I am prior-service Air Force and have been out for 12 years. Can I enlist active duty Army?

SGT Rob Jewel — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 00:36:02 -0400

I just found out from my recruiter that since I have been out for 12 years, I would have to drop down to E-3. Because I have 6 years of prior service, I am past the time in service limit (RCP) for E-3. Is there any way around this?

Update 3/23/2018: There is no way around this. RCP (retention control point) is not waiverable for prior service enlistment. I will be enlisting reserves as an E-4 at this point. Thank you for all of your answers. Also if anyone is wondering RCP or High Year Tenure is favorable in the Air Force, if that is the direction you want to go.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 20 at 2018 12:47 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 00:47:47 -0400

You couldmalwaus tpask to appeal it, writing a letter, detailingnyour motivations, interests, and prep thus far...also, must it ne Army? Could you try for one of the other service combat arms units? Elaborate, if you can, college, associates, bachelors, specific coursework titles, interests, ambitions, reading, do a detailed bio sketch, I've generally found that the more you send in the more can be suggested...would you want to try for ityher services? I saw what you'd listed as having been before...have you thought about USCG at all? I know they have tight age limits, however, given what you were before, I should think they, or maybe USMC, might have an interest, just a thought. Also, would you want to try for Army technical warrant at all, I've seen shortages mentioned for Army for numerous technical fields, it'd help to know more to suggest more just a thoughtz, I'd be most eager to hear more whenever you'd have time, honest, hope was of some use and/or interest, many thanks.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 20 at 2018 12:50 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 00:50:04 -0400

There are also other services I could suggest, however, e.g., clinical, like USPHS, or going Seabees, if you have any engineering exposure, which I've read is pretty serious combat arms...also, I've reas of SWCC for Navy, as opposed to SEWL, I was just wondering if you'd given that any thought, just some other ideas I'd thought you might find of possible interest, as well....

Response by SGT Rob Jewel made Mar 20 at 2018 12:57 AM

SGT Rob Jewel — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 00:57:59 -0400

For clarification, I am still able to go Reserve or NG. This is not a route I am interested in. I am specifically not able to go active duty as an E-3 with 6 years of service. They said there was no way to enter at my prior grade of E-4.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 20 at 2018 12:59 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 00:59:32 -0400

Also, I kmow this might not ne something your wanted, or maybe there's some age limit, I just thought about USAF pararesfue (PJ)...likewise, for USCG, I kmow they have SWAT like units I've read about for shipboard piracy and/or oil rig related stuff, I just figured I'd mentioned that, just some other thoughts that occurred to me...being what you are beforehand, you might I thought have a serious chance at getting them to maybe consider you, I know USCG has a law enforcement school...I've also seen something called the Paul Hall Ctr, part of the Seafarers Intl Union (SIU), they seriously ramped up the ship piracy thing ever since the whole Somali thing, so, just as a thought, maybe Merchant Marine enlisted or civil service with Nacpvy Military Sealift Com!and (MSC)? I realize that might be a stretch. I'm just trying to give you various avenues for getting back on active that occur to me, I realize they might not ne what you'd envisioned, I just thought you might find them of I terest to mupp over, at least, you know?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 20 at 2018 1:01 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 01:01:37 -0400

https://www.navy.com/careers/special-operations/swcc.html#ft-key-responsibilities

I just thought this might ne of use and/or interest...

404 Not Found

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2018 1:01 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 01:01:40 -0400

NG has 2 SF groups that if you really wanted to, would be able to have a active duty lifestyle do to the numerous job and school opportunities. Also after serving X amount of time you can transfer to Active Duty as a SF qualified soldier.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 20 at 2018 1:03 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 01:03:29 -0400

https://www.military.com/military-fitness/coast-guard-special-training/u-s-coast-guard-deployable-specialized-forces

This too, obviously, you'd need to ask, however, just another thought....

Coast Guard Specialized Forces Overview

These six units, under a single command, create an organized quick reaction force that can be deployed to handle natural disasters, environmental catastrophes, terrorism and other threats to the United States and the world.

