Have you heard of veterans "re-entering" service after having a civilian career?

2014-05-06T14:04:38-04:00

Hello Fellow Vets,

Have any of you ever considered re-joining (enlisted or commissioned) the military after having a few years of professional civilian experience?

Why or why not?

Response by MAJ Dallas D. made May 6 at 2014 4:19 PM

2014-05-06T16:19:58-04:00

When I was in recruiting we would often see prior-service men and women come into our office wanting to re-enlist. I think it is much more common than most people realize.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2014 9:50 AM

2014-05-07T09:50:19-04:00

Thanks for your help gentlemen.

Response by SGT Shon D. Hill made May 7 at 2014 9:05 PM

2014-05-07T21:05:36-04:00

In 2000 I ETS'd after 8 years of service in the Army, mostly because the civilian job market was booming and I wanted to finish my college degree. I became a retail drug store manager and did very well with that job, but worked more than 60 hours a week with no end in sight on that. By 2002 I missed the Army so much that I tried to re-enlist, but had a medical issue that kept me from Active Duty. Oddly enough, I met a recruiter from the National Guard in my state, and re-enlisted in the Guard instead. I am so glad I did and had the experience of deployment to Iraq. I think sometimes we have to find our own way and its not strange or unusual to re-enlist after trying our hand in the civilian world.

Response by SFC Christopher Perry made May 13 at 2014 6:06 AM

2014-05-13T06:06:36-04:00

I got out as part of the major cutbacks following Desert Storm. There were a number of reasons for my decision. But primarily it was for family reasons. My brand new wife was honestly not going to enjoy being an Army wife at that point in her life. She was at the beginning of a pretty big upward shift in her career. We wanted to have a family and I determined I wanted to "be there" for my children.

I came back in as a PV2 in 2007 at the tender age of 40. I had missed the life for a number of years. The kids were in high school and looking toward their own future. And honestly, I think we were both a little burned out on our corporate civilian lives. I am very thankful that I was given the opportunity to come back in for the second go at this. It has been a heck of a lot more fun in my 40s than it was in my 20s.

Response by SGT Tobey Cummings made Jun 7 at 2014 10:49 PM

2014-06-07T22:49:29-04:00

I was active duty from 8/1983-7/1986. Have worked for DVA since 8/1989 and also re-enlisted into the VA National Guard in 4/2007 and deployed to Iraq 2008-2009. Still Employed by DVA.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 7 at 2014 11:04 PM

2014-06-07T23:04:23-04:00

Several of my Shipmates did and I thought it was great to see them again. I did a continuous 21.

Response by MSG(P) Michael Warrick made Jun 7 at 2014 11:29 PM

2014-06-07T23:29:21-04:00

Yes as to I am one of them. I did 9.5 years of active duty then walked away for family reasons for 9.5 years then I came back in and have been in the National Guard on active duty for ten years. I missed it so much and I am glad to be back in wearing the uniform.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2014 1:50 AM

2014-06-08T01:50:34-04:00

I did this myself. I was enlisted from 2002 - 2008. I worked in insurance for two different companies and learned alot. Then I realized I still missed the military enviroment and commissioned in 2012.

The skills I learned about process improvement and change management have helped me drastically.

While coming back into service was a monetary pay cut, the fringe benefits; such as the mission and people can't be measured.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made Jun 8 at 2014 1:58 AM

2014-06-08T01:58:21-04:00

Yes, I have. In fact I am one of those veterans who returned to active duty after spending 11 years in the civilian sector. It was and is my honor to have served with two different generations of soldiers. Each one had its distinctions but I am proudest of serving with the newest generation of soldiers. I was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division (Climb to Glory), and further assigned to the 4th BN. 31st Infantry Regiment (Pro Patria). these were the finest men I ever served with and am proud to call them brothers in arms.

Response by SFC A.M. Drake made Jun 8 at 2014 2:44 AM

2014-06-08T02:44:40-04:00

Yes I served from 86-91 AD...got out and worked at the VA until late 2001, hen arrived back on AGR program....I did stay in the Reserves though so I have not had a break in service, now 36 months to go.

