirement List (TDRL), you should be medically re-evaluated at ... | |
| mos duty locations | 11/6/2006 |
| Q: Is there a website that i can go to to get a list of possible duty stations based on a particular ... A: I wish there was. If there was, I would have it on my website in an instant. However the only ... | |
| Question concerning Coast Guard: | 11/5/2006 |
| Q: Hey Rod, first I want to commend you on your continued assistance and what knowledge you bring to ... A: Where did you get the "too old" fact? In most of the military branches, the maximum age for ... | |
| renlistment | 11/5/2006 |
| Q: Well i don't like to think i didn't make/because i never had asthma in the past and until i had ... A: There is no way that anyone can guess about whether a waiver would be approved, or not, as each and ... | |
| ETS | 11/5/2006 |
| Q: I ETS in about 6 weeks, I have already done my ETS physical I and II. I had a back injury in the ... A: No, it's not true. I know of no regualtion, instruction, or order which states your unit cannot make ... | |
| renlistment | 11/5/2006 |
| Q: I was medical discharged from the army in 04 and was put on tdrl.i was discharged with medically ... A: It's "possible," but extremely unlikely. It doesn't matter whether or not you "feel fine," the fact ... | |
| WWII army ranger uniform | 11/4/2006 |
| Q: I have often seen in documentaries, movies, etc on rangers in WWII and I have seen Corporal/SGT ... A: The "T," stands for "technical." In the "old days," the Army discriminated between NCO ... | |
| Which would allow more opportunities? | 11/3/2006 |
| Q: I don't want to use the term "better" but i want to know which would be the best branch of service ... A: I wish I could help, but there is no way to answer that question. What is "best" for you, may not be ... | |
| Age limits | 11/3/2006 |
| Q: What is the age limit for enrolling in the Army? THanks. A: You may wish to see my enlistment standards article at: ... | |
| marriage in the milistary? | 11/3/2006 |
| Q: i was just wondering what your insight is on marriage in the military. my husband has been ... A: I don't believe for one second that "infidelity" comes with a military lifestyle, anymore than it ... | |
| Resigning a commission | 11/2/2006 |
| Q: I have had a great eleven years as an officer in the National Guard (including time in Iraq), but ... A: Some military training schools mandate an increase in the military service obligation. However, rest ... | |
| School | 11/2/2006 |
| Q: I have been thinking of joining the Coast Guard but I have only one question... While in the Coast ... A: Even though the Coast Guard falls under the Department of Homeland Security, instead of the ... | |
| board | 11/1/2006 |
| Q: is attending a board for the army mandatory (soldier of the quater) A: Usually no, but it can be. If your superior orders you to appear before the board, it becomes an ... | |
| Concerned Fiance | 11/1/2006 |
| Q: I am soon to be married to a wonderful woman who is a Capt. in the USAF. While this is a joyous time ... A: Your previous history won't have any impact on whether or not you can live in on-base military ... | |
| PFA seperation | 10/31/2006 |
| Q: I'm being told by my chain of command that if I fail my next PFA that I wont be entitled to ... A: In the past year, the Navy has gotten *very tough* about physical fitness. I mean *very tough.* You ... | |
| marriage in germany? | 10/30/2006 |
| Q: My boyfriend is currently stationed in Germany and I am planning on visiting in December and we want ... A: Yes, it's possible, but it's not quick, and it's not easy. Each country has it's own procedures. A ... | |
| Innaccurate DD-214, IRR Question | 10/30/2006 |
| Q: Rod - Thanks for the excellent information. If you were in my shoes, would you even bother with ... A: Personally, if it was me, I wouldn't worry about it. Military members aren't recalled to active ... | |
| Medical Discharge | 10/29/2006 |
| Q: I enlisted in to the USCG and i was received a medical discharge for An impacted k9 tooth with an ... A: I wish I could say, but I can't. I have a "standard answer" when it comes to ANY waiver. There is ... | |
| felony enlistment | 10/29/2006 |
| Q: Can I enlist into any branch of the military with a first degree robbery charge, simple robbery ... A: The simple answer is "no." It's (barely) possible to enlist in the Army with a previous felony, but ... | |
| Discharge from the military | 10/29/2006 |
| Q: It is not a ROTC scholarship, I am active duty going full time to a university; I do not do drills ... A: You visit a military medical facility, and get examined. They will decide whether or not your ... | |
| entitlement | 10/29/2006 |
| Q: I received a involuntary seperation, at the the time I had 11 years of service and 65 days of leave ... A: Afraid not. Terminal leave is not a "right." It is a privilege that your unit commander can ... | |
| Follow-up question | 10/28/2006 |
| Q: I have read much of your publications regarding what the recruiter never told you. I want to know ... A: >>I want to know if some of the things you wrote are still accurate to date.<< I update this ... | |
| discharge | 10/28/2006 |
| Q: Will they keep me in custody for the remainder of my contract when they discharge me? If i turn ... A: I wish I could say for sure, but I can't. If the commander decides to process you for administrative ... | |
| Discharge from the military | 10/28/2006 |
| Q: I am a junior in college and get full pay to go to school; so I am treated as if I am a typical ... A: Hmm.....Sounds like it may be an ROTC Scholarship? If so, you need to present your medical problems ... | |
| Discharge from the military | 10/27/2006 |
| Q: I am in an officer commissioning program but I signed a four year obligation to service that I would ... A: Because you use the term "non-rate," I assume you're in an officer commissioning program for the ... | |
| military | 10/26/2006 |
| Q: Also can you explain PLC for marines it seems to easy go to boot camp go to college and train during ... A: I assume from your message that you're thinking of becoming a commissioned officer, either through ... | |
| Innaccurate DD-214, IRR Question | 10/26/2006 |
| Q: Rod - In 1999, I was commissioned into the Army as an officer. In 2002, my active duty commitment ... A: Your active duty personnel unit made a mistake by entering the TXARNG unit on your DD Form 214. The ... | |
| Military | 10/24/2006 |
| Q: which is better the army,navy,airforce,or marines A: I wish I could answer your question, but there isn't any correct answer. It's like asking, "Which is ... | |
| Upgrading a discharge | 10/24/2006 |
| Q: a few months ago I asked a question about a discharge I received in Navy basic training for asthma. ... A: In my experience, a Congressman is worthless in this type of situation. Congress-critters can be ... | |
| Jobs least likely to be deployed. | 10/24/2006 |
| Q: I am a recently married male with one step child and twins on the way. I am eager to join the ... A: The answer to your question *used* to be pretty simple. Those with combat jobs deployed the most, ... | |
| DSN numbers | 10/24/2006 |
| Q: Yes, I understand this do you know of a AFB close to NY so he can call it, he is trying to find one ... A: Unfortunately, there aren't any Air Force Bases in New York. There used to be Griffith AFB, but that ... | |
| DSN numbers | 10/24/2006 |
| Q: How do I obtain a dsn number my son is in the Air Force and is over seas and asked me to get a local ... A: Your son is apparently confused. You *cannot* get a DSN number. DSN stands for "Defense System ... | |
| discharge | 10/22/2006 |
| Q: My weapon discharged through my hand in basic training. I did not want to stay in however they ... A: Your best course of action is to turn yourself in. Here's why: There are two possible offenses, ... | |
| Active Duty | 10/19/2006 |
| Q: I am prior service Army. I recently joined the Airforce reserve. I want to go back Active Duty. ... A: What everyone has told you is correct. The active duty Air Force has announced that they plan to cut ... | |
| Medical Discharge | 10/17/2006 |
| Q: I am currently in the army and I was recently diagnosed with Kienbock's Disease. I have basically no ... A: For medical discharge/medical retirement, it's not "in your hands," and there isn't anything you can ... | |
| RANK | 10/17/2006 |
| Q: I WAS WONDERING HOW LONG SOMEONE COULD BE AN E-4 / SPECIALIST IN THE ARMY BEFORE GETTING KICKED OUT ... A: What you're asking about is called "High Year of Tenure." For the Army, it's 10 years ... | |
| I just dont know what to go for | 10/17/2006 |
| Q: Ok I have yet another question for you. It sounds like you need to get threw a lot, to get into ... A: The Marines *used* to have a program where they would guaranteed Recon Training in the enlistment ... | |
| Marine MOS/Aviation | 10/17/2006 |
| Q: I had a friend who joined the Marines, he said when he joined they gave him a choice of 3 MOS he ... A: I'm afraid that's the way the Marine Corps does enlisted job choices. For details, see my article ... | |
| Army Aviation | 10/17/2006 |
| Q: I want to be a pilot, and was thinking about joining the army; and although helicopters are cool, ... A: The Army has not jets -- no fighters. They have a few (very few) fixed-wing prop aircraft, but to ... | |
