There are a lot of different advantages to joining the military, but if you have served in the military before, you can enjoy some advantages to your prior service enlistment as a prior service veteran. With a prior service enlistment that you have completed successfully you have some options and advantages that people that have not served in the military before do not have. The United States Military is currently very open to men and women who have prior service, they respect the training and experience that personnel who have served previously have to offer. With experience and prior service it is sometimes possible to enlist and keep your prior rank.
There are some basic rules for prior enlistment, some of them can be waived at times, some of them cannot. For a general rule, if you have served in the military before, and successfully completed your first enlistment, and been granted a honorable discharge, it is normally possible to re enlist, providing you fall into some general categories. There are specific rules and regulations, some of them include:
-Enlisting with prior service with rank beneath E-3 has to be given approval from the command-recruiting center.
-Re enlistment of prior service of personnel E-4 and above must have 14 years or less of experience.
-Prior service re enlisting with 24 hours of previous discharge normally are exempt from any of these regulations and can normally keep their service continuous within reason.
-Prior service re enlistment of E-3 or below must have six years or less experience.
-Re enlistment will not normally allow a higher rank than held at previous discharge.
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Active Duty- If a active duty person undergoes discharge, and then wants later to re enlist, they can often be accommodated if their rating (if in the Navy or Coast Guard) is in the open rate list. For the seagoing services, if the re enlistment is not on the open rate list, then normally they have to re enlist at E-1. There are exceptions but these are on a case-by-case basis.
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Open Rate List- In the Navy and Coast Guard, this is a list that is constantly in demand, and that are actively looking for candidates. If the person wishing to reenlist has a rating the same or similar enough to the open rate list at the time, they can at times be allowed to reenlist at their previous rate and rank. This is dependent on the open rate list at the time they re enlist. Get more college info here
I had nine years in active duty and an honorable discharge in 1988. I am interested in reenlistment and would appreciate any information you might forward to me. Since discharge I have finished 75.5 college units with a 3.89 gpa. Also, worked in computer and engineering suring that 29 year period. Is it too late for me to reenlist. Thanks, Greg
What is the age limit for reenlistment. Gregory
Hello my name is Joseph McCallister and im 37 years old. I served 7 years and 2 months in the Air Force and entered active duty in March of 1992 and discharced with an honorable discharge in January of 2000. I worked for the USPS until September of 2008 and have been attending the University of Pheonix online which i am half way done with my associates degree with a total of 30 college credits 60 toralling my Applied Associates Degree in Pharmacy and have maintained a 3.45 GPA. I basically want to know if there is a possiblity of myself getting back into the military life.
Thank you
My brother served in the Marine Corps for 8 years(active duty) so obviously his inactive or obligated service is also completed too. He’s been out or honorably discharged from the Marine Corps for 3 years(civilian) and want’s to join the Air Force. Will there be any problem joining the Air Force?
I am 35 years old. I served 4 years 3 mos active duty in the Air Force. After an honorable discharge in 1997, I earned an Associates Degree with a 3.8 GPA. Is there a way for me to reenlist either reserve or guard in my prior AFSC?
http://www.nationalguard.net will have more prior service info for you, hope it helps
What is the age limit for re-enlistment? I am 39 years old and served a total of 14 years between active duty and Air National Guard.
Good Luck! To any PS trying to get back in the service. I am PS as well and must say that the Army in particular DON’T really care about us. A new recruit can go through the process and sign up but PS only get what they give you…regardless of PMOS.
I’ve went in and spoke to recruiters in MA & NY and they all said the same thing(18X aka Special Forces). There’s nothing available. They also said something about Airborne qualify and if not, you cannot request it. Its very frustrating but I was hoping to go back in the service. I actually got out so that I can go to school full time. I did and earned 115 credits so far.
I am considered prior service. However I only went to reception fitness training. The Army Reserve Unit I was asigned to did not release me until three months after I came back home. I want to reenlist and serve fulltime if possible. I am 35 years old as I said before I have a total of 6 months prior service. Can I go back in active.
