Do I go back to basic training if I am prior-service Army?

PFC Gustavo D. — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 00:05:19 -0400

I’ve been out of the Army for a year, and considering going back in the same branch. Would I have to do BCT again, or would I be doing another type of training?

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2018 12:27 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 00:27:27 -0400

PFC Gustavo D. Here is a previous post dealing with that topic. You need to talk to an Army Recruiter.

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/who-is-prior-service-and-went-through-the-army-basic-again-how-was-your-experience-how-the-drill-sergeants-treat-you

Who is prior service and went through the Army basic again? How was your experience? How the...

I’m only days from re-enlisting back into the army and I was informed they are getting rid of the prior service basic training and I would have to attend the army full basic training. Who is prior Service and have went through the army basic again? How was your experience? How the Drill Sergeants treat you?Also I’m AIT do you sleep with the other trainiees (privates)?

Response by SPC Jovani Daviu made Apr 21 at 2018 12:33 AM

SPC Jovani Daviu — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 00:33:42 -0400

It depends. How long have you been out? Are you still obligated to IRR? In my case I am still obligated to IRR and I am now in the process of reenlistment to AD Army. No BCT. Just AIT and straight to my unit.

Response by SGT Eric Davis made Apr 21 at 2018 12:35 AM

SGT Eric Davis — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 00:35:42 -0400

No you would not! You would only have yo attend if you had a break for 3 or more years! I just got back in after 7 years and didn’t attend one lol

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Apr 21 at 2018 5:41 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 05:41:29 -0400

Don't believe you have to, best thing to do is ask the recruiter, he should know for sure.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2018 12:25 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 12:25:27 -0400

I just finished Prior Service BCT. I was out 10 years. You will not have to go. If a recruiter says you do, get a different recruiter.

Response by SSG Shawn Vann made Apr 23 at 2018 12:20 PM

SSG Shawn Vann — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 12:20:03 -0400

5 years separation in order to have to repeat basic

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2018 12:33 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 12:33:10 -0400

I thought if it was less than 3 years you didn't have to do basic again. I'd ask a nearby recruiter. They know better than anyone on here.

Response by SSG William Jones made Jun 29 at 2018 11:36 PM

SSG William Jones — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 23:36:59 -0400

I was out for over SIXTEEN YEARS (Yes, 16 plus years) and I didn't have to take basic again. I even went to war with a weapon that I was NEVER officially trained in the use of (the M-16 and its successors). My last training was with the M-14. Fortunately, being a "firearms dude", I was thoroughly familiar via my personal AR platforms. I DID have to drop a pay grade when I came back in, and ironically, I was sworn into the service (Army) by a Marine officer - a Captain, as I recall. Hey... life is good!!!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2018 10:17 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 22:17:51 -0400

Is it just the active Army that takes advantage of soldiers by removing a stripe? I think that's a crock of crap if they do this still. I know this is not happened to officers. I don't think this happens in the Army National Guard or Army Reserve. I don't think it happens if you become an AGR as an enlisted. Someone please tell me if this is still true?

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jul 30 at 2018 10:47 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 22:47:26 -0400

Probably not BCT, but definitely AIT

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Jul 31 at 2018 11:36 AM

Maj Marty Hogan — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 11:36:38 -0400

This is a question for a recruiter- you will more than likely have to do the medical side and MEPPS again, but you may get to by-pass BMT

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Aug 3 at 2018 1:23 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 13:23:37 -0400

"Q. Do I have to attend Basic Training again?
A. In the Army, former members of other services (except the Marine Corps), are required to attend the four-week Warrior Transition Course at Fort Bliss, Texas. Former Soldiers and Marines who have a break in service of more than three years must also attend this course. For the purpose of this section, for soldiers and Marines who separate, break in service starts after Military Service Obligation (MSO) is completed or when a member (regardless of service) is no longer a member of a reserve component (including the IRR)"

Per http://www.militaryspot.com/enlist/prior-service-faq

"Q. Will I get to pick a different MOS (Job)?
A. In most cases, prior service candidates must enlist in the military job they had at the time of separation, unless the service declares there is no need for that job. Only then can the member elect to enlist into a different job. Additionally, in many cases, if the member had a military job (MOS) in one service that directly cross-relates to a job in the service they want to join, and if that service has a shortage in that job, the applicant is required to enlist in that particular job. In other words, if you were an Security Forces Personnel in the Air Force , and you wish to join the Army, and the Army has a current shortage of Military Police , you would be required to enlist as an Military Police troop. Only if you held a job that doesn’t directly cross-relate to a job in the service you are joining, or if the service doesn’t have a shortage in that job, would you be allowed to re-train into a different job.