| Separation from service | 10/17/2006 |
| Q: My son has been in the USCG for 3 years BM3. Unfortunately he managed to get into a little trouble ... A: No way to say for sure, as separation will be up to his commanding officer (see my article at: ... | |
| what colleges | 10/16/2006 |
| Q: what colleges are available that train fighter pilots for the marines? I really need to know... ... A: I'm afraid there aren't any colleges which train fighter pilots for any of the services. To become ... | |
| Navy Standard Statement of Service | 10/15/2006 |
| Q: Is there a website I can go to to look them up? for example: S1 rank, job code 76300, GCT mark 36, ... A: I'm afraid I don't know of any websites which show those abbreviations, most especially the ... | |
| Coast Guard | 10/14/2006 |
| Q: Hi I am doing a career speech in my Public Speaking Class and I was wondering what the salary for a ... A: It's not as simple as that. A military member isn't paid, based on what their job is, but rather ... | |
| marines | 10/14/2006 |
| Q: Ok so the recon marines assigned to Special Purpose perform missions, such as the Army Rangers, ... A: First, you have to join the Marines in an Infantry MOS. After basic training, and during the School ... | |
| U.S. Army awards | 10/12/2006 |
| Q: Has the Army begun awarding second and third awards of the Combat Infantryman's Badge again? THE ... A: To my knowledge, nothing has changed. The latest Army regulation on the subject is dated 1995 (which ... | |
| alcohol before bootcamp | 10/12/2006 |
| Q: I heard from someone that you cant drink 48 hours before leaving to basic training. Why is this? ... A: Assuming you are old enough to drink (age 21 in most states), there is no such rule or regulation, ... | |
| medical seperation | 10/11/2006 |
| Q: Sir, In July I was placed on meds for high blood pressure, both my lower and upper numbers were ... A: They can, but it's unlikely. There are dozens of medications which can control hypertension (high ... | |
| army recruiter prerequisites | 10/11/2006 |
| Q: I wanted to ask what the prerequisites are for being an army recruiter. More specifically, if ... A: Military recruiters are active duty members (for active duty recruiting) and Reserve military ... | |
| brownsugar101085@hotmail.com | 10/10/2006 |
| Q: I recently signed up for the coast guard, took my asvab, and physical and filled out all the paper ... A: I'm afraid that the only thing you can do is to keep working to get those college credits. The ... | |
| About the airforce | 10/10/2006 |
| Q: Long story short: My husand was looking into joining the coast guard, all the paper work and test ... A: The Air Force takes *very few* GED-holders each year (less than 0.05 percent). In other words, he ... | |
| Time to advance to rank of Sergeant | 10/10/2006 |
| Q: My Son is anxious to start a career in the Military. He has been told many things by many people. ... A: For which service? Each of the services have different rules for advanced rank. For details, you may ... | |
| PTSD | 10/10/2006 |
| Q: My son served 2 tours in Iraq both during war and peace keeping. He has been diagnosed with PTSD by ... A: See my article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/a/medseparation.htm. As far as the ... | |
| AWOL | 10/10/2006 |
| Q: i went awol about 3 months ago from basic training i was allready being discharged for EPTS and the ... A: At this time, you're not "AWOL." You're classified as a "Deserter." For the elements of proof for ... | |
| Air Force Deployment | 10/7/2006 |
| Q: my fiance is leaving for BMT for the Air Force in January. I hear about a lot of soldiers and ... A: There are hundreds of Air Force personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and other areas in the ... | |
| dsn numbers | 10/7/2006 |
| Q: Can you give me a dsn number that will allow me to call home to my wife because I can not find one ... A: I'm afraid I can't, and here's why. DSN numbers are phone numbers which allows calls from one ... | |
| Coast Guard | 10/5/2006 |
| Q: I am a freshman in college and for my freshman english course we are required to write a paper ... A: See my article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/coastguard/a/uscghistory.htm. Also see my article ... | |
| how much a fighter pilot makes a year? | 10/5/2006 |
| Q: how much a fighter pilot makes a year? A: All members of the military (whether they fly fighter aircraft, or drive tanks), receive "base pay," ... | |
| U.S Coast Guard | 10/5/2006 |
| Q: When in the Coast Guard are you allowed to go home after your day of work is over? A: It depends. The military (none of the branches) are like civilian jobs. In other words, there are no ... | |
| Basic Training Changes | 10/4/2006 |
| Q: I have been trying to get the right answer for this. I will be graduating from college in December, ... A: The Air National Guard Recruiter is wrong. The length of Air Force Basic Training can't be changed ... | |
| military law | 10/4/2006 |
| Q: I am navy veteran, I did 4 active and 4 reserves. I recently graduated with a BS in Criminal ... A: See my article about prior service enlistments at: ... | |
| Marines | 10/4/2006 |
| Q: I recently decided to join the AF as enlisted and while enlisted go to school so that I can become ... A: The Marines are certainly not part of the Army. While they fall under the Department of the Navy, ... | |
| felony and more | 10/3/2006 |
| Q: The recent news lately is the Army told him he is disqualified.Than 2 hours later recieves a phone ... A: Okay, I don't wish to make you angry, but the first thing that needs to get fixed is attitude. ... | |
| ??!!!??!!??!!?? | 10/3/2006 |
| Q: Why are they taking the F-14D Tomcat out of service? A: The First F-14 was delivered to the Navy in 1990. The last one came off the production line in 1992. ... | |
| possible enlistment | 10/3/2006 |
| Q: Sir, I have a question that I hope you will be able to answer for me. I am a convicted felon for 2 ... A: I'm afraid not. In fact, it's against military regulations to accept applicants for enlistment, as ... | |
| ROTC | 10/3/2006 |
| Q: Hey Rod I want to start by thanking you for your answer before hand ok so starting with some ... A: >>if i were to go enlisted what rank would i start at after completing 4 years of MJROTC.<< It ... | |
| Army to Airforce | 10/2/2006 |
| Q: My husband has been in the Army for 12 weeks, so basically he is just starting his AIT, MOS 25Q. ... A: I wish I had better news for you, but the simple fact of the matter is that he can't switch over ... | |
| Coast Guard medical discharge | 10/1/2006 |
| Q: Can a person get a discharge from the U. S. Coast Guard because of a shellfish allergy? A: It's doubtful that a shellfish allergy would justify a discharge from any of the services. Medical ... | |
| AIRCRAFT CARRIER LIVING QUARTERS | 9/28/2006 |
| Q: I'm writing a novel that requires a description of a living space on an aircraft carrier (my ... A: U.S. Aircraft carriers are small cities. They carry a crew of about 3,500 sailors and officers. A ... | |
| submarines | 9/27/2006 |
| Q: What is the title of the guy that drives a submarine. Thanks for your time A: The title is the same as for those who steer Naval ships. The title is "Helmsman." For more ... | |
| how do i become a pilot | 9/27/2006 |
| Q: ok thanks is there another way to become a pilot threw the military that is almost garranteed?and if ... A: I'm afraid there simply are no guarantees, nor even "almost guarantees." As I said, everyone wants ... | |
| Chapter 13 for an Officer | 9/26/2006 |
| Q: I am an Army Captain and have been in for three years. I plan to leave the Army at my four year ... A: It's certainly possible for officers to be Chaptered for failure to meet PT Standards, just as it's ... | |
| Air Force Security Force deployment | 9/26/2006 |
| Q: My son will be completing the enlisted securiy forces training after the first of the year. as a ... A: Once he graduates from Security Forces Technical School, he will be granted a week (or so) of leave ... | |
| AF Basic Grad. Lodging | 9/26/2006 |
| Q: My son is in Basic now and will be graduating in November, I have an oppertunity to stay in the ... A: On Base lodging will not be as luxurious as a hotel off base, but it will be more convenient, and ... | |
| how do i become a pilot | 9/24/2006 |
| Q: Hello i am 15.I want to become an airline pilot of a boeing 777.and travel the world. My flight ... A: I won't mince words with you. To become a pilot in the Air Force, you must first become a ... | |
| joining army | 9/24/2006 |
| Q: I am wondering if i was diagnosed with bi-poler disorder is it possible for me to join to the us ... A: It's not likely. This is especially true if you require medication to control the disorder. For ... | |
| Getting out! I need help | 9/23/2006 |
| Q: The article you wrote is broken down into multiple different parts, and each part had different ... A: The information about National Guard discharges is on page 4 and 5 of the article. Page 4 of the ... | |
| Ex-wife and discharge information | 9/23/2006 |
| Q: During the course my divorce and prior to it being finalized my husband at the time was discharged ... A: The records you're interested in (reason for discharge, and discharge characterization) is protected ... | |
