Is it possible to reenlist with an RE-4 (honorable discharge)?

PO3 Ron Hinton — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 12:15:06 -0500

Lost security clearance because they said that I had bad credit. I had re enlisted for 5 more years at my second duty station. But then they told me I was out. I desperately need to get back in on active duty. I miss it. And I felt I had a real purpose in life. I need some help getting my code upgraded. I was not a bad or anything. Please help you guys and gals. Thanks

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2017 12:25 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 12:25:58 -0500

PO3 Ron Hinton Here is a list of the enlistment codes. Have you talked to a Navy recruiter?

https://www.navycs.com/military-re-codes.html

Military Re-Enlistment Code Chart

United States military re-enlistment code chart utilized for determining waiver path for the United States Navy.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Feb 28 at 2017 3:28 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 15:28:51 -0500

Can you enlist without a security clearance? Each job has a requirement of what type of clearance you need. If there's a job without a clearance level, that might be your best bet and I'd probably talk to a Prior Service Recruiter for that information.

But like you said, you weren't bad, you just had bad credit. Unfortunately, bad credit makes you a security risk because it means you are more likely to do illicit activities to settle up your debt.

But I would definitely talk to a Prior Service Recruiter because especially with bad credit issues, I believe those things stay on your record for 7-10 years.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2017 4:00 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 16:00:59 -0500

You weren't refused reenlistment because of your clearance. When you have an Honorable discharge but an RE4 which means ineligible for reenlistment - no waiver. In the Army we usually see this when senior NCOs are QMPed, or when you hit RCP.
I assume you reached the max years you could as an E4 because you said you reenlisted, and losing your clearance most likely made you ineligible for promotionor qualification in your rating.
Saying that you were kicked out because of your clearance sounds a bit disingenuous and will make it hard for people to give you usable advice.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Feb 28 at 2017 4:51 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 16:51:08 -0500

"Is it possible to reenlist with an RE-4 (honorable discharge)?"

RE-4 - Individuals separated from last period of service with a nonwaiverable disqualification (refer to AR 601-280). Ineligible for enlistment except as provided for in paragraphs 2-7c and 2-7d. (See waiverable moral and administrative disqualifications.) Disqualilication is nonwaivable.

So NO you can't unless the need out weighs the available, then maybe.... but likely once the need is no longer (draw down) there you'll get the boot anyway.

What was your time in service when you separated? How many years and months total active service?
RE-4 is typically given for very negative reasons. ....... "having bad credit" is not the whole story..sorry, just not. unless something went wrong.
Each service has a e Administrative Discharge Board.. Hire a lawyer and PROVE your RE-4 discharge was erroneously given... thats the only way discharge codes are upgraded.. So a SM discharged on Chap 14, but later its proven they had a documented and provable case of Severe PTSD service related and untreated MIGHT get a discharge upgrade... MIGHT.

You have no obligation to tell us the rest of the story and background that lead to your RE-4 discharge code... but doing so and verifying your account might lead others here with knowledge and experience to better offer assistance..
however, unless something went terrible wrong in the admin process (it happens, see example ) or the criminally negligent leaders that pushed for and approved it (it would have to be a conspiracy, not just a single commander) ... Those with an RE-4 earned it. And those that earned an RE-4 are not needed in the Military service. There are simply too many available without that baggage. If it was an unjust discharge, get it changed and get back in.....

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2017 3:59 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 03:59:30 -0500

No, Re Entry code 4 means no re entry period. You lost your security clearance and were unable to fulfill your obligations in your MOS, that's why you got an Honorable with the RE code 4. If you can fix the financial problems that cause you to loose the clearance, you can request an upgrade on your RE code. This process is long and takes lost of effort and leg work. I seen RE codes change from 4, but you must do all the requests. There is a DD form, you can send to request the change, I want to say DD form 149, but is been to long since I left recruiting and dealt with this issue.

Response by SN Shaliss Anthony made May 15 at 2017 11:35 PM

SN Shaliss Anthony — Mon, 15 May 2017 23:35:25 -0400

I also have an RE4 honorable discharge from 23 years ago. I am a registered nurse now and would like to find out if there is any way possible of getting this changed. I was in the Navy, I told them I was doing drugs, and they let me out....unfortunately I had no idea what would happen in my future and that I would want to go back in. Any advice is welcome. P.S. I never had a positive drug test, there was never proof that said I was actually doing drugs, because I wasnt.

Response by PO3 Christopher Jonah Nelson made May 15 at 2017 11:57 PM

PO3 Christopher Jonah Nelson — Mon, 15 May 2017 23:57:44 -0400

RE-4 means you are non-waiverable, but I think it would be inappropriate to assume that that means that you (or anybody) did something wrong.

