Posted on Jan 25, 2019
Serena Ramos
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He's even willing to give up his commission in order to go active duty and every recruitment office I call seems to be dumbfounded on how to deal with his case, even though he's fit, 37 with 6 years of service and cleared to re-enlist on his DD214. He was a Transportation Officer.
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Responses: 9
SFC Retention Operations Nco
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I am surprised that there is any issue with bringing him on. His six years of service should be creditable down to 31 years of age, and officers who resigned their Commission are brought back on as Sergeants.
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Serena Ramos
Serena Ramos
7 y
He's been out of the military since 2015, I wonder if this has something to do with it? He hasn't resigned his commission yet, but he's willing to if he needs to to go active. All the recruiters have told me they've never helped a prior service officer. Location wise, we're located in FL, but I will drive, fly or do whatever to help him meet with an experienced recruiter if need be.
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SFC Retention Operations Nco
SFC (Join to see)
7 y
Serena Ramos if he is trying to access as an officer, I don't know if that is possible. You may find it much easier to join the reserve component and join the AGR, or possibly go active from the reserve open to the active component.
Recruiters deal with a listing as opposed to commissioning there are special recruiters for recruiting officers, and I'm not aware of any new recruits non- specialty officers into the active component, only into the reserve component.
As for the recruiters, they can always ask their higher level command. The recruiter does not need to know how to do everything, there is always someone at a higher level, such as Battalion or Brigade operations, answer these questions. If the station Commander cannot help you, Ben call the company. After that, the battalion, the Brigade, then usarec
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Serena Ramos
Serena Ramos
>1 y
You are absolutely right, he was brought back as an E-5
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CPT Aaron Kletzing
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Serena, best wishes to you and your husband -- I hope things work out for you!
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MSG Chief Executive Officer (Ceo)
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Have your significant other DM me directly or you can DM me directly with your contact information. I'll have one of my career management officers reach out to him next week.
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Serena Ramos
Serena Ramos
7 y
Hello, please e-mail [login to see] and I will send you his cellphone number.
Thank you so much!
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MSG Chief Executive Officer (Ceo)
MSG (Join to see)
7 y
Serena Ramos - Email sent!
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Serena Ramos
Serena Ramos
7 y
I haven't received it yet for some reason. Try copy and pasting [login to see] .
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How can a prior-service Army officer (CPT) go on active duty again as an enlisted soldier?
SPC Erich Guenther
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Edited 7 y ago
If your calling Recruiting Stations they are going to give priority to folks new to the Army and off the street vs Prior Service, so you kind of have to push and take initiative more than if you were just a HS graduate fresh out of HS. Next time you call ask to speak with the Recruiting Station Commander or whomever is in charge of the Recruiting Station location. Usually a SFC that has some Recruiting experience. He or she will know how to handle this, tell them your getting the run around and want to get the enlistment process started.
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
7 y
SPC Erich Guenther Recruiting stations now are supervised by: ‘Station Leaders’. That in much kinder in today’s ‘speak’, than saying NCOIC!
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SSG Senior Religious Affairs Nco
SSG (Join to see)
7 y
They are called Stayoon Commanders now. It was Center Leaders for a while but that changed toward the end of the last FY. CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
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Serena Ramos
Serena Ramos
>1 y
You are absolutely right, I did find someone who could help him, thank you so much for your help!
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Sgt Field Radio Operator
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Edited 7 y ago
Serena Ramos If I read the attached chart right, your husbands six years of service should be subtracted from their current age, which would make him eligible. Does your husband want to go enlisted or only if that is the only way to go active duty? I will copy SFC Jason Boyd who will be able to provide the correct answer to your question.

SFC (Join to see)

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/us-military-enlistment-standards-3354001
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Serena Ramos
Serena Ramos
7 y
Right, he'll take whatever he can as long as he goes active duty. Right, his age wouldn't be a problem, thank you.
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Sgt Field Radio Operator
Sgt (Join to see)
7 y
Serena Ramos - Best wishes to you and your husband.
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SPC Commissioned Officer Candidate
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I've heard of officer coming back in as sergeants. Shouldn't even be a problem
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Serena Ramos
Serena Ramos
7 y
Gosh, I sure hope so. Do you know if they come back in after several years?
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Serena Ramos
Serena Ramos
>1 y
You were right, thank you very much!
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MSG Frank Kapaun
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There used to be a plethora of riffed O3s in the National Guard. Some were brought back as high as E7, which used to piss me off to no end. Good luck.
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MSG Frank Kapaun
MSG Frank Kapaun
7 y
I was in an SF guard unit and it pissed me off that these riffed CPTs would automatically become a Senior NCO and be awarded an 18B MOS. I worked hard for my 18B MOS.SPC (Join to see)
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SPC Public Affairs Specialist
SPC (Join to see)
7 y
MSG Frank Kapaun Wow... Did he not have to go through selection or the Q course?
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MSG Frank Kapaun
MSG Frank Kapaun
7 y
They went through selection and the officer course. By and large, they had not attended any of the SF Enlisted MOS courses.SPC (Join to see)
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SPC Public Affairs Specialist
SPC (Join to see)
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MSG Frank Kapaun
Oh, ok. I see.