| enlisting | 9/23/2006 |
| Q: I am 36 and became a felon in the year 2000. can I join any of the forces? (waivers and such) A: By "felon," do you mean you were convicted of a felony? If so, I'm afraid the chances of joining any ... | |
| re-inlist after 15 years | 9/23/2006 |
| Q: My ex-husband has been out of the Navy for 15 years,he is now 47 years old.He is wanting to ... A: You didn't say how long he served????? See my article about enlistment standards, at: ... | |
| Fighter Navigator trng... | 9/22/2006 |
| Q: I have a 2-part question if you don't mind. I am a junior in college and want to go into military ... A: Aviation vision requirements for all the services can be found at: ... | |
| age limits reserves | 9/21/2006 |
| Q: I have been looking at joining the reserves, but I'm worried that I'm too old, now 37. I'm most ... A: Assuming you have no prior military service, you're too old for the Air Force and Coast Guard ... | |
| Comment | 9/20/2006 |
| Q: Mr. Powers I'd like to THANK YOU!! My son recently began his military career with the US Army at ... A: I'm very glad my articles have helped. And -- thanks to your Son! for volunteering to support our ... | |
| medical requirments in air force | 9/19/2006 |
| Q: I am trying to join the air force after my degree(officer or enlisted), but I didn't know whether ... A: Under current medical standards, retainers and braces are not a disqualifying factor, as long as all ... | |
| UA Marine | 9/19/2006 |
| Q: my bestfriend went UA from the Marines two and a half months ago. he said he was unsure if he could ... A: Once he was gone for over 30 days, a federal warrant was issued for his arrest. That means, if he is ... | |
| I need to know how to get out | 9/18/2006 |
| Q: I'm a minor and joined the ARNG under the split option program. I already went to basic traning and ... A: I'm afraid that your parent's signature is all that's required to make your commitment legal. It ... | |
| marines or army ROTC | 9/17/2006 |
| Q: If one was to do ROTC in college and wanted maximum chance to earn an infantry platoon leader ... A: Both the Army and the Marines need infantry officers, so there is not much difference (in chances of ... | |
| RE-C3? | 9/16/2006 |
| Q: I was discharged in November of 2005 with an HRB1(Homosexual addmissions) and code of RE-C3. Am I ... A: An RE Code of "3," means a waiver is possible. However, in the case of homosexual admissions, a ... | |
| boot camp | 9/14/2006 |
| Q: i was wondering how can i get into a military bootcamp?Do you really have to be in shape? Or it ... A: I'm not entirely sure I understand you question???? You go to military boot camp, when you join the ... | |
| Patches/Medals | 9/13/2006 |
| Q: Powers, My grandfather just passed away a few weeks ago. He served in WWII, and up until this ... A: You may wish to try the About.com Military History Site at: http://militaryhistory.about.com. The ... | |
| Juvenile History | 9/12/2006 |
| Q: I have 8 juvenile misdomenors that I commited prior to the age of 16. Am I still eligable to join ... A: 8 offenses is a lot. It will almost surely require a waiver (depending on the speficic offenses), no ... | |
| Navy Reserve | 9/11/2006 |
| Q: I actually have two questions. 1. How much do i have to weigh to join the navy? 2. How tall do i ... A: Weight Charts for initial enlistment in the Navy can be found on my website at: ... | |
| AWOL/Desertion | 9/10/2006 |
| Q: I was on medical leave for 30 days; (doing basic) they said that I would have medical coverage. I ... A: Unfortunately, when on active duty, you don't get to decide whether or not you can or cannot report ... | |
| 7411 | 9/8/2006 |
| Q: i had an unfortunate run in back in 1999 with a narcotic felony. it was dismissed under 7411 upon ... A: In the military, there aren't any "loop-holes" or strings. When it comes to criminal history ... | |
| gi benefits | 9/7/2006 |
| Q: In a month I could be discharged for mental healtyh issue. What kind of discharge would i get? ... A: A "mental health" discharge is *almost* always an "honorable" discharge, unless there are issues in ... | |
| felony and more | 9/6/2006 |
| Q: My boyfriend is currently trying to enlist in the US Army. He has already been turned down from the ... A: I'm not sure where you heard that the Army is "desperate" for recruits. For the past 13 months, the ... | |
| Disqualification? | 9/5/2006 |
| Q: is it true that if a person is permanently disqualified from the Air Force they can still try to ... A: DoD (Department of Defense) sets the overall medical standards for joining the U.S. Military. If one ... | |
| Marriage??? | 9/5/2006 |
| Q: ------------------------- Sorry to be a pain Rod, but, so he would not be able to recieve a housing ... A: Different bases have different policies. It depends primarily on the occupancy rate of the ... | |
| Marriage??? | 9/4/2006 |
| Q: I have a question...ok, my boyfriend is in the Navy...we've been together for going on four ... A: He'll most likely be allowed to (unoffically) live off base, but he would receive a housing ... | |
| Didn't receive your reply 1st time!! | 9/4/2006 |
| Q: Sorry to bother you again. It's Jeff with the question about joining the Army if I take ... A: It will require a waiver. Now, whether or not a medical waiver will be approved is anyone's guess. ... | |
| Medical | 9/3/2006 |
| Q: My question is regarding what my chances of enlisting or becoming an officer are if I had a brain ... A: As you indicated, it will require a medical waiver. Would such a waiver be approved? Nobody can say. ... | |
| US Navy Aviator | 9/2/2006 |
| Q: Since I was a kid I've been in love with the idea of becoming a naval aviator in the US NAVY. I have ... A: First of all, in order to become an aviator in either the Navy or the Air Force, you must be a ... | |
| pay | 9/2/2006 |
| Q: im going into boot camp how much do you earn as a E-1 my job is infantry A: You may wish to read my article, "What the Recruiter Never Told You" at: ... | |
| Re-enlisting | 8/31/2006 |
| Q: I was honorably discharged from the air force in Nov 05. I moved back home to Michigan, the only job ... A: Your chances of getting back into the Air Force, as a prior service enlistee are about the same as ... | |
| medical discharge waiver | 8/31/2006 |
| Q: is it possible to recieve veteran pay after being medically discharged from navy bootcamp with ... A: One can apply for monthly disability compensation from the VA (Veterans Administration), if the VA ... | |
| marines | 8/30/2006 |
| Q: im 17 and i am interested in joining the marines. my question is if it is even possible for me to ... A: Depending on the offense, it will probably require a waiver. For the Marines, see my article at: ... | |
| Enlistment | 8/29/2006 |
| Q: This is Sam 24. I am currently in the enlistment process for the United Sates Marine Corps. I have ... A: Probably not. The fact that you were in drug rehabilitation is a disqualifying factor, and nobody ... | |
| Coast Guard Pilot | 8/29/2006 |
| Q: I am a Freshmen at Kent State, majoring in flight Technology, I would like to join the Coast Guard ... A: In most cases, the Coast Guard only accepts pilot applicants from those with military flight ... | |
| Joining Army with a felony | 8/28/2006 |
| Q: My husband is wanting to join the army. However, about 10 years ago he was arrested for "child ... A: It's simply impossible to say. I can say it will require a waiver. However, there is no way that I ... | |
| DD-214 | 8/24/2006 |
| Q: For a re-enlistment code on my DD-214's, I have an N/A....why wouldn't I have a number? A: It should have a number. It's quite possible that the copy of the DD Form 214 you have is what is ... | |
| Xbf wants army career? I say impossible~ | 8/23/2006 |
| Q: .....I'm only 16, my xbf has always wanted to be a P.O.He has had a few run in's with the law,the ... A: I'm afraid your xbf is either blowing smoke (lying), or someone is lying to him. First of all, in ... | |
| waivers for reenlistment | 8/23/2006 |
| Q: In 2003 in my third week of boot camp i was discharged with an RE-4 uncharacterized with a ... A: I'm afraid that RE Code of "4" discharges are rarely waived. I'm tempted to say *never* waived. ... | |
| Re-joining the military | 8/23/2006 |
| Q: I have a double question for ya. I am prior Navy and my husband is a prior Marine. I got out in ... A: If your spouse was discharged for Asthma, the chances of him being allowed to re-enlist are pretty ... | |
| My son signing and joining the Army | 8/22/2006 |
| Q: My son is 17 and a senior in high school. We have talked with a recruiter and my son has took the ... A: You're in luck! I've written a multi-part article for this exact reason. It's called "What the ... | |
| medical | 8/18/2006 |
| Q: My daughter graduated from the NRTC in Chicago and was to proceed Florida for training in Air ... A: Okay, first of all, a low-ranking enlisted member doesn't get to "expedite" anything. As far as the ... | |
| meds-joining Coast Guard | 8/18/2006 |
| Q: I am interested in joining the CG Reserve. I recently stopped taking an antidepressant medication ... A: The fact is that nobody can say for sure. Not me, not your recruiter, not anybody. Just to qualify ... | |
