If America needs you again, would you be willing to return to active duty one grade lower?

Absolutely, if my country needed me I would be there regardless of grade. My love of this Country is not determined by pay grade. I would go back in as a pvt E-1 if need be. With my knowledge, skill and leadership abilities I would soon advance anyway.

SGM Coberly....Yes, I would take a reduction in rank to serve, after serving I know my retirement pay will be at the highest rank last held so that wouldn't be a issue for me. Being active in the military community is good for my mind and body, it would be another opportunity for me to mentor young Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines.

Absolutely, SGM (Join to see). No doubts and no hesitations. I was once CW4 Montgomery, I'd gladly serve in that grade again.

I actually did just that. I left the Navy after the Gulf War. I was out of 11 years and after Sept 11 I could not stand by any more. The call was too great.

I reenlisted and served another 8 years in the army. Heck, I was so important to the army they stop lossed me for almost 2 years. Luckily, I stayed or the war would have came to a screeching halt without my expert options about how screwed up Afghanistan and Iraq was.

Now for dropping a rank. Heck no! Do you know how hard it was for me not to get in trouble and earn those stripes? Nobody was more surprised than me when they gave me my Good Conduct Medal. Well, my 1SG was probably a close second. We both thought I would get the MOH before I would ever get a good cookie.

No. I'm an initiated chief petty officer with 20 years time in service. Literally half of it was as a member of the CPO Mess. No way would I return to active duty as a first class petty officer again. If anything, I'd want one pay grade higher.

As a veteran of this country, I firmly belive that a call to duty is as long as I have breath. I swore to defend against foreign and domestic, whether bonded or released. An oath is an oath to the death. Death before dishonor. To sacrifice for those I love dearly and my fellow citizens would never be a hesitation because I've done it before and I know I could do it again.....IJS

In a heartbeat but they will not take this broken old soldier any more.

Absolutely. We are family, we are stronger together and as a side note, I miss the creativity, dedication and jokes because sometimes, civilians just don't get it. I'd need the lower rank, I don't know what I'm doing anymore. And I need a chair..... Apparently.

In a heartbeat.

Couldn't think of a better way to serve my country again!!
It would be interesting to see how us retired folks hold up against the current soldiers.
Don't think we could handle to much BS though.