Posted on Feb 7, 2021
SGT(P) Abner Lozano
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Hypothetically speaking, if I wanted to join a different branch after a Medical Retirement, but my DD 214 shows RE Code 4, how hard would it be to get a waiver approved? I heard waivers are a possibility, I’ve also heard they are not. Recruiters, specifically Navy, please help. Thank you.
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Responses: 4
SFC Retention Operations Nco
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Medical retirement is still retirement. You are never allowed to return to active duty. RE4 is the code given to retirees. No matter what any recruiter tells you, retirees cannot return to active duty service. There are a lot of retirees who want to keep serving, but they are prohibited by law

I commend your desire to serve. Maybe it's time to serve in a different way. There are plenty of DOD Civilian jobs with good benefits that you can join and work your way up if you want to stay affiliated with the military. If you want to travel, plenty of them are overseas and will PCS you. If you want to serve by helping your fellow man, there are civil service jobs, teaching, law enforcement, firefighter and other first responder jobs that a lot of veterans gravitate towards after the military. If you're not looking for a career change but still want to make a difference, there are organizations like Team Rubicon who actively recruit veterans for volunteer service in disaster relief and other areas.
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SGT(P) Abner Lozano
SGT(P) Abner Lozano
3 y
Thank you, SFC! I appreciate your response. I just wanted to be sure before I wasted my time and went to a recruiter all just so I could about face and walk right back out. It would be great to serve again. Be in uniform again, but if its not possible, Law Enforcement is the route I am going to take. Thanks again!
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SFC Retention Operations Nco
SFC (Join to see)
3 y
SGT(P) Abner Lozano I would hate to see you waste months of your time with an unknowledgeable Recruiter. Recruiters have one job, and when they're new there are a lot of things they don't know. So they tell potential recruits that anything is possible and give a false sense of hope.

I have seen retirees join the NG during the initial invasion back in 2004. I don't know what the laws are on it, but it know you'd have to give up one of your pays for certain. Not a lot of people are interested in serving in the NG for free, especially since it won't change their retirement
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SSgt Christophe Murphy
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If you are being medically retired you need to come to terms with the truth that this is most likely the end of military service. If you are truly being medically retired (instead of separation) that means you are looking at somewhere at 30% or more of disability. And that's just for the injury that got you retired. Combine that with the other disabilities you accrued during service and the number goes up. Now if you are on the TDRL and the injuries aren't seen as permanent there would be the potential of a waiver but that is a maybe on top of a maybe and most recruiters will steer clear because the likelihood of it leading to anything is slim to none. But I would recommend you just focus on the new chapter instead of trying to force a square peg into a round hole. I was medically retired in 2012 and tread much of the same territory.
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SGM Bill Frazer
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Never going to happen unless WWIII. RE4 for USN says not recommended for re=enlistment
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Cpl Vic Burk
Cpl Vic Burk
3 y
RE-4 from the Marines is "Not eligible and not recommended for re-enlistment."
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