| bipolar and the military | 8/17/2006 |
| Q: My son joined the army reserves at 17. he then signed up for the army. he has recently been ... A: The chances are not good. If he is actively bipolar, and is currently under medication for such a ... | |
| Air guard to active duty | 8/17/2006 |
| Q: My daughter recently joined the Air National Guard and is in Tech School. She wants to join Active ... A: I'm sorry, but it's pretty much not possible. For details, see my article at: ... | |
| PCS | 8/17/2006 |
| Q: I am experiencing a problem with my ability to stay at my current command for the remainder of my ... A: I'm afraid not. In every case that I know of, making yourself ineligible for re-assignment also ... | |
| marriage | 8/17/2006 |
| Q: I was wondering if I am enlisted and am curently an E-4 in the navy and my wife joins the navy as an ... A: Most relationships between commissioned officers and enlisted are not allowed in the Navy. For ... | |
| Divorce | 8/16/2006 |
| Q: I was wondering how long did we have to be married in order for me to get alimony,benefits or keep ... A: While there is such a thing as a military wedding (ie, one can get married on a military base, by a ... | |
| Asthama discharge error | 8/15/2006 |
| Q: Back in December 2003 I was seperated from the Navy in basic training because of Moderate Persistent ... A: Your chances of processing a waiver with *any* branch with an RE Code of "4" is slim -- very slim. ... | |
| life after medical discharge | 8/13/2006 |
| Q: yes, my son was recently medically discharged from navy bootcamp. i was wondering what i can do to ... A: I'm afraid this is outside of my expertise. I'm not a psychologist or psychiatrist. If your son is ... | |
| Navy and a proir concussion | 8/13/2006 |
| Q: Okay, I will do this, but first can you tell me does/could this affect my son’s enlistment rights ... A: One *cannot* be criminally prosecuted for false statements while in the DEP (Delayed Enlistment ... | |
| tuition help | 8/13/2006 |
| Q: Im planing on joining the marines after college. I know about the opertunities for the military to ... A: Yes, there is the College Loan Repayment Program (CLRP), but it is available only for certain ... | |
| Navy and a proir concussion | 8/12/2006 |
| Q: My son is a senior this year and is in the DEP. Several weeks ago he went for his physical and all ... A: No, you should not follow the recruiter's advice. For details, see my article about False ... | |
| ex-offenders | 8/12/2006 |
| Q: will the armed forces accept anyone with a criminal record? A: It depends on the criminal record, and the service. For details, see my article about enlistment ... | |
| Marajuana test in boot camp | 8/12/2006 |
| Q: I was wondering how long it takes to get the results back from a drug test that you take when you ... A: They don't make mistakes. Here's why: Your urine is first subjected to a chemical screening, which ... | |
| DD-214 | 8/12/2006 |
| Q: I was in the Marine Corps. I was at the end of enlistment (end date July of 96). I am now almost 34 ... A: I assume you spent 4 years on active duty in the Marine Corps? If so, you would not necessarily be ... | |
| Waiver for the duck walk. | 8/12/2006 |
| Q: I recently went through the MEPS process. I scored an 84 on my ASVAB and passed my blood test, blood ... A: MEPS can't issue a waiver. MEPS doesn't work for any particular branch of the service, but rather ... | |
| DD-214 | 8/11/2006 |
| Q: On the DD 214 my character of service reads Honorable, the Separation Code reads MBK2 and the ... A: You didn't say which service you were in, or what the circumstances of your discharge were. The ... | |
| Criminal Record | 8/11/2006 |
| Q: The Marines are by far my first prefrence. Will it be "impossible" for that branch?I have a record, ... A: Okay. Nobody can say with any guarantee. For the purposes of joining the military services, not much ... | |
| What gives me more benefits? | 8/10/2006 |
| Q: Im between the Army Or the marines. My family really wants me to join either one cuz they "think"is ... A: Nobody can tell you, for sure, which of the five branches of the military are the best for you. ... | |
| length of service | 8/10/2006 |
| Q: . My step son said his friend signed up for the service for 20 years, is that possible? AND he ... A: I'm afraid it's not possible to sign up for a 20 year enlistment. Everyone who signs up for the ... | |
| Criminal Record | 8/9/2006 |
| Q: I have a record, ive only been convicted of misdemenor cannabis possession, but a few years ago I ... A: For which service? It's going to "hurt" for all the services. But, some services it will make it ... | |
| difference between us army and usmc | 8/9/2006 |
| Q: i am interested in going into the military, but i dont know which to go for army or usmc. the field ... A: For the day-to-day mission, there's not a whole lot of difference. Each are trained to sneak up on ... | |
| Rankings | 8/9/2006 |
| Q: I was reading up on some topics and I was wondering which rank is higher..General or Major General? ... A: Recruits are taught the following phase to help them remember: "Be My Loving Girl." The "B" in the ... | |
| Recruiting question | 8/9/2006 |
| Q: I have asked you questions before, and you have been very helpful, I appreciate it. About 6 months ... A: Unless you've actually processed through MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station), you're not "in ... | |
| Enlisted or Officer/ | 8/8/2006 |
| Q: Sir, I am a 22yr old male and i thinking about joining the military but before i do i was thinking ... A: I'm afraid that only you can answer that question. The answer is different for everyone, based on ... | |
| Milatary policy | 8/7/2006 |
| Q: I was wondering what the militaries policy towards criminals were. If a man spends time in prision ... A: Each of the services have their own policies, but -- in actuality -- both are considered felonies, ... | |
| USCG Rates | 8/6/2006 |
| Q: Is there a relation between a person's rank in the USCG and the number after the initials of their ... A: Yep. There sure is, but they are only used for certain Petty Officer grades. See my military ... | |
| medical discharge waiver | 8/5/2006 |
| Q: my son is awaiting his medical discharge, he said it is a general discharge under honorable ... A: I'm afraid something is wrong here -- something about the discharge that your son is not telling ... | |
| How to reinlist with re-4 pesonality disorder | 8/2/2006 |
| Q: I have been out of the Navy for 6 months now. I was givin an honarable discharge but was also give ... A: I'm afraid I have some bad news for you. Even if you had an RE Code of "1" (eligible for immediate ... | |
| Entry Level Discharge | 8/2/2006 |
| Q: My son has been having problems while in basic training. He loves what he is doing so far. He ... A: Okay, it seems as if he has one or more medical conditions which are interfering with his completion ... | |
| medical seperation | 8/1/2006 |
| Q: is there any truth to that and if not what happens if you are medicaly seperated? A: It depends. First and foremost, the medical reason for separation must be from a direct cause of ... | |
| Getting a RE-3C waiver... | 8/1/2006 |
| Q: A couple decades ago, I received a RE-3C discharge from the Navy. I have since matured, received a ... A: Waivers are considered and approved by the authorities of the service you are tryng to join, not the ... | |
| what should i join? | 8/1/2006 |
| Q: I read your article on the special forces and the descriptions of each one. I saw that each one is ... A: In basic training (which all military personnel go through, regardless of job), the Marines probably ... | |
| getting back in | 8/1/2006 |
| Q: I recived a OTH for a dirty piss test (weed) in 1998 from the marines, with everything going on ... A: I appreciate you're wanting to serve your country, but -- to be honest, your chances of re-enlisting ... | |
| joining armed forces | 7/30/2006 |
| Q: what kind of restrictions are there on felons in the military? i have a child support and possesion ... A: "Technically," a single felony can be waived. Under Federal law, more than one felony cannot. ... | |
| asthma | 7/30/2006 |
| Q: I was there anyway to get in the milltary with asthma.I think not being allowed in with asthma is ... A: I understand your concerns. However, the military isn't about being "fair." If the military were ... | |
| USCG Intelligence Officer? | 7/30/2006 |
| Q: I'm wondering what a Coast Guard Intelligence Officer does. The funny thing is I'm in the Coast ... A: For the most part, they do the same job that Intel officers in the other military branches do. If ... | |
| A school | 7/30/2006 |
| Q: my husband just joined the Navy. He will be graduating bootcamp September 22. His A school is in ... A: If they can't handle it, then they are usually involuntarily discharged. For details about the ... | |
| A school | 7/30/2006 |
| Q: my husband just joined the Navy. He will be graduating bootcamp September 22. His A school is in ... A: The general rule is that if a member's training is 180 days or more at a single location, then the ... | |
