Posted on Feb 19, 2016
Can I lose my NCO rank if I go from Army guard to active duty?
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If I go from army guard to active duty and I'm scheduled for WLC in July but don't attend before I have to report, can they take my E5 rank? I was promoted before the new STEP system.
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SGT
Promotions
SGT Promotions
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 169
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Years ago, 1989, I came back in active duty from the active reserves, and was active duty prior to that. That summer I was a Staff Sergeant pushing troops down at Ft Jackson (was in a training unit) reported straight to my active unit as a E-2 wearing my Drill Sergeant patch. Caught hell from the minute I got there. Had to explain why I was a Drill Private so many times I wanted to make up some far fetched story about haw I got busted. That was a long time ago, but going back into active duty was not easy then either. In the end I retired after 26 years total.
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SSG Robert Brown
I went from 4 to E 2. From Guard back to active duty. I had to go back to my last active duty rank
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SGT Mike Raposa
I did the same in 1990 and found the regulation that e5 and above where suppose to keep their rank. I fought to restore my rank and lost my career. Got the honorable and twenty years later rank was restore but too old to return to retire.
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MSgt Peter Lettkeman
1988 went from Army National Guard to AD Air Force. Was just about to put on Spec and went down to E-2. Had to go to AF basic. Luckily they had a program for those crossing services. Gave me a checklist of all the things that had to be done by everyone else and as soon as I completed that I was on to my training. 20 physical days at Lackland. Showed up on the 9th of June left for Lowry AFB on the 29th. Was always at the top of the pay band for every rank till I put on E-5.
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Although I haven't done the recruiting thing for some time the answer to your question is on the current USAREC's Business Rules. that document which is published 3-4 times per year establishes prior service accession into active duty based on the current service member's current status. Sometimes the loss of rank is the only way, sometimes not! Check with your local recruiter for the lates and greatest!
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SGT Kenneth Martin
I was on Active Duty orders with the Nevada National Guard, and at that time there was a program that stated if you had 16 or less years of total Active duty, you could go back in and retain your rank. So at the end of the call up. I went back to active duty and retained my rank. But it has been my experience with recruiters before that, that if you wanted to go back in you were administratively reduced in rank.
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SFC (Join to see)
As a general rule, as long as you have the required NCOES for your rank, you'll keep it.
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SSG (Join to see)
Major you are mostly correct. The business rules can change 3 to 4 times in a month.
There will be a grade determination done prior to enlisting. This is pretty simple will most likely be done at MEPS.
There will be a grade determination done prior to enlisting. This is pretty simple will most likely be done at MEPS.
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PO1 Eric Bigelow
when I went from active navy to active coastie with a year off, I went from e-5 to e-3 because my rate (mos) wasn't on the we need this list, took a year and retaking test to get e-4 back, another year and test for e-5.
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How did you manage to get into active duty? I've been trying to get back into active duty from the reserves for a few years now and every recruiter I talk to tells me the same thing, that they're not accepting prior service back into active duty due to the cutbacks.
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MSG (Join to see)
who did you talk to. I process prior service all the time. Are you currently in? e mail me:
[login to see]
[login to see]
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1SG Roland Huson
Wow! I hit the trifecta! Unfortunately, I’m also 50, on the PDRL, and have an ERUP code of 4.
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Yes you can. But if you have signed a contract right now with Active Duty, and they have stated you will transfer over as an E5, then you will. It would be better for you to go WLC first, then apply to go to active duty. There is a chance that you will still be administratively demoted (not a bad thing) to Specialist when you transfer over. That's because the reality is that weekend warrior time doesn't match active duty time the same way. But if you already have WLC, then the next time you board for E5 while on active duty, you will be a head of the game. You will probably pick E5 back up within six months to a year depending on the board cycle. I wouldn't sweat it. But if you're bored and looking for something to do, then get on MOBCOP and apply for an individual active duty tour. Good luck to you.
-MSG Reeve
-MSG Reeve
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PO3 Kenneth Kline
that depends on your job... if you are a week-end warrior mechanic as well as a civilian mechanic you might get better experience as a civilian... if you are week-end warrior infantry and civilian accountant then the skills might not match up so well
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SGT Tevis Burke
What the MSG describes is exactly what happened to me. Separated from Regular Army as an E4 and went Army Reserve. I earned E5 while in the Reserve. A year later I was detached from my Reserve unit during Desert Storm to fill medic slot in a Regular Army unit (there was a shortage of medics at the time). A couple days after reporting to the RA I was a back at E4.
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They might take a stripe regardless of whether you have been to BLC (WLC's new name) or not. There are very specific instructions for this, and they change regularly. You will certainly need a waiver to retain your rank. You need to ask very pointed questions of your recruiter.
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SGT Kerry Misiaszek
If I remember correctly, if you stay in your mos you have a better chance of keeping it when you go into the active side. However, if you fail the blc, wlc,pldc, what ever they are calling it these days; they can and will in some cases take your rank on account of that alone. They can also take all that back pay, for not being to the standard, prior to promotion.....
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SPC (Join to see)
SGT Kerry Misiaszek They cannot take backpay for not meeting the standard. Check that fact.
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SFC (Join to see)
Star MOS is the best route. You might get to keep your rank if you choose these MOSes but speak to a recruiter.
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Yep your going to be a e-4. But just prove to your unit your a good leader and don't be a pussy and you'll get promoted in no time. Just so you know active duty isn't the guard. Your not going to be calling your commander james because you guys go to the same school or civilian workplace.
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SPC (Join to see)
That shit threw me off the first time I saw that happening. Even a private was called the First Sergeant by his first name
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MAJ (Join to see)
Written by someone that really doesn't understand the Gaurd/Reserve system. You probably still think that AD can do it all by themselves. Get with the modem times, things haven't been that way in a long time.
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SSG (Join to see)
We are aware that all components of the military have the same rules. Some units just fail to enforce those rules equally. I have worked with plenty of Guard and Reserve Soldiers and there is a higher propensity for them to use first names with superiors than those on Active Duty.
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SFC (Join to see)
Don't forget he will need the time and grade to get the stripe back but they do have waivers but it all depends the Soldier.
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SSG Robert Zierler
SPC Juan, when you look at your pay check what is your pay grade, if your a SGT what's your pay grade, if your a staff SGT, what's your pay grade. damn
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CW3 (Join to see)
I was actually thinking the same thing. The pay grade thing is a pet peeve of mine. When they read your promotion orders, are they promoting you to Sergeant or to E-5?
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SFC (Join to see)
Doesn’t apply to SGT/E-5 very much but there are tons of frocked SGM/CSM that are still E-8 as well as 1SG/MSG that are still E-7.
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I think they will take your rank. However it shouldn't be hard to get it back.
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I had a similar issue, when I went Active Duty in 1996. I went from E-5 to E-4. It had something to do with adjusting to the Time and Service from Reserves to Active Duty. It felt like I was getting ripped off, but it finally made sense, when I reported to my first unit and started learning what the real Army life was and what it was to be a Professional Soldier 24/7.
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