I went to basic training and was given a chapter 11 (general) discharge and I had a article 15 company grade. Will this hurt my chances of reenlistment? My drill sgts. told me that it would be as if I was never in the military and that I at any time in the future it would be no problem for me to enlist.
It appears we are all struggling with civilian lives. Yes, I got out to go to college full time. I have an A.A., A.S., and a B.A.. All I have to say is that I wish I stayed in the military for 20 years. I got of college in December 2010 and I have been basically unemployed ever since. Life sucks.
I got out of the Air Force in 2002 and wanted to come back in in 2008. They said that the only way that I could come back is if I took one of the critical jobs, like Food Services or Security Forces. They don’t generally let people back in. So, I went into the Coast Guard instead. I should have joined the Army…
My son now 29, will be 30 in sep 2012 left the Navy after eight years to attend college fulltime. He now has his Masters Degree and cant find a job. Can he re-enlist? His prior service was 2000-2008 total of 8 yrs.
Hi my family member! I want to say that this article is awesome, great written and include almost all vital infos. I would like to see more posts like this .
I served in the USAF as a 3A031 information manager for 4 year and honorable discharged in 2007. I am thinking about which branch I can reenlist in and what all they would be lookin for me to do. I was thinking about national guard, coast guard or something in that area if possible.
I have served 4 years active in the Army (19k) 1991 to 1995 . Then Army National Guard (31b) from 2006 to 2012. Both completed my time Honorable. I’m 41 years of age, healthy. May I be able to join the Marine Reserve?
Got out AR back in 94. Looking at going back in full time. Have 18 years of management experience and I am in top notch shape for 45. Any chance of lighting the fire?
I am 57 and served in the Navy as an Intelligence Specialist,. I would gladly get back in the service if it will take me. I now hold a BA in Criminal Justice, Physical Education, and I also hold a Commercial Pilots Certificate and Flight Instructor Rating.
I can also size and construct a solar power system based on NABSEP principles. I hold a Entry-Level NABSEP classification.
Take me too!
Prior IS1 Peters
Just to ask are there any further benefits or privileges for a guardsman whom has complete his six years of service and has an honorable discharge.
Hello Everyone! I served 6 years during desert storm and I am now a nurse working on my physical therapy degree and would like to reenlist. I guess that old school from the old school doesn’t give merit anymore. Would like to reenlist myself…
p.s. Honorable Discharge with honors. I am in great physical shape and am not available for reenlistment. I was willing to accept most anything. The budget cuts just doesn’t allow it.
I did 6 years from 2006-2012 in the Air Force; got out on my own and now I want back in and they only giving me Battlefield jobs as an option. But the new list has over 200 jobs for reinlistment, is there anyway I can get access to the other 194 jobs?
Hey All,
I served 5 years in the regular army from 98-03 and got out as an E-5. I want to joint the Army NG now in my prior MOS (35P Arabic). I’m 36 years old and have a graduate degree. My questions are:
1. Will I have to re-take the ASVAB?
2. Can I get airborne guaranteed in my contract?
3. How quickly can I get to MEPS and sign?
4. What are my bonus options?
5. Will the 35 series release me to 18-series if I go through the Q-course?
I am an Army Reserve Combat Support nurse who served in two wars. On my DD214 it says I can be called back to duty anytime. I am willing to go anywhere to support our troops in that position. My discharges are honorable and I am in good health.
Let me know. My rank is Captain.
I served in the US Navy from June 2000 to June 2004. I was stationed at HC2 in Norfolk VA and from then moved to the USS Saipan also in Norfolk in 2002 until my discharge. I was honorably discharged over 13 years ago as an SK4 and in 2 months I will be 36. Having a family now, I wanted to get some general information about the possibilities of possible re-enlistment.
If i am even eligible, if i would need basic training again or not, any sign on bonus’s, preferably a shore duty station availability in Norfolk, as well as off base housing allowances.
Please reply, thank you.