Posted on May 8, 2015
Can you re-enlist after a 5-13 discharge (12 years ago)?
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I need some recruiter expertise here, RP.
Got a vet that was discharged under 5-13...12 years ago. It was a false diagnosis. He is looking to re-enlist. He can provide documentation that the original diagnosis was erroneous.
Thoughts?
Got a vet that was discharged under 5-13...12 years ago. It was a false diagnosis. He is looking to re-enlist. He can provide documentation that the original diagnosis was erroneous.
Thoughts?
Re-enlistment
Army National Guard
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 12
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It all depends on his RE code.
Little known fact is it is more than just a 2 digit code which is on his personal copy of the DD-214.
Pretty much the way things are right now, if it's other than a 1A it will be highly likely that he would even get a second look, even by the Guard.
I wasn't a full time recruiter, But I was NCOIC of my unit recruiting team from 1994-1998.
I'm sure things have even changed since then.
Little known fact is it is more than just a 2 digit code which is on his personal copy of the DD-214.
Pretty much the way things are right now, if it's other than a 1A it will be highly likely that he would even get a second look, even by the Guard.
I wasn't a full time recruiter, But I was NCOIC of my unit recruiting team from 1994-1998.
I'm sure things have even changed since then.
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As some have stated the RE code will dictate a lot. Then National Guard is usually more willing to work with someone in this situation. Active duty wouldn't touch it. But if you have a RE code of 4 it is pretty much a no-go.
This being a personality disorder discharge I am pretty much going to say that it may be a lost cause, even for the guard. The Army doesn't want to even mess with anything like this. If you recall Bergdahl was discharged from the Coast Guard for this most likely. The Army let him in and we all know how that turned out.
If I were the officer at MEPs I wouldn't touch it. There are more than enough people trying to join with no issues. Something had to trigger the discharge. A personality disorder is something that really isn't something that you kick someone out for on accident. Even if they have a new assessment you are going up against what a military Doc said. There is a lot of risk of letting someone in even if they have a false or bad assessment. It is just a difficult time for anyone to get in if you are not near the perfect candidate.
"Chapter 5-13 (Personality Disorder). If a physician trained in psychiatry or a licensed
clinical psychologist notifies the commander that the Soldier has a deeply ingrained personality disorder and this disorder is so severe that the Soldier’s ability to function effectively in the military environment is significantly impaired, then the commander may initiate a Chapter 5-13 separation action."
This being a personality disorder discharge I am pretty much going to say that it may be a lost cause, even for the guard. The Army doesn't want to even mess with anything like this. If you recall Bergdahl was discharged from the Coast Guard for this most likely. The Army let him in and we all know how that turned out.
If I were the officer at MEPs I wouldn't touch it. There are more than enough people trying to join with no issues. Something had to trigger the discharge. A personality disorder is something that really isn't something that you kick someone out for on accident. Even if they have a new assessment you are going up against what a military Doc said. There is a lot of risk of letting someone in even if they have a false or bad assessment. It is just a difficult time for anyone to get in if you are not near the perfect candidate.
"Chapter 5-13 (Personality Disorder). If a physician trained in psychiatry or a licensed
clinical psychologist notifies the commander that the Soldier has a deeply ingrained personality disorder and this disorder is so severe that the Soldier’s ability to function effectively in the military environment is significantly impaired, then the commander may initiate a Chapter 5-13 separation action."
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Domingo King
I have a question.I was a Army reservist. I'm trying to reenlist in the Colorado national guard after being out since 2002.I was originally out out in June 2001 due to unsatisfactory participation is what I was told. I didn't receive any paperwork when I left and just got my papers from vetrecs. It states I have a Under Honorable conditions discharge -misconduct due to a failed drug test in May 2001 but dates when it was processed in Jan 2002. In your opinion am I an auto NoGo?
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CPT (Join to see)
Domingo King - You would be a no go most likely. But if you failed a drug test and then went AWOL I am sure that you have a RE that is pretty rough. Most likely a RE code 4 but that is just guessing. But then i don't really know. You would have to get up with the Army to figure that out.
