Posted on Mar 4, 2025
Has anyone successfully gotten an RE3 waiver with a relatively uncomplicated situation? How long did it take?
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I joined the Army when I was 17. I was medboarded out with and RE 3. I've since got a doctorate and working on going back in. Currently in a holding pattern waiting for the RE waiver to go through before I can go to commissioning boards. My medical waiver and the rest of my packet are complete. Has anyone successfully gotten an RE3 waiver with a relatively uncomplicated situation? How long did it take?
Posted in these groups: 
RE Code
Re-enlistment
RE Code Re-enlistment
Posted 4 mo ago
Responses: 1
The definitive answer to questions about an RE-3 waiver will always be, "check with your recruiter".
There are many RE-3 waivers that breeze through and are approved without a hitch and there are RE-3 waivers that never go anywhere. It is completely dependent on the waiver circumstances and the environment at the time it is submitted.
For direct commissions, the CG, USAREC will have to grant the waiver request unless there is specific requirements based on the branch you're assessing into (AR 40-501*, para 1-6).
NOTE: There is a difference between the standards of medical fitness to get into the military and the standards of medical fitness for retention in the military. There are many things that will prevent you from joining without a waiver, but won't require you to be separated if it manifests after you are in the military. The medical waiver are for those things or to determine if items listed will meet the medical retention standards (See AR 40-501, chapter 3).
As you were previously medically separated, if the underlying condition has not improved and/or if the retention standards no longer included it as a have not changed regarding it since you were separated, you will not get a waiver for it (or rather, a medical waiver will only be requested under extraordinary circumstances and must be approved by the Army's Office of The Surgeon General).
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* AR 40-501 - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN37720-AR_40-501-002-WEB-4.pdf
There are many RE-3 waivers that breeze through and are approved without a hitch and there are RE-3 waivers that never go anywhere. It is completely dependent on the waiver circumstances and the environment at the time it is submitted.
For direct commissions, the CG, USAREC will have to grant the waiver request unless there is specific requirements based on the branch you're assessing into (AR 40-501*, para 1-6).
NOTE: There is a difference between the standards of medical fitness to get into the military and the standards of medical fitness for retention in the military. There are many things that will prevent you from joining without a waiver, but won't require you to be separated if it manifests after you are in the military. The medical waiver are for those things or to determine if items listed will meet the medical retention standards (See AR 40-501, chapter 3).
As you were previously medically separated, if the underlying condition has not improved and/or if the retention standards no longer included it as a have not changed regarding it since you were separated, you will not get a waiver for it (or rather, a medical waiver will only be requested under extraordinary circumstances and must be approved by the Army's Office of The Surgeon General).
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* AR 40-501 - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN37720-AR_40-501-002-WEB-4.pdf
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PV2 (Join to see)
Thanks for your response! I did check with recruiter - they are unsure on timelines. I apparently require both an RE waiver and a medical waiver. The med waiver for the injury has already been approved. I am just waiting on the RE waiver now in order to go to boards for a direct commission (AMEDD).
The condition for which I was separated for has completely resolved and I have that well documented. My discharge was honorable.
The condition for which I was separated for has completely resolved and I have that well documented. My discharge was honorable.
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COL Randall C.
PV2 (Join to see) - Thanks for a bit more clarification, but your response begs a few questions...
Are there two medical conditions that you are referring to - the condition you were previously separated for (and the reason for the RE-3 code on your discharge) and something else that you have already received an approved waiver for? If so, I'd ask the recruiter why they weren't submitted on the same waiver request as both would go to the CG, USAREC for approval (the USAREC medical waiver team reviews and makes a recommendation, but the CG approves).
If not, are you referring to some process at the direct commission board, because the board can't approve a medical waiver. Again, the CG, USAREC is the approval authority for almost all* medical waiver requests for direct appointments.
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* Exceptions to medical waivers for direct commissions - the exception to the CG, USAREC being the approval authority is for a direct appoint to the JAG Corps (AR 40-501, para 1-6m) or if the medical waiver is for certain psychiatric and behavioral health conditions (Army Directive 2020-09 - https://recruiting.army.mil/Portals/15/ARN30547-ARMY_DIR_2020-09-000-WEB-1.pdf)
Are there two medical conditions that you are referring to - the condition you were previously separated for (and the reason for the RE-3 code on your discharge) and something else that you have already received an approved waiver for? If so, I'd ask the recruiter why they weren't submitted on the same waiver request as both would go to the CG, USAREC for approval (the USAREC medical waiver team reviews and makes a recommendation, but the CG approves).
If not, are you referring to some process at the direct commission board, because the board can't approve a medical waiver. Again, the CG, USAREC is the approval authority for almost all* medical waiver requests for direct appointments.
--------------------------------------------------------
* Exceptions to medical waivers for direct commissions - the exception to the CG, USAREC being the approval authority is for a direct appoint to the JAG Corps (AR 40-501, para 1-6m) or if the medical waiver is for certain psychiatric and behavioral health conditions (Army Directive 2020-09 - https://recruiting.army.mil/Portals/15/ARN30547-ARMY_DIR_2020-09-000-WEB-1.pdf)
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PV2 (Join to see)
It was one medical condition. Since the first post, both things are now showing approved. There was a hang up in the workflow where it was showing medical waiver approved, RE waiver pending. They were sent to the same place, same time. For some reason, the RE approval did not come through in the workflow for about a week after the medical waiver and they were having trouble getting an answer on it. All good now. On to boards.
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