I got RE-4 KFV for a diagnosis of PTSD followed by a hospitalisation. I know it wasn't the right code, it should have been SFJ, but it doesn't really matter because the result is still the same.

My sister got RE-4 LFT after a surgery severed her nervous spine and the doctors discovered that she has a rare condition that prevents her nerves from repairing themselves.

In neither case was there misconduct; it just so happens that we're both unable to serve because of permanent disabilities of a differing nature that prevent us from doing our job now, and will be expected with reasonable certainty to prevent it permanently.

Response by SN Shaliss Anthony made May 17 at 2017 9:49 PM

SN Shaliss Anthony — Wed, 17 May 2017 21:49:51 -0400

Not recently I haven't because I always read these things about there not being anyway to get back in. I would qualify for a nurse officer if they would just let me prove myself!!!!

Response by SSgt John Carter made Nov 8 at 2017 12:23 PM

SSgt John Carter — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 12:23:32 -0500

NO. You have to get the discharge upgraded through the board of Corrections of Military Records.

Response by SSG Pete Fish made Dec 30 at 2017 6:20 PM

SSG Pete Fish — Sat, 30 Dec 2017 18:20:28 -0500

RE 4 on your 214 will not allow returning to any service. It could be dependant on the reason for discharge, but not likely.

Response by PFC Clinton Armstrong made Feb 25 at 2018 3:26 AM

PFC Clinton Armstrong — Sun, 25 Feb 2018 03:26:58 -0500

I find this topic of discussion very interesting. I enlisted in the U.S. Army January, 1st, 2007. My name is Clinton Armstrong, I was a 19D Cavalry Scout. I did both my basic and A.I.T. (OSUT training) at Ft. Knox Kentucky. 20 years old, signed up for the wrong reasons. I enlisted because my older brother did. Clayton Armstrong, (my older brother) was 11C infantry, and was a pretty decelerated soldier considering. Served about six years, did one tour in Korea, and two tours in Iraq. He was an E-5 before he was honorably discharged...

I myself was on active duty from January, 1st, 2007 until March, 14th, 2008 (not very long). I was stationed up with 25th I.D. Stryker Brigade, in Ft. Wainewright, AK.

The reason for my honorable discharge is because I had a really hard time adapting to the environment, and military stressors. I was diagnosed with a manic depressive bi-polar disorder (which isn't even in the manual anymore for mental health disorders anymore). We were doing a field training exercise out in the field, and I basically lost my composure. Not making excuses for myself. At 20 years old, in the heart of Alaska, during the winter season, I lost myself. I was unfit for active duty. I was honorably discharged with RE-4 enlistment code.

Since then, my road to recovery has been a slow and steady process. My progress is on the up and up though if I do say so myself. I currently live on my own in a cabin out in the woods of Vallecitio, CO. I'm utilizing the post 911 G.I. bill to go to school at Southwest Colorado Community College (a division school of Pueblo Community College) in Durango, CO. I currently have a 3.2 G.P.A., and I'm studying history. You probably wont believe this but for the past two years, I've been working fulltime, and going to school part-time. I'm currently taken a class U.S. History that has really "OPENED MY EYES".

I've been out of the U.S. Army and active duty service for 10 years now coming up on March 14th. I feel like I've grown a lot since then, and while I'll admit that in the beginning of my discharge and transition back to civilian life I was in a bit of denial and stubborn... Up until Recently, the past six months I've been taking my life very seriously, and I plan on seeing about getting a code upgrade after I get my Associates degree. I guess the question that I have for you guys is. What are my chances of getting back in?

Response by 1SG Brian Adams made Apr 4 at 2018 3:33 PM

1SG Brian Adams — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 15:33:09 -0400

what's the rest of the story? You re enlisted after bad credit....then after you re enlisted was told you were out? Seems like there is more to the story here. RE-4 is a "No". Perhaps write your congress person with documents to back you up...good luck

Response by HN Jacob Melnychuk made Jul 16 at 2018 12:19 PM

HN Jacob Melnychuk — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 12:19:20 -0400

I have an re4 with general honorable discharge for using a govi vehicle off base. It was a he said she said scenario where my oic stated he never told me I could use it off base while on TAD orders for two weeks, which he absolutely did. They scared the hell out of me by saying that if I didn’t say otherwise I could get court marshaled and serve jail time. So I said “I take responsibility” at my captains mast. Then they sent me packing. Anything I can do? This was in 2010. I was a really good corpsman.

