Posted on May 24, 2014
Ok, here's an odd question O to E? With a service switch?
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Does anyone here have experience transitioning from Officer to Enlisted/NCO? Either personal or in the recruiting/retention/career counselor world?
The question is: What are the age limit requirements for enlisting as prior service in the Navy, Air Force, and Army Reserves? My general impression is that the age cap extends one year for each year of prior service. Are there any special hoops for a former Officer enlisting? My first PSG used to be a MAJ (PSG Baker was the best PSG West Point ever produced!), but I have no current knowledge.
This decision is 4-6 years out, so it's in the "thinking about," not "doing something about" phase. I'm not ready to be a prospect yet.
Pointless detail follows. :-)
Situation: I have my 20 year letter (For AC folks - I am eligible to retire and start drawing my pension when I hit 60) and will hit my MRD in 2018 (2020 if I make COL). I like my civilian career & its trajectory.
There are two problems with this. First, a roughly 8-10 year "gray area" window (for AC folks - The time between when you are put in the retired reserve, and the time when you start getting the retirement checks). Second, and much more important, I don't feel even a little bit done. Enlisting would keep me "in the game" until 60 (assuming I didn't get QSB'ed...), when they tell me I'm done again.
My DREAM would be to enlist in the 19 series, get on a tank, and never leave. However, I won't be joining the NG (where the tanks are), and I don't know what use there would be for a 50+ year old tanker.
However, I think I would much prefer to go Navy or Air Force Reserve - in that order. Quite honestly, the only reason I didn't go Navy in the first place is that 18 year old me didn't want anyone to think I was following in my step-father's footsteps. I think I would also be a better follower in a service where I didn't know all the details about "how the sausage is made." If I did switch services, I would want to go through their basic & AIT or equivalent.
I am not looking to go active, though I have no issue with getting deployed or doing well above "base" reserve requirements. - I can easily work 90 or so days a year into my civilian work life.
The question is: What are the age limit requirements for enlisting as prior service in the Navy, Air Force, and Army Reserves? My general impression is that the age cap extends one year for each year of prior service. Are there any special hoops for a former Officer enlisting? My first PSG used to be a MAJ (PSG Baker was the best PSG West Point ever produced!), but I have no current knowledge.
This decision is 4-6 years out, so it's in the "thinking about," not "doing something about" phase. I'm not ready to be a prospect yet.
Pointless detail follows. :-)
Situation: I have my 20 year letter (For AC folks - I am eligible to retire and start drawing my pension when I hit 60) and will hit my MRD in 2018 (2020 if I make COL). I like my civilian career & its trajectory.
There are two problems with this. First, a roughly 8-10 year "gray area" window (for AC folks - The time between when you are put in the retired reserve, and the time when you start getting the retirement checks). Second, and much more important, I don't feel even a little bit done. Enlisting would keep me "in the game" until 60 (assuming I didn't get QSB'ed...), when they tell me I'm done again.
My DREAM would be to enlist in the 19 series, get on a tank, and never leave. However, I won't be joining the NG (where the tanks are), and I don't know what use there would be for a 50+ year old tanker.
However, I think I would much prefer to go Navy or Air Force Reserve - in that order. Quite honestly, the only reason I didn't go Navy in the first place is that 18 year old me didn't want anyone to think I was following in my step-father's footsteps. I think I would also be a better follower in a service where I didn't know all the details about "how the sausage is made." If I did switch services, I would want to go through their basic & AIT or equivalent.
I am not looking to go active, though I have no issue with getting deployed or doing well above "base" reserve requirements. - I can easily work 90 or so days a year into my civilian work life.
Transition
Prior Service
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 10
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I know a retired Major. He served 43 years, because "that's all the time they allow you in between 17 years old and 60". He stayed Army his entire career, but started off as enlisted, and was promoted to E5. He got his commission, stayed until he was an O3, then went back to enlisted. Got promoted to E7, then lost a stripe and went back to E6, then went BACK to the officer route and retired at O4.
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There is a former Major in my brigade(now E5) running around in a similar situation. I believe he ran out of time and was going to retire, but chose to go enlisted instead to rack up a few more retirement points.
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Sir,
If you can afford that type of pay cut and your family supports, I would say go for it if possible. I've never planned ahead in life - I've always just followed what I found interesting at the time, and it's worked out pretty well. If you don't use life as an adventure, you're misusing life. We do every minute once, so do it well.
If you can afford that type of pay cut and your family supports, I would say go for it if possible. I've never planned ahead in life - I've always just followed what I found interesting at the time, and it's worked out pretty well. If you don't use life as an adventure, you're misusing life. We do every minute once, so do it well.
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COL Vincent Stoneking
MAJ Dews, in my case, it wouldn't be a pay cut. I'll stay in the USAR until MRD/they kick me out. At that point, my pay drops to $0 until I hit age 60, unless I do something.
In a perverse way, while my drill pay will be considerably less, it would still be an increase. Ironically, continued service in an enlisted status would boost my retired pay, which would still be based on highest rank held.
Mind you, it is NOT the most economically advantageous use for my time, by a long shot. In fact, I don't even think I would break even on opportunity cost. But that isn't my goal. Continued service is. I totally agree that it should be an adventure and have value all the way to the last breath.
In a perverse way, while my drill pay will be considerably less, it would still be an increase. Ironically, continued service in an enlisted status would boost my retired pay, which would still be based on highest rank held.
Mind you, it is NOT the most economically advantageous use for my time, by a long shot. In fact, I don't even think I would break even on opportunity cost. But that isn't my goal. Continued service is. I totally agree that it should be an adventure and have value all the way to the last breath.
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MAJ (Join to see)
Sir,
Well then, like I said previously, if your family will support it I would say go for it. Sounds like an adventure! I've always been a believer in the Robert Frost poem, "Swinger of Birches":
I’d like to get away from earth awhile
And then come back to it and begin over.
May not fate willfully misunderstand me
And half grant what I wish and snatch me away
Not to return. Earth’s the right place for love:
I don’t know where it’s likely to go better.
I’d like to go by climbing a birch tree,
And climb black branches up a snow-white trunk
Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more,
But dipped its top and set me down again.
That would be good both going and coming back.
One could do worse than be a swinger of birches.
Well then, like I said previously, if your family will support it I would say go for it. Sounds like an adventure! I've always been a believer in the Robert Frost poem, "Swinger of Birches":
I’d like to get away from earth awhile
And then come back to it and begin over.
May not fate willfully misunderstand me
And half grant what I wish and snatch me away
Not to return. Earth’s the right place for love:
I don’t know where it’s likely to go better.
I’d like to go by climbing a birch tree,
And climb black branches up a snow-white trunk
Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more,
But dipped its top and set me down again.
That would be good both going and coming back.
One could do worse than be a swinger of birches.
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