| OCS? | 7/29/2006 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, I really appreciate the quick response to my question and have been reading all of your ... A: You won't be able to "transfer" a commission (this is only authorized under very limited ... | |
| medical discharge waiver | 7/29/2006 |
| Q: but does he have any recourse, such as getting a waiver or someone told him if he can get a release ... A: I'm afraid it doesn't quite work that way. A waiver is issued when the military decides that the ... | |
| sons medical discharge from navy | 7/29/2006 |
| Q: my son called yesterday, telling me he is being discharged from boot camp. he says they found a ... A: I'm afraid there's nothing *you* can do. Your son is now an adult, and you are no longer his ... | |
| deployment | 7/28/2006 |
| Q: my boyfriend recently left for marine bootcamp in parris island. I was wondering what his ... A: I wish I could answer your question, but I can't. The vast majority of Marine Corps Reserve ... | |
| OCS? | 7/28/2006 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, I have a few questions regarding OCS. I am currently working in the corporate world ... A: You may wish to read my article, "What the Recruiter Never Told You," at: ... | |
| Researching award/medal issuances | 7/28/2006 |
| Q: One of my inlaws just recently pass away. It was brought to our attention that he was the recipient ... A: The citations (circumstances describing the exact circumsances of the award) will be a part of his ... | |
| health concerns | 7/27/2006 |
| Q: my question has been in my head for so long and im so worryed that im not going to be able to join ... A: I wish I could help more, but you still didn't give me the medical name of your condition. I'm not ... | |
| Marines | 7/26/2006 |
| Q: My son is being dropped from recruit training at MCRD San Diego, due to failure to meet several ... A: The administrative discharge process can take several weeks. For a detailed look at the process and ... | |
| Chapter 9 AFM 35-4 | 7/26/2006 |
| Q: Rod, I am a county veterans servicer officer and have the following question I hope you can help me ... A: I wish I could, but this AFM no longer exists. However, the Military Personnel Records Center in ... | |
| soldier girlfriend | 7/26/2006 |
| Q: I am currently dating an army officer. We are serious about each other but not in any hurry to get ... A: I'm afraid not. Military housing is only available to members with dependents. To be a ... | |
| becoming a Corpsman in the Navy | 7/25/2006 |
| Q: im still in High School and have pretty much decided that whatever i do, when i start my career, i ... A: B., Nope. All you have to be is a high school graduate, and achieve a minimum qualifying score for ... | |
| OCS(Marine Corps) | 7/25/2006 |
| Q: I have been enlisted in the U.S. Navy for 7 years. I just finished my degree and I would like to ... A: Visit the Marine's official OCS site. It has tons of information which I think you'll find useful. ... | |
| Becoming a navy fighter pilot | 7/24/2006 |
| Q: I'm planning to join the navy after college to, someday, become a fighter pilot. I was wondering if ... A: All Navy fighter pilots are commissioned officers. To become a commissioned officer, you must first ... | |
| conflict about my self in order to be enlisted | 7/24/2006 |
| Q: can i join your unit even im a filipino? A: In order to join the United States Military, you must either be a U.S. Citizen, or you must be a ... | |
| MP in the uscg | 7/24/2006 |
| Q: i want to become a mp in the uscg and i wante to know what i will have to go through to get there? ... A: The Coast Guard doesn't have MPs (Military Police). For an overview of Coast Guard enlisted jobs, ... | |
| grades | 7/24/2006 |
| Q: i want to be a coast guard helicopter pilot. i am wondering if as a c average student entering the ... A: Thousands of people want to join the service academies (of all the branches), each year, and there ... | |
| marines | 7/23/2006 |
| Q: My nephew is interested in joining the marines, he has been trying to get in touch with a recruiter ... A: Military recruiters are located in most U.S. Cities. Generally, their phone numbers are listed in ... | |
| safety for airman | 7/23/2006 |
| Q: faya A: I wish I could help, but it's impossible to say. Each of the service branches have their own ... | |
| Coast Guard Enlistment period | 7/22/2006 |
| Q: I am currently a college student but am considering doing some military service after I graduate and ... A: Active Duty enlistments in the Coast Guard are for a minimum period of 4 years. However, like all ... | |
| Childhood asthma | 7/22/2006 |
| Q: I have had asthma as a child but have not had any problems with it for many years. But I am using a ... A: 15 years ago, allowing folks to enlist with a history of Asthma used to be fairly common. Then came ... | |
| Medical Waiver | 7/22/2006 |
| Q: I have been fighting the US Army surgeon general for quite some time. According to there rules and ... A: Here's the problem: You're looking for a "magic wand," or some "secret regulation" that will allow ... | |
| drug testing | 7/21/2006 |
| Q: i was wondering how meps conducts there drug tests by urine.....blood or both id apreciate ... A: It's by urine. However, it's not the same "cheapie test" that many employers might use. For ... | |
| about pilot object | 7/21/2006 |
| Q: My name is Mob, 23 years old. I`m taking u.s.army r.o.t.c. in the university. Here, i want to ... A: There are no such things as "enlisted pilots." Except for the Army which uses warrant officers as ... | |
| Combat patch for a Kosovo Deployment | 7/21/2006 |
| Q: I know the regulation on the combat patch. I have been looking to see if they actually authorized ... A: Kosovo was a combat assignment, authorized combat pay, no different than Iraq or Afghanistan. ... | |
| can i | 7/21/2006 |
| Q: can i join the Marines i had a surgery done it dont afect me at all but my friends dad was told he ... A: I'm afraid I can't answer your question, because you didn't give me any specifics. Surgery for ... | |
| Naval Discharge (RE-4) | 7/20/2006 |
| Q: My son was discharged during basic training...he admitted to a chief that he'd tried some drug on ... A: An "Re-4" discharge code generally means the person is not eligibility to re-enlist in any branch of ... | |
| Combat patch for a Kosovo Deployment | 7/19/2006 |
| Q: I am currently serving as a advisor (UMA) for the reserves and national guard which helps in the ... A: In order to be authorized to wear the patch, they would have had to have been assigned to the 1st ... | |
| Laser eye surgery | 7/18/2006 |
| Q: I am getting ready to enlist in the USAFR as a loadmaster on c-17s @ Charleston SC. I plan going ... A: There is no way I can guess what the Air Force may, or may not decide to do in the future. ... | |
| Getting a waiver to join the air force. | 7/18/2006 |
| Q: Is it easy to get a waiver for a juvenile, assault and battery charge to join the air force. I ... A: Of all the military branches, the Air Force needs the fewest new recruits, and the Army needs the ... | |
| Abt career in the military | 7/17/2006 |
| Q: Hey Rod, I am currently a lance corporal in the marine reserves. I am almost done with my ... A: First of all, you cannot be a medical officer in the Marine Corps (the Marine Corps doesn't have ... | |
| Find a Vet | 7/14/2006 |
| Q: Rod--Thanks for the information you recently gave me concerning military posts in the late 60's. I ... A: I wish I could help, but I can't. Here's the thing: The U.S. Government (Department of Defense) ... | |
| Rank/pay grade for military doctors | 7/13/2006 |
| Q: I know someone who was sent to medical school by the Navy, I believe he joined and immediately went ... A: A military medical doctor is a commissioned officer, so his paygrade would not be E-5, if he ... | |
| military policy | 7/13/2006 |
| Q: I was told that there was a policy or law that states that an only child or a child of a terminally ... A: Not quite. See my article at: ... | |
| educational requirements | 7/13/2006 |
| Q: Does an applicant have to have his/her GED or HS diploma in order to join the marines? A: In short, yes. High school diploma is preferred. Without either a HS diploma or a GED, the chances ... | |
| Medical Waiver | 7/13/2006 |
| Q: I appreciate your help, although, I don't understand why he would be disqualified. Unless, they ... A: If it's being sent to the Navy SG (Surgeon General), that means that the MEPS doctor disqualified ... | |
| Medical Waiver | 7/13/2006 |
| Q: My son is 17 & attempting DEP for Navy. We have been to MEPS 4 times. When he was 12 he had "Muscle ... A: I'm afraid there's nothing you can do to "help," in this process, and I'm afraid there is simply no ... | |
| Suggested Reading/Tips | 7/13/2006 |
| Q: I have read all your prior questions about aviation, esspecially Naval since that is what I am ... A: Are you serious about becoming a Naval Aviator? Everybody and their brother (and sister) wants to ... | |
| social anxiety disorder and army service | 7/12/2006 |
| Q: Well I am over 2 years into the army and there's no fooling myself any longer -- I have social ... A: Hmmm....What year did you graduate medcical school, and/or what year did you receive your degree in ... | |
| Educational Question | 7/11/2006 |