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Capt Daniel Goodman
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I follow the question, when I'd been in, a MSgt in my unit had been O-3, he'd been RIFd, he was allowed to finish out his 20 yrs as enlisted, he was made SSgt to start, though, as I'd said, when I knew him, he'd gotten as high as MSgt, though I gated he was allowed to retire as an O-3, since he'd gotten to that level before the RIF. To try to help you sort out various possibilities, it'd help to know more, not that I can solve tour problem, I merely found the circumstances rather unique, I have an interest in such career/educ topics. First, has he looked at trying for warrant, at all, regardless of svc? Second, what are his degrees, with majors and GPAs, if you could relate them, associates, bachelor's, masters, doctoral, whatever he has, as knowing tat would certainly give more insight, honest. Third, would he be willing to change fields, at all, and, of so, to which possibilities, what specific MOS, AFSC, or Navy/USCG rates might interest him. Fourth, if you might be able to say, how much active duty time does he already have now? Fifth, has he done any time wit Guard, Reserve, AGR? Sixth, a possibility he might know of, yet not have seriously considered, would possibly be to go Guard Tech, whether ARNG or ANG, Army or Air Natl Guard, or maybe Reserve Tech. I suggest the latter for sevl reasons: he'd be in uniform ull time as Guard or Reserve Tech, though he'd have to drill with his unit on weekends, drill months, etc. Next, I was never entirely sure exactly how retirement worked with Guard Tech or Reserve Tech, he'd have to ask about that. Now, assuming he "might" consider Guard or Reserve, he could certainly reapply for active duty (AD) as either, I'd expect, though, of course, that'd depend on what was open, whenever he might try. Next, would he consider going back at all for more grad school, not to sound simplistic, only to gauge his ten of mind, and, if so, whether for masters or doctoral, in what field or fields? Also and please understand, I entirely realize there might obviously be a limit to what yud care to mention, or that he would, however, it'd obviously also help to know more of the basic circumstances involved. Now, "if" he'd be willing to change fields, and "supposing" he had a background of possible use to them, USPHS Commissioned Corps, which does use comp sci (CS), IT, and engineers, commissions up to I "think" 44, though, of course, the bulk of those going USPHS are clinical, though they do list other areas, as I'd said, that are nonclinical, though I'm not sure of they're open, call [login to see] , their recruiting office, and ask, or have him call, of course. Last NOAA Commissioned Corps is small, and quite staff to get, I merely !mention that as yet another possibility. And, might he have any possible flight interests? I'm only saying that as, if he might, I'm unsure what the age limit is for rotary wing for Army WOCS. If he'd consider USPHS, had him look at Jr and Sr COSTEP, which are the USPHS !major educ programs, they can be used for grad school. Truly, though, given his age, background, and apparent interests, I honestly think Guard, Reserve, AGR, Guard Tech, or Reserve Tech, with a later submit for AD could well be his best chance, aside from warrant, I've seen mention of resigning a commission to go warrant for Army for rotary wing aviation, how it might be possible for his background, o honestly don't know, however, I !merely mention it as a possibility you and/or he might care to consider. If he has a STEM degree, he might also try for direct commission Army cyber, Navy WO1 cyber, or possibly USCG direct commission engineer, going to an ofcr indoc school (OIS), as opposed to an OCS, per se, I'd certainly also think USMC could certainly make use of him, one would think, due to the numerous similarities in the work, even if it might be an intersvc transfer...also, has he looked into intersvc transfers at all, and, of so, for which svcs? I'd be most eager to hear more, of I can suggest anything else, I'd of course be glad to try, by all !eams, certainly, no rush, whenever you and/or he might care to answer at all, obviously.
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Capt Daniel Goodman
Capt Daniel Goodman
7 y
It's fine, take as long as you need, if you want more, or can explain more, just let me know, no rush...many on here tell !e I can frequently tend to overwhelm with all I send, so if you ever need me to ratchet down the volume at all, just tell !e, OK? Trust me, honest, I genuinely have given the whole thing a good deal of thought, and think law could be the ideal solution for him, honest, for all the reasons I explained, it'd jibe quite well with intl relns, plus, if he got his PhD, as well as the LLM to go with the JD, he'd be well suited for the highest possible levels, test me, there's zero substitute for being at the top of the intellectual food chain, promise, OK?
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Serena Ramos
Serena Ramos
7 y
Capt Daniel Goodman - So I have an update! I found a recruiter that was willing to take his case, collect his documents and a send a DD368 (conditional release) to IRR so he can send his packet to MEPS. I wonder what'll happen now, but I'm trying to be proactive in sending documents as needed.
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Capt Daniel Goodman
Capt Daniel Goodman
7 y
I follow, if you'd care to chat further, obviously just ask, of course, I'm glad yu were apparently able to make some progress, certainly....
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Serena Ramos
Serena Ramos
>1 y
Captain! Thank you so much for all of your help and advice back in January. GOOD NEWS! He did get back in as an E-5, thanks to a very helpful and kind recruiter who helped him regardless of the fact he was prior service. Seems like people like him are hard to find. As a Captain, he was 88A and now he has switched his MOS as Enlisted to 27D which is Paralegal. I took your advice and told him and now he's going for JAG. He ships in June to Fort Lee. Thank you so much for taking the time to write to me and explain to me all you did. What do you think he should do while he's serving as a 27D? He wants to get into law. Not sure if LLM or JD is better or how it works yet.
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Serena Ramos
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Today is May 10th, 2019 and the good news he was able to return to active duty as an E-5. He had to give up his commission but it worked out in the end because he was able to pick a new MOS. Everyone who faces a recruiter saying it's not possible, keep searching till you find one willing to start your prior service packet. It will take several months 4-6... because it's very complicated but it is possible, don't give up!
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