Response by PO2 Brian Wiley made Nov 15 at 2018 8:58 AM

PO2 Brian Wiley — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 08:58:54 -0500

Go national guard after 2 years it will change

Response by PO3 Michael Riordan made Jan 14 at 2019 4:44 AM

PO3 Michael Riordan — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 04:44:12 -0500

Yes it is possible! Was in the Navy during the early 80's and got injured with
a recurring shoulder injury due to no fault of my own. Ship was going out to sea
but got put on medical hold due to surgery for my shoulder. Faced a medical board
who found me fit for duty as my enlistment was ending. and veteran rating of compensation upon leaving. Got an honorable with an LBK code. Re 4. Still held me in the inactive reserves.
They did well on fixing my shoulder temporarily and got a job with the Govt. which
i served well and retired along with obtaining college degree. Shoulder still gives me problems.
My re 4 got changed just based on meeting a recruiter for reservist duty which i
did on weekends and monthly for 4 more years. Was his suggestion.

Response by SN Tilman Green made May 11 at 2019 6:52 PM

SN Tilman Green — Sat, 11 May 2019 18:52:19 -0400

Yes I wasn't thinking when I screwed up and signed the form accepting the RE-4. The CWO 3 of personel and I didn't see eye to eye. He wanted me to make E-4 before I was discharged. He said since I didn't have the incentive to make rank I didn't deserve to take up space in the military. I became discouraged a year or so earlier by a dirty trick by the Yeomans on my ship that caused me to miss being eligible for the yearly service wide. So by the time the next service wide would come around I'd have less than a year of active duty left. So he felt I was a burden on the military. The guy that I replaced was discharged at the rank of E-3.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 16 at 2019 11:45 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 May 2019 11:45:50 -0400

Petition the BCNR.

Response by SSG Dale London made May 16 at 2019 11:57 AM

SSG Dale London — Thu, 16 May 2019 11:57:22 -0400

All hope is not lost. If you feel the RE-4 code was overly harsh you can appeal it. Each service has a five-member board whose sole job it is to review military records on appeal. For the navy it is The Board for Correction of Naval Records. File an appeal with them and if they agree that your code was too harsh, they may upgrade your reentry code from RE-4 to RE-3 which in some cases may be waivable. If, on the other hand, they disagree with you, you're stuffed. I would advise getting professional legal help on this because you only get one shot and you want it to stick.
Good luck.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made May 18 at 2019 4:06 PM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 May 2019 16:06:14 -0400

http://asylumscam.com/2019/05/12/ugandan-abusing-americans-compassion-at-the-expense-of-the-lgbt-and-other-african-immigrants/

Asylum scam, Asylum Fraud, lying on asylum application, File immigration visa, Consult an expert...

Asylum scam, Asylum Fraud, lying on asylum application, File immigration visa, Consult an expert immigration ,fiance visa, Student Visas, Green Card, American Citizenship, and Naturalization

Response by PO1 George Aiken made Dec 16 at 2019 8:34 PM

PO1 George Aiken — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 20:34:40 -0500

You can appeal to the Board for Correction of Naval Records if the RE-4 was in error (i.e. administrative error): otherwise it is doubtful. In 1986, as a result of an sexual battery accusation against my biological daughter (i.e. I was charge with sexually stimulating my 7 year old daughter, while both fully clothed, by rubbing her vaginal area with the nape of my neck by the City of Norfolk - no surprise here) and, via plea agreement, was force, while the case was continued, to server five years of unsupervisory probation. Though, during my subsequent divorce it was determine that my ex-wife staged the incident, the Board for Correction of Naval Records, though agreed with the finding (and my last evaluation stated this was the reason for the 2.0 rating for person misconduct though my overall evaluation rating was 3.4 - granting me the Honorable Discharge at the end of my active obligated service (no time lost)) of the dismissal, ruled the RE-4 was an "management control procedure" and stated the Honorable Discharge is proof of no misconduct while on active duty. Though I have pursued a career with the federal and two state governments (I have never been asked a question about the RE-4 during federal/state government employment) many private sector contractors have questioned about the RE-4.

Though my recommendation for anyone that has received an Navy Honorable RE-4 is to try to appeal to the Board of Correction for Naval Record, if the appeal is not granted, it is not necessary the end game - life does go on. Recommend - use the GI bill and obtain a good educational background (i.e, Undergraduate and graduate studies) and build on the positives. Learn from your mistakes (for me, find a better candidate for a second wife - it worked well the second time around), and move on looking to the future.

Response by HA Jace Gallagher made May 19 at 2020 2:34 AM

HA Jace Gallagher — Tue, 19 May 2020 02:34:13 -0400

With an RE4 your chances of returning to military service are near zero.

Response by SGT Russell Brown made Mar 8 at 2022 5:55 PM

SGT Russell Brown — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 17:55:02 -0500