Response by CPT Andrew Wright made Mar 20 at 2018 2:32 AM

CPT Andrew Wright — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 02:32:49 -0400

By my calculation you must be a couple of years over age 35. Frankly, you are probably too old to make if through the SFAS and Q Course. Find a slot in an Army Reserve Civil Affairs or PSYOPS unit. They work hand in hand with SOCOM anyway and you will at least get some of the SF experience. Best of Luck!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2018 8:57 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 08:57:43 -0400

Go National Guard http://www.nationalguardsf.com. If you pass selection I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunity for you to become active while in the guard. The schools and training will be endless. Good luck.

Guard Special Forces | Locations, Requirements, Training and FAQs

Army National Guard Special Forces | Info, Locations, Requirements, Training, FAQ's and Recruiting

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Mar 20 at 2018 10:49 AM

SFC J Fullerton — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 10:49:23 -0400

Just ask the recruiter to reference your disqualification by regulation (AR 601-210) or by current USAREC Message. Instead of going off hear say on an internet forum, and if you don't trust what the recruiter tells you, then ask to see it in writing. It is there somewhere. You will never be satisfied with different answers from different people, so your best source is the regulation itself.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2018 12:25 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 12:25:17 -0400

SGT Rob Jewel Also will be age-dependent, too. Your age minus time served must be lower than 36 - at least here in the MO Army Guard. You will luck out because you shouldn't have to do boot again, being prior security forces. When I talked w/ a MO Army Guard recruiter, they told me that Security Forces (& Spec Ops) do not have to repeat Army boot due to similarity of our tech school to their boot - not that it's the same, but it's close enough..lol.
I would think that, even if you have to drop to E-3, you would be promotable pretty quick. Might be worth it, man. I know I'm willing to drop a grade if they'll let me back in after 18 years!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2018 1:32 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 13:32:32 -0400

I think you can make it as an 18x if rank is not an issue

Response by SGT Eric Davis made Mar 20 at 2018 3:17 PM

SGT Eric Davis — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 15:17:42 -0400

You might be over the limit for federal derive time to go straight AD....call a recruiter now and if they don’t take you they try the national guard!

Response by SGT Aric Lier made Mar 20 at 2018 4:06 PM

SGT Aric Lier — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 16:06:27 -0400

you can earn it back faster in the army
than what your used to

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Mar 20 at 2018 4:48 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 16:48:19 -0400

Join a Reserve Special Forces Unit. Get a slot for an E-4 or E-5, then get an AGR TOUR. I've been out a long time so run it by your Recruiter

Response by SGT Rob Jewel made Mar 24 at 2018 12:47 AM

SGT Rob Jewel — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 00:47:02 -0400

Update: There is no way around this. RCP (retention control point) is not waiverable for prior service enlistment. I will be enlisting reserves as an E-4 at this point. Thank you for all of your answers. Also if anyone is wondering, RCP or High Year Tenure is favorable in the Air Force, if that is the direction you want to go.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Feb 24 at 2019 11:08 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sun, 24 Feb 2019 23:08:52 -0500

You might also consider Navy SWCC, special warfare combat crewman (SWCC), I've seen a good deal on it on YouTube...having been USAF, I take it you'd know of PJ, obv...would it interest you, or are you beyond age limits for that? Would you have any interest in it? Further, if you're inclined for it, consider Navy Seabees, also, USCG SWAT units, I've seen material on those as well, look up USCG HITRON videos on YouTube, I'm unsure what the age limits are for those...elaborate on assocs, Bach, grad school, civilian work types, level, supervision you've done, even if only generally...hobbies, interests, reading tastes, sports incl any !martial arts, I tend to favor aikido and iaido, the more you elaborate, the more I and/or others on here might suggest, OK? Did you want senior enlisted? Warrant? Commissioned? Try to give sufficient info for us to me able to give you ideas and point you in suitable directions, I follow, the rank decrease, however, based on your educ and interests, we might all find other stuff that might possibly suit your inclinations, that's all I'm saying...have you considered Guard? Reserve? AGR? Guard Tech? Reserve Tech? Just some food for thought, OK? I'd be most eager to hear more, I have an interest in such career/educ stuff....