Q. Do I have to attend Basic Training again?
A. In the Army, former members of other services (except the Marine Corps), are required to attend the four-week Warrior Transition Course at Fort Bliss, Texas. Former Soldiers and Marines who have a break in service of more than three years must also attend this course. For the purpose of this section, for soldiers and Marines who separate, break in service starts after Military Service Obligation (MSO) is completed or when a member (regardless of service) is no longer a member of a reserve component (including the IRR)

Q. Will I retain my rank?
A. A current member of the Army Reserves or Army National Guard who has completed Initial Active Duty Training (IADT):

(1) If prior service applicant has not been awarded an MOS and enlists within 12 months from the date released from active duty (IADT), the enlistment pay grade will be the grade held at time of release from IADT, unless the Reserve Component has promoted the applicant to a higher grade. Applicant must produce DA Form 4187 approving the promotion to the higher grade.

(2) If applicant has been awarded an MOS and enlists within 12 months from the date released from active duty (IADT), the enlistment pay grade will be the grade held at time of release from IADT but not less than E-2.

3) If applicant has been awarded an MOS and has 12 months service after release from IADT, the enlistment grade will be the grade currently held up to the grade of SPC (E-5)."

Thanks for alerting me, my friend SSG William Jones
FYI Sgt Private RallyPoint Member LTC Private RallyPoint Member COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Orlando Illi Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price CPT Jack Durish Capt Tom Brown Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Charles H. Hawes SGT Mark Halmrast SPC Margaret Higgins PO1 William "Chip" Nagel

Prior Service FAQ - MilitarySpot.com

Prior Service FAQ

Response by SSG David Fetty made Aug 3 at 2018 6:34 PM

SSG David Fetty — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 18:34:17 -0400

I was off active duty in '78, with the 2/19th SFG until about 1980 when I was in a bike wreck and had to drop out. I re-enlisted in '87 and had to go back thru Basic and AIT (till I was medically boarded out). It was funny, headed to Infantry AIT with an EIB lol. I'm not sure why they put me back thru Basic, but with only 1 year of separation, I doubt you will have to repeat, and may even be able to keep all your rank.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2018 8:44 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 20:44:44 -0400

yes I did 13 years active navy got force out with the downgrade did a year navy reserve. got out in 2015 just enlisted in the army reserves and have to do a 10week basic. But I kept my rank so no 6 week like I was told originally.

Response by PFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 13 at 2018 2:50 PM

PFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 14:50:49 -0500

AR601-210 says prior service personnel who have successfully completed an army BCT in previous service will not have to do BCT again

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Apr 20 at 2019 1:30 AM

CW4 Craig Urban — Sat, 20 Apr 2019 01:30:16 -0400

I got out for 9 months and went back in. As a E5. I did. Not. They sent me to Bliss.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 8 at 2019 1:05 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 13:05:04 -0400

I was out for 9 years and didn't have to go back through basic/AIT

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2019 6:58 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 18:58:29 -0500

I was active duty Army from 79-82 and enlisted in the MN ARNG in 2005. I got out as an E4 in 82 and came back in as E4 in 2006. I did not have to attend BCT despite a 24 year break in service. I was two months from turning 45. At the time the age limit was 42 but my three years active duty were subtracted from my age at the time and I just made the cutoff by two months. I went straight to AIT to become MOSQ’d since my original 81B MOS No longer existed. Since then I have served an additional twelve years on active duty and ADOS orders with one deployment to Iraq. I now have 18 years service with almost 15 years active service and will retire in two years at 60. I only wish I had come back much sooner!

Response by SGT Eric Davis made Nov 12 at 2019 11:18 AM

SGT Eric Davis — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 11:18:19 -0500

No you would have to a since you only been out a year if you was out 3 then maybe

Response by SGT Greg White made Nov 17 at 2019 8:09 PM

SGT Greg White — Sun, 17 Nov 2019 20:09:51 -0500

The United States Recruiting Command(USAREC) changed the rules for prior service. If you are a prior service that has been separated for more than 5 years will now be required to go back to basic training. I know because I recently went through the process and they are making me go back to basic.
When I read comments and talk to people that got back in without doing basic it semi grinds my gears. Im heading back to basic in Jan. Good luck

Response by Cpl Charles Trump made Mar 19 at 2020 3:22 PM

Cpl Charles Trump — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 15:22:59 -0400

I got out of the Army for a year and cross decked into the Marines. They took everything except ofc and sent me to Parris Island. Never do this. Lol

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2020 12:36 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 01 May 2020 00:36:25 -0400

if you're asking this question, you haven't spoken to a recruiter.
You must be out over 5 years to go back to BCT, and you're automatically put in for a waiver to not do it

Response by PFC Darleen Stowell made Jun 4 at 2020 1:01 AM

PFC Darleen Stowell — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 01:01:51 -0400

No to basic, but if ur changing ur MOS, gotta go to AIT. I was 96B Intelligence Analyst,

Response by SGT Kyle Adams made Jun 19 at 2020 1:11 PM

SGT Kyle Adams — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 13:11:41 -0400

From what I hear BCT is a joke. I would do it again if I had to.