| Q: I've finally decided to reenlist into the Army next week and I got one last question to ask. When I ... A: First of all, nobody gets to attend college while in BCT (Basic Combat Training, or more commonly ... | |
| Life insurance | 7/11/2006 |
| Q: I weould like toknow how the life insurace benifts are in the military? How much coverage? Who pays ... A: Active Duty Military Life Insurance is covered by the VA (Department of Veterans Affairs). The ... | |
| Military Names | 7/11/2006 |
| Q: .... no question, but a comment. I won't make a deal of it, but it's amazing the pride Vet's have ... A: I should have added that. A person who once served in the Marine Corps is *never* an "ex-Marine." ... | |
| Military Names | 7/11/2006 |
| Q: Rod: I am addressing a Community gathering and want to show proper respect. I usually refer ro ... A: Members of the Army are addressed as "soldiers," (although there are some "traditionalists who will ... | |
| Getting into the military | 7/10/2006 |
| Q: I am currently trying to enlist into the military and my recruiter is showing no interest in ... A: I have bad news for you. The Air Force is currently overmanned. In other words, they have more ... | |
| coast guard | 7/10/2006 |
| Q: i'm currently 16 and have had a lot of problems in my life recently but i want to totally change ... A: To join any branch of the U.S. Military age the age of 17, you must have parental consent (from both ... | |
| OCS and qualifications | 7/10/2006 |
| Q: After my four year army enlistment is up, I plan to join the coast guard reserve as an officer. I ... A: The process is competitive. Of all the services, the two services which are the most competitive ... | |
| Enlistment requirements US Coast Guard | 7/9/2006 |
| Q: Can a young man age 17, beginning his senior year in high school,enlist in the US Coast Guard before ... A: You can enlist active duty in *any* branch of the U.S. Military (including the Coast Guard) at the ... | |
| deployment and ETS | 7/9/2006 |
| Q: My unit is scheduled to deploy to Korea at the end of 2007 (I'm not sure of the length of time, I'm ... A: You didn't say for which service, but -- considering you address yourself as "SPC," I assume it's ... | |
| Research question | 7/9/2006 |
| Q: Rod--I am a writer working on a novel I have sold. I am setting some of the flasbacks in the late ... A: The Army currently has (and had during the Vietnam era) *several* basic training locations. These ... | |
| Air Force | 7/9/2006 |
| Q: I'm only 12 years old, but its been a dream of mine to be in the airforce for as long as i or my ... A: You may wish to see my article about Military Service Academies at: ... | |
| Navy career list | 7/7/2006 |
| Q: I am interested in joining the Navy. I was looking for a complete list of Navy Enlisted Careers. I ... A: See my Navy Job Descriptions at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjob1/a/navyjobs.htm. That's ... | |
| College Tuition | 7/7/2006 |
| Q: Im looking to become a physician in either the navy or air force. I am still in High SChool and ... A: To become a physician (doctor) requires 4 years of college, plus attendance/graudation from medical ... | |
| Becoming a medic | 7/7/2006 |
| Q: Im still in High School but want to be a physician or field medic in the military. How should I do ... A: If you want to be a physician (whether in the military or civilian life), you have to graduate ... | |
| drug test | 7/6/2006 |
| Q: I've already have taken my ASVAB to join the coast guard, so now I have to take a drug test in 2 ... A: I don't want to be critical, but WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU??????? All of the services have ... | |
| education | 7/6/2006 |
| Q: I'm currently in between summer break being a senior and kind of behind in school. But i would like ... A: You need to be a graduate from high school. Both services will accept an extremely limited number ... | |
| Pilot Slot questions | 7/6/2006 |
| Q: ***WARNING LONG*** Got a good number of questions about obtaining a flight position in the USAF. Im ... A: Everybody (and I mean almost *EVERYBODY*) who seeks to become a commissioned officer in the U.S. Air ... | |
| change MOS | 7/5/2006 |
| Q: My recruiter told me if I went into infantry with the Army after 6 months I could change my MOS. I ... A: I'm sorry, but your recruiter didn't tell you the truth. Unless one becomes disqualified from an ... | |
| Air Force Academy | 7/5/2006 |
| Q: I have a friend who lives in Tahiti. His son is about ready to enter college and is an honor student ... A: I'm sorry, but in order to be a pilot in the Air Force (or any other branch), one must be a ... | |
| Careers | 7/5/2006 |
| Q: I was interested in the career of aviation how long is the training for that particular career. Also ... A: I'm not exactly sure what you mean by a "career in aviation?" Do you mean you want to fix aircraft, ... | |
| discharge from USCG | 7/3/2006 |
| Q: My son is in the USCG Basic Trainig and on Friday I received a phone call that he will no longer be ... A: It's hard to answer these types of questions, because I don't have access to his medical records. ... | |
| renlistment and rank | 7/2/2006 |
| Q: I was in the active duty Army from 1999 to 2003. In June of 2003 I was conditionally promoted to ... A: See my article about "Prior Service Enlistments," at: ... | |
| MOS Change | 7/2/2006 |
| Q: As you might already know I have been Generally Discharged from the Army for Fraud. I was suppose to ... A: It's possible, but it will require a waiver to be issued by the Recruiting Batallion Commander. ... | |
| Army or Navy Heli Pilot | 7/1/2006 |
| Q: I am currently in my third year of college with a respectable GPA, 3.4. I also meet the vision ... A: With your current GPA, and a private pilot's license, your chances of becoming a pilot in either ... | |
| Type 1 Diabetes and Airforce Opportunities | 7/1/2006 |
| Q: I am a type 1 diabetic with a 4.0 GPA. I plan on going to medical school. My question is: Would I be ... A: I'm sorry, but I'm afraid, probably not. Medical standards for joining any branch of the Armed ... | |
| Most respected military | 6/30/2006 |
| Q: Could you tell me which branch of the service seems to stand above the rest? When people view ... A: I'm afraid there is no correct answer to your question. None of the services are more "elite" than ... | |
| living with a marine | 6/29/2006 |
| Q: I have a boyfriend that is going to join the marines can i live with him on base or do i have to be ... A: To live with him, on base, in military family housing, you must be a "military dependent," which ... | |
| combat patch | 6/29/2006 |
| Q: Can you were a reserves combat patch will you are active duty A: I'm not sure I understand the question? Exactly, what combat patch are we talking about, and is it ... | |
| age limit in the Air Force | 6/28/2006 |
| Q: My boyfriend just turned 29 and he is now thinking about joining the Air Force to become an enginier ... A: It depends. Does he have a college degree? If so, he can join the active duty Air Force, up to the ... | |
| Joining A Different Branch? | 6/26/2006 |
| Q: I am not proud to say that I have been generally discharged from the Army for Erroneous Enlistment. ... A: I'm very sorry to tell you that the Air Force is -- by far -- the hardest service to qualify for. ... | |
| Coast Guard Reserves | 6/26/2006 |
| Q: I served in the Coast Guard for four years and seven months, I was an MK3 at two small boat ... A: Re-enlisting into a service as a "prior service" enlisted is not as easy as you may think. The ... | |
| new recruit | 6/24/2006 |
| Q: Well, the wedding is over, but I am urging him to take a few months before he makes the decision to ... A: When he first signs up, he is signing into the Delayed Enlistment Program (DEP). He's not "totally ... | |
| troop | 6/23/2006 |
| Q: A "troop" consists of how many? A: There's no "real" answer to this question. In the U.S. Military, "troop" is not an official ... | |
| Navy Pilots(sorry) | 6/22/2006 |
| Q: I have a question about pilots both in the Navy and Marines. It is my dream to become a fighter ... A: I'm afraid there are height and weight restrictions involved for fighter pilots for all of the ... | |
| new recruit | 6/22/2006 |
| Q: My son tells me that he can keep his car in the airforce and that they will pay for his insurance. ... A: Your son can most certainly have a car while in the Air Force, but the military is not going to pay ... | |
| army discharge | 6/18/2006 |
| Q: He is still "working" at camp and has been told he will be released in about a month. He was also ... A: The worst type of discharge is a "punitive" discharge, which is imposed by a court-martial, as part ... | |
| army discharge | 6/18/2006 |
| Q: My son enlisted in the army and left for boot camp. Since he has been there, the army says his past ... A: He will not be eligible for any bonus money, colelge funds, etc., as these bonuses are contingent on ... | |
| US Coast Guard. | 6/17/2006 |
| Q: My 17 year old son has an interest in joining the US Coast Guard. I think a lot of kids joined ... A: The vast majority of U.S. Coast Guard members receive assignments in the U.S. But, it is certainly ... | |
| service member = federal employee | 6/17/2006 |