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Domingo King
My final discharge is a under Honorable discharge and my paperwork seemed a little messed up. The Army HR usually had info on everything except anything that had to do with this. But a disorder is ludacris. But I mean gosh I will get my point of summary next week or 2 to let me know. I appreciate the response. I appreciate everything I can get. I wasn't charged with AWOL only unsatisfactory participation. Which is The original reason for me being discharged. Then a year later he signed a paper stating I failed a drug test. Which was news to me this month. I mean an Underhonorable Conditions discharge isn't so to speak bad (though my pride makes me hang my head low bc of it) but reenlisting is a hope of mine. I mean I was a kid who went from having a perfect life to losing everything at 21. I didn't have a NCO who told me the things that could have been offered to me at the time, which isn't their fault, but it would have been good lol.
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It would depend on each state and what their respective numbers are this year. Everything is a crap shoot, if a recruiter is good on numbers, won't touch the headache. Will the MEPS station touch him, maybe, maybe not.
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I'm not a current recruiter, but did recruit when the army was desperate for recruits during the war. I had an applicant that had a 5-13 and it required a LTC's approval to get in. After pursuing the waiver for 6 months, it was disapproved. Eligibility changes from FY to FY. Have him take his DD-214 into a recruiter and they'll know.
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I've seen so many veterans want to go back in the service when they left under bad or less than desirable terms. Why is this? If a service member left due to medical/bad conduct/mental...etc....why go back in?
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SSgt Ryan Sylvester
Had a heart condition develop while I was on Active Duty. Got me a bunch of LOCs and LORs for PFT failures before we figured it out. Got me separated with a 4K KBK that never went to a med board. I just left after my enlistment was up. On the outside, I saw a GS-11 position with the Air National Guard. Hook was, I needed to be eligible to be in the Guard to get it. Rank and AFSC matched up. But the aforementioned code meant that opportunity went right on by.
I didn't want to get out. But I was forced to. I would have loved to get back into uniform again. Especially since, at the time, I wasn't getting hired anywhere else. I could still try to fight for it, if I wanted it bad enough. Slim chance is slim, but there. So not always a case of "the grass isn't so green over here". Sometimes it's just a crap set of circumstances.
I didn't want to get out. But I was forced to. I would have loved to get back into uniform again. Especially since, at the time, I wasn't getting hired anywhere else. I could still try to fight for it, if I wanted it bad enough. Slim chance is slim, but there. So not always a case of "the grass isn't so green over here". Sometimes it's just a crap set of circumstances.
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At this point though active duty is not taking prior service the National Guard is trying to increase numbers here in Oklahoma some of the requirements have been set aside to allow us to get those numbers. As for the discharge if it can be proven that there was a misdiagnosis im sure they would be able to allow the member back in. Dont be fooled though he will have to jump through several hoops to prove that he is again fit for duty.
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SGT (Join to see)
In 2002-2010, there were thousands of soldiers discharged under the narrative of "personality disorder-unspecified".
It requires a lot of time, and effort, on the part of a recruiter, to submit paperwork correcting the diagnosis.
It requires a lot of time, and effort, on the part of a recruiter, to submit paperwork correcting the diagnosis.
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SSG (Join to see)
I misunderstood the question. Not an expert in recruiting, but more or less in the medical field. Is he getting benefits from the VA for those issues? If so, he needs to to homework. I don't think there is a one size fits all answer in this question, too many variables
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Same as has been said by others, depends greatly on the RE and separation type code. For example, mine is 4K KBK, medical disqualification from continued active service and separated upon completion of enlistment contract (or somesuch). When I was looking to apply for a federal position with the Michigan Air National Guard, it required being in the guard. Talked with the recruiter, and with the 4K KBK, I couldn't even go to MEPS looking for waivers.
There was a process I was told about by the recruiter, where I could basically file with a corrections board and attempt to have my RE code changed. That's nearly a year long process, however, and not by any means guaranteed to work out. Even with documentation, they may just say pass. If the vet is serious about trying, though, they can find information here: https://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/vso/boards_for_correction_of_military_records.html
There was a process I was told about by the recruiter, where I could basically file with a corrections board and attempt to have my RE code changed. That's nearly a year long process, however, and not by any means guaranteed to work out. Even with documentation, they may just say pass. If the vet is serious about trying, though, they can find information here: https://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/vso/boards_for_correction_of_military_records.html
NPRC Veterans Service Officer (VSO)- Boards for Correction of Military Records / Discharge...
VSOs - Boards for Correction of Military Records / Discharge Upgrades
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Depending on what his Renlistment code is it will be a factor if he will need waivers or not. if he has a R 1 then he is good to go but if he has any other such as an R 2 or 3 then he must secure waivers from his state AG or the NGB to be able to renlist
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