Response by LCpl Rick Ponton made Jun 8 at 2014 4:52 AM

2014-06-08T04:52:03-04:00

I WENT TO THE MARINE RECUITERS OFFICE TWICE AND I ASKED TO HAVE A PRESIDENTIAL WAIVER TO GO AS A CHAPLAIN TO HELP THE TROOPS IN AFGHANISATAN AND PRAY OVER THE BATTLE FIELD AND TRY TO MOTIVATE AND ENCOURAGE OUR TROOPS ON THE FRONT LINES AND MY DOCTOR AND THERAPIST SAID IT WAS UNREALISTIC.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Sep 18 at 2014 10:22 AM

2014-09-18T10:22:36-04:00

Happens quite frequently, particularly in the AMEDD.

Response by MSgt Dennis Dudley made Oct 18 at 2014 4:32 PM

2014-10-18T16:32:31-04:00

I left the Air Force after 7 years, ended up working in a camera store, followed by selling insurance for Mother Met. Meanwhile I did join the Air National Guard. Couple years later ,went back into the Air Force as a Radar Specialist. Was hoping to finish my 20, but family issues changed things. Went back into the Guard, been happy ever since. Retired as E-7

Response by PO2 Rocky Kleeger made Oct 18 at 2014 5:24 PM

2014-10-18T17:24:10-04:00

I spent six year on Acitve Duty, then went to the Reserves for 12 years while working as a civilian for the rest of the month. After that, I went back to Active Duty. Does that count?

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Oct 19 at 2014 4:37 PM

2014-10-19T16:37:37-04:00

I got out of the Army for 2 years to put myself through ROTC. I went to the University of Oregon (Go Ducks!) in 1998/1999 but did not get my age waiver approved in the 2 year deadline I gave them. I rejoined the Army just before losing a stripe. I tried to go back to my original Infantry MOS but since I already had BNCOC, they made me go back into the Air Cav and I went to Fort Campbell so I could go to Air Assault school.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Oct 19 at 2014 5:12 PM

2014-10-19T17:12:20-04:00

I did it. I was out for about 16 years before coming back in in 2007. I will tell you, that for me, it has always been challenging. I will give you a few things that I have had issues with. First, I am old. Older than most everyone in my unit, including my Command. So having personal relationships is challenging since I really don't have a lot in common with my peer group. I have been fortunate (at least in my last two duty stations) because I was able to connect with people who are my age, but certainly not my same rank. Two of my good friends are both SGMs. One just retired and the other will be PCSing to Ft. Benning soon. I have always been able to differentiate between duty hours and off duty hours.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Oct 19 at 2014 6:11 PM

2014-10-19T18:11:31-04:00

Pretty Common in the Cryptologic Community while I was in. I don't know why.

Response by SSG Maurice P. made Oct 19 at 2014 10:03 PM

2014-10-19T22:03:58-04:00

what are the chances of a 63 year old retiree going back on active duty and to iraq??

Response by SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS made Oct 19 at 2014 11:20 PM

2014-10-19T23:20:04-04:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member Yes. I joined the United States Marine Corps out of high school. After my six year enlistment, I joined the police where I worked for 12 years until enlisting in the Army where I completed my career.

I actually met a number of other Army CID Special Agents who did the same exact thing. Most with many years less break than I.

Thank you,

Response by SPC Casey Ashfield made Jul 25 at 2017 1:25 PM

2017-07-25T13:25:44-04:00

I had the pull to re enter the military about a year after I got out. My exit from the military was messy to say the least. But I did feel that I wasn't finished with my time in uniform. So I dug through some paperwork and found I had a separation code of RE-3. A talk with a recruiter revealed the only thing worse than RE-3 code is RE-4. And it would have taken 14-15 months to get a waiver to re enter the military. I miss the military and would like to go back. But not to the extent where I could be spinning my wheels for a year on a maybe.