| Q: should i consider myself a federal employee, if i am a military member? A: It depends on the context. Military members are most certainly employed by the federal government. ... | |
| contact information | 6/16/2006 |
| Q: Rod, I have a small business in St. Petersburg, FL. We wholesale mahogany military aircraft ... A: Well, you're not going to sell the item in military commissaries (commissaries are "grocery stores, ... | |
| which is the best branch | 6/14/2006 |
| Q: I know you were former Air FOrce so you will probabaly speak of them the best but i dont know what ... A: Several factors would affect what branch you choose. As you wish to join ROTC, I assume that you ... | |
| fighter pilot | 6/12/2006 |
| Q: What military branch allows your to become a figter pilot? A: The Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps have "fighter pilots." The Coast Guard and Army do not. To ... | |
| can you help? | 6/12/2006 |
| Q: I have a question about the military, my husband is in the Army, we both have so many different ... A: You may wish to read my multi-part article, "What the Recruiter Never Told You," at: ... | |
| Marrying an Airman | 6/12/2006 |
| Q: My fiance has recently decided to enlist in the Air Force, but we signed a 12 month lease that ... A: If he is single (not married), then the Air Force will not pay any portion of his rent. This is ... | |
| re-joining the military | 6/11/2006 |
| Q: My name is Spc.Mobel, Marlynn H. I have been out of the Active Army for a two years now and I guess ... A: "Legally?" Sure it's "possible." Realistically? It's not going to happen. Of all the services, ... | |
| Wear of Combat Patch | 6/8/2006 |
| Q: I am a Army recruiter. I put a prior service Air Force airman into the Army recently. He was ... A: Afraid not. AFI 36-2903, Figure 2-11, note #3 specically states that Air Force personnel may only ... | |
| USMC Intel | 6/7/2006 |
| Q: Mr. Powers, I was recently took my oath of enlistment in the United States Marine Corps and ship to ... A: I'm sorry to be the one to break the news, but I'm afraid that if you wanted to become a "secret ... | |
| PCS vs TDY | 6/7/2006 |
| Q: Rod, I have intentions of returning to my unit. I got a release letter from the State TAG releasing ... A: Under the regualtions (The JFTR, or Joint Federal Traffic Regualtion), any movement for 20 weeks or ... | |
| Becoming a scout/sniper | 6/7/2006 |
| Q: Hey Rod. Lately I've been reading about the Marine Corps scout/snipers. I've been to many different ... A: It's no wonder you're confused. The reason is that the Marine Corps does not have a single "scout ... | |
| usmc or army | 6/6/2006 |
| Q: I was wondering which is better to join. The Army or USMC? Which has better benefits? A: "Benefits" (medical, tuition assistance, etc) for all the services are pretty much the same. On ... | |
| weapon/ vehicle choice/usage | 6/5/2006 |
| Q: Can you tell please how Lightweight( 155-mm, M777) towed howitzers with precision munitions and ... A: See the article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/army/a/counterfire.htm. Quite often, ... | |
| Marine Corps MOS nickname | 6/5/2006 |
| Q: Recently I was reading the book "Shooter" about Marine sniper Jack Coughlin. During certain chapters ... A: "Secret Squirrel" is a military nickname used for operatives who are on highly classified missions. ... | |
| re-enlistment | 6/3/2006 |
| Q: yesI am in the army.I was wondering if I re-enlisted for duty station of choice, could I change my ... A: You can request it, but the problem is that you've already signed on the dotted line for a ... | |
| military rank | 5/31/2006 |
| Q: I am looking for clarification about military rank. Is there a source that will tell me what the ... A: Most certainly. I have military ranks charts on my website at: ... | |
| Army | 5/30/2006 |
| Q: Iv been trying to find something in the army that will keep me busy. I wasnt the smartest kid in ... A: I really wish I could help, but the truth of the matter is that there is no way that anyone, not me, ... | |
| Military Assignments | 5/26/2006 |
| Q: My boyfriend went into the Airforce in March this year. He is now located at Keesler AFB for tech ... A: I guess I'm confused. Does he have an assignment given to him yet? If he does, changing it will be ... | |
| re-enlistment | 5/26/2006 |
| Q: I was wondering if I re-enlisted for duty station of choice, could I change my contract and stay at ... A: I'm sorry, but you've made the same mistake that lots of people make. You (apparently) assume that ... | |
| Eyesight | 5/26/2006 |
| Q: I recently got back from MEPS where I was DQed for eyesight. My right eye has a refraction of -10.27 ... A: I'm sorry, but there is just no way I can say. Each and every waiver is evaluated individually, ... | |
| opportunities for women. | 5/25/2006 |
| Q: I am 24 years old. I have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and currently working at a Level I Trauma ... A: I assume, if you joined the Reserves, you would be interested in joining as a commissioned officer, ... | |
| i can't trust my recruiter | 5/25/2006 |
| Q: i took the asvab on april 5th and requirements for the airforce is a 36 or higher. To make a long ... A: I don't know of any number you can call, but it's not something I would worry about. The Air Force ... | |
| About flying | 5/23/2006 |
| Q: Hey rod, i would like to know what do i have to do tin AFROTC in order to get a pilot slot and WHAT ... A: I answered some of your questions in my previous response. Assuming you get a pilot slot, your ... | |
| About flying | 5/23/2006 |
| Q: Hey rod, i would like to know what do i have to do tin AFROTC in order to get a pilot slot and WHAT ... A: In AFROTC, after one is "committed" (junior year), you put in a "dream sheet" for your preferred Air ... | |
| Army ranking | 5/23/2006 |
| Q: My sister is in the army basic training and in her letters she is now referring to herself as ... A: See our Enlisted Military rank charts at: ... | |
| Top Secret Commandos | 5/23/2006 |
| Q: Was reading an article how Canadas JTF2 JTF-2 is known to have provided surveillance and strike ... A: I'm not an expert (at all) about how other countries handle their forces, or press releases. I've ... | |
| Special Forces | 5/22/2006 |
| Q: Hello Rod Is the military obliged to report publicly when a special forces soldier dies? A: I'm not sure what you mean by "publicly?" The Department of Defense (DoD) announces all combat ... | |
| difference | 5/16/2006 |
| Q: i was wondering what the difference between the army, navy, air force, coast gaurd? are all the boot ... A: Each of the services have a different primary purpose. You may want to read my article, "U.S. ... | |
| missiles | 5/16/2006 |
| Q: here's a very particular question I've had difficulty answering. Years back - had to be back in the ... A: I assume you're talking about strategic nuclear missiles? If so, there is no way to tell if such a ... | |
| Joining the Air Force. | 4/24/2006 |
| Q: Rod, I just turned 17 years old recently. I have always been interested in joining the United States ... A: Here's what you are probably running into: Of all the services, the Air Force needs the fewest new ... | |
| Admin Seperation | 4/21/2006 |
| Q: Hey Rod. As you probably know the new Navy PRT instruction states that if you have 3 failures and ... A: For an overview of the involuntary administrative discharge process, see my article at: ... | |
| I was wondering if you could... | 4/16/2006 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could answer a question of mine. Im trying to do some research on the war in ... A: I wish I could help, but the military services do not break down casualty information based on one's ... | |
| Difference between entitlements and benefits | 4/6/2006 |
| Q: I found a list of entitlements and benefits for the Military. I need to know which are ones ... A: It really can't be categorized that way, because all pay and benefits in the military are ... | |
| Army ROTC | 4/5/2006 |
| Q: Powers, I do have one additional followup: Do you think West Point is really that much better at ... A: ROTC gives you two to four years worth of part-time military education. West Point gives one four ... | |
| How to get into Rangers after ROTC? | 4/1/2006 |
| Q: How do I do this and what are my chances? I want to be with the best unit & people. I am interested ... A: I'm afraid there aren't any "secrets." In ROTC, branch assignments are made based on preferences, ... | |
| Army ROTC | 4/1/2006 |
| Q: Where can I find the rankings of college ROTC programs? I can't find it on any website. Does it ... A: Sorry this took so long. I answered the question before, but it seems that it didn't "take." To my ... | |
| Navy or Air Force? | 3/30/2006 |
| Q: I am 21 years old and from California. I currently have 60 completed college units. I would like to ... A: Well, the biggest difference is that Navy fighter pilots are required to land their aircraft on Navy ... | |
| military promotions | 3/29/2006 |
| Q: I have a soldier in my national guard unit that was promoted to e-6 prior to the 1993 requirement ... A: I'm not sure I would call it a "grandfaterh clause," but I can find no directive which *requires* ... | |
| Im looking to join the military... | 3/24/2006 |
| Q: Im looking to join the military but I have no idea what to go into. I want to get into the special ... A: I wish I could help, but quite frankly, nobody can give you advice about what service would be the ... | |
| Enlistment after medical school | 3/20/2006 |
| Q: Rod, I am currently a second year undergraduate. I plan on attending medical school after my ... A: You wouldn't "enlist" after medical school. To "enlist" means to join the military as an enlisted ... | |
| Military seperation | 3/12/2006 |
| Q: My name is ADAN Hagar. I have been stationed in Atsugi Japan for a little over a year now. I thought ... A: I'm not trying to sound "harsh" here, but the military is not like getting a job at Sears or your ... | |
| AWOL soldier | 3/7/2006 |
| Q: My son went AWOL from the Army right after basic training, about 4 or 5 months ago. He now regrets ... A: First of all, your son has committed a crime, and a pretty major crime, at that. He needs to ... | |
| im looking to become a riflemen... | 3/7/2006 |
| Q: im looking to become a riflemen and eventually get into force recon in the marines, so how high on ... A: See: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjo2/a/0311.htm. To become a rifleman you must score a ... | |
| US army | 3/2/2006 |
| Q: Can people from other countries join and fight for the US army? Thanks, Billy Bob Joe A: Yes, but in order to enlist in any branch of the U.S. Military, one must either be a U.S. Citizen, ... | |
| air force | 2/24/2006 |
| Q: Powers, I have been wanting to join the Air Force for some time. I am 17 and a GED holder. I took ... A: Your recruiter should definately know better than this. This is covered by the Air Force Recruiting ... | |
| Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal | 2/23/2006 |
| Q: I am currently serving in the Air Force and my supervisor mentioned this award to me. I was ... A: The Air Force Instruction for Awards and Decorations is AFI 36-2803 --THE AIR FORCE AWARDS AND ... | |
| driving privlidge | 2/18/2006 |
| Q: i have a simple question for you. I'm in the Marines and just recently got pulled over by MP's on ... A: You need to make an appointment to see a JAG officer for advice. Driving of military installations ... | |
| Coast Guard Reserves | 2/16/2006 |
| Q: My 18 yr old daughter is going to enlist in the Coast Guard Reserves. She wants to serve but does ... A: First and foremost, your daughter needs to understand, that if she joins any branch of the United ... | |
| Don't Ask, Don't Tell | 2/15/2006 |
| Q: Rod, A while back you told me that service members are usually investigated to verify their claims ... A: The professor may be right, and many such discharges may be a result of false claims. Such ... | |
| about army eod | 2/14/2006 |
| Q: i was also weondering if ther is any way i could get fort stewart as eod when i sign or with they ... A: The Army doesn't have a guaranteed duty assignment program for prior service enlistees. All one can ... | |
| Should there be a draft? | 2/13/2006 |
| Q: Powers: My name is Hunter Hall, I am doing a report on the military draft. Would you be willing ... A: Actually, you get get *all* my views about the draft by reading my article at: ... | |
| about army eod | 2/13/2006 |
| Q: I am wanting to go back into the army as eod but i am wanting to get stationed at Fort Stewaert ga ... A: See: https://www.hrc.army.mil/SITE/Active/opod/eod.htm for Army EOD units. The 38th OD Company ... | |
| Need info for a friend | 2/11/2006 |
| Q: Ok heres the thing, my friend left for the Marines id say about a month ago, but he was discharged ... A: Medical conditions which are disqualifying for military service can be read at: ... | |
| army recruiting | 2/4/2006 |
| Q: Does it ever happen that two people from the same town enlist and end up serving in the same unit? ... A: The Army takes no special notice about where someone enlists from, when making assignment ... | |
| U.S. Air Force | 2/2/2006 |
| Q: I AM 22 YEARS OLD AND I AM REALLY THINKING ABOUT GOING TO THE AIR FORCE... I HAVE TAKEN MY ASVAB AND ... A: Have you told your recruiter about your single parent status? If you have any kind of custody ... | |
| Questions on the Air Force | 1/26/2006 |
| Q: Your comment, "I'm afraid you are past the age limit. To become a pilot in the Air Force, you must ... A: Neither the U.S. Air Force, nor any of the other U.S. military services ever rent their aircraft to ... | |
| Discharges Under DADT | 1/20/2006 |
| Q: Rod, It was recently revealed that the Army will ship a soldier to Iraq if he declares his ... A: Claims of homosexuality made, after an individual has been notified of an upcoming deployment have ... | |
| Questions on the Air Force | 1/18/2006 |
| Q: I have a few questions about the Air Force. I'm 32 years old and I'm considering a career in the Air ... A: I'm afraid you are past the age limit. To become a pilot in the Air Force, you must meet a ... | |
| Discharges Under DADT | 1/18/2006 |
| Q: Rod, You recently had an interesting statement in USA Today. You said "commanders aren't buying it ... A: Actually, I was misquoted (a little). What I actually said was "commanders aren't NECESSARILY ... | |
| military law and custom | 1/11/2006 |
| Q: I am a U.S. Army Reservist. I was involuntarily activated on FEB 10th 2003. I just got off of ... A: For a "partial mobilization," (which is technically what is going on right now), Federal law only ... | |
| I was just wondering if you... | 1/11/2006 |
| Q: I was just wondering if you could tell me about the marines force recon. I am just wanted to know ... A: You may wish to read my article about U.S. Military special operations forces at: ... | |
| SOCOM | 1/5/2006 |
| Q: I just recently attended SOCOM Hell Week, Which was basically a documented Hell Week for Sony.. ... A: There is no limit to the number of times an enlisted member or commissioned officer may apply for ... | |
| time zone | 1/3/2006 |
| Q: My brother's in JROTC and he's being a show off using all these terms that I have never heard. so if ... A: "Zulu Time" is the time it is in Greenwhich, England. The world is divided into basically 24 time ... | |
| promotion | 1/2/2006 |
| Q: I am an E-5 in the Army (Guard) serving in Iraq. I have 10 yrs of service in USMC and Army. I had ... A: You can be "conditionally promoted." The regulation which convers this is Army Regualation 600-8-19, ... | |
| any changes in felons in iraq??? | 12/18/2005 |
| Q: i seen an article or question on felons and the service do you have any helpfull info or know how we ... A: Depending on the offense, a criminal history can make one ineligible for military service. For ... | |
| Rangers and Marines | 12/15/2005 |
| Q: I'm heavily considering a Ranger contract through the Army.. But I've also considered the Marine ... A: It's impossible to compared. Neither of the training is "better," the primary focus of the training ... | |
| USAF life | 12/11/2005 |
| Q: wat its like being in the air force? do u hav traditionnal hours? (wake up in the mornin, go to ... A: You may wish to read my article "What the Recruiter Never Told You" at: ... | |
| Air Force Pararescue | 12/9/2005 |
| Q: I was wondering if going to the Air Force Acadamey had anything to do with weather or not you can ... A: Are you talking about becoming an enlisted Pararescueman, or a commissioned officer? Enlisted ... | |
| United States Navy SEAL | 12/9/2005 |
| Q: I just recently was chosen to be part of a reality show about normal average people going to BUD/s.. ... A: See my SEAL Challenge information page at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjob1/a/seal.htm. ... | |
| Air Force Pararescue | 12/9/2005 |
| Q: I was wondering if going to the Air Force Acadamey had anything to do with weather or not you can ... A: Method of commission (Academy, ROTC, or OTS) has little impact on whether or not one can become ... | |
| Air Force | 12/8/2005 |
| Q: one of my good friend's cosin is in the Navy. i have heard that when u get pulled over for a ... A: Sometimes, and sometimes not. Some cops are very patriotic, and very well might let a military ... | |
| Boot Camp | 12/5/2005 |
| Q: and thanks for taking the time to answer my question. Currently I have been looking into joining ... A: Weight training won't be all that helpful for basic training. The majority of the exercises you ... | |
| Air Force | 12/4/2005 |
| Q: (btw, thank you soo much for your answers, they've help clear out up of questions).well, its ... A: All branches of the military are in Iraq, and each have their own specific missions to accomplish ... | |
| Air Force | 12/2/2005 |
| Q: i recently talked to some folks who where strongly against me even thinking about join the Armed ... A: The last American Fighter Pilot to have been shot down was Captain Scott O'Grady in Bosnia in 1995 ... | |
| NAVY | 11/30/2005 |
| Q: seens as how i would idealy like to be in the Air Force, and fligh fighter planes. i was also ... A: Everybody and their brother (or sister) want to become a fighter pilot. There are thousands of more ... | |
| Air Force Boot camp | 11/28/2005 |
| Q: hey, what is the boot camp composed of? how long is it? wat do u do?what is special about the last ... A: There are five branches of the U.S. Military (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps Coast Guard). ... | |