Prior Service, years later coming back?

1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 22:47:40 -0500

Im curious how many service members were out for a number of years and then went back in. I've met some who were out for as many as 8 years and then reenlisted after 9/11.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 26 at 2014 10:57 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 22:57:33 -0500

I ETSd in 1991 and joined the reserves in 2005. It was a very different Army that is for sure. However, I have found a home and plan on retiring now. Sometimes I wish I had stayed in..I may be a MSG or CSM by now

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Dec 26 at 2014 11:09 PM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 23:09:22 -0500

I was on active duty status from 98" to 04" and I went to the ETS route. I decided to join again in 04", and I have look back ever since.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 26 at 2014 11:13 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 23:13:14 -0500

Was out 14 years from Feb 1992 thru March 2006. Irony is that when I came back on active duty was two weeks after I would have retired w/ 20 years had I stayed in.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2014 5:21 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 17:21:32 -0500

I got out in 1999 but enlisted straight into the Guard before leaving active duty. Of course the war started in 2001. The Unit I was assigned to in the Guard had a primary role with the Mission.

I was injured for the first rotation but deployed on the second BN deployment. Before leaving I discussed with my Command wanting to remain on active duty once we returned from the rotation. I was fully supported.

Therefore, when we demobilized I stayed while the rest of the Unit returned to the Guard.

The biggest reason for me wanting to return to active was to ensure medical insurance. I was running the gauntlet while in the Guard without any health or dental.

Don't get me wrong I enjoy what I do and try to take advantage of where I am stationed. I also encourage the younger Soldiers to get out and explore their surroundings and when in a foreign country to try and learn some of the language in order to be received well by the locals.

I do not regret getting out the first time nor coming back in. It has all been a life experience which I enjoy greatly. :)

Response by SGT Ronald Lunn made Dec 27 at 2014 7:24 PM

SGT Ronald Lunn — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 19:24:39 -0500

I got out for 11 years, went back in to play in the big kitty litter box.

Response by LCDR Jamie Galus made Dec 28 at 2014 8:51 AM

LCDR Jamie Galus — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 08:51:35 -0500

I got out in November 1999 after my second enlistment. Went into BDCP in October of 2001 and graduated OCS April 2003.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2015 12:03 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 12:03:45 -0500

16 years SGT, I finished my enlistment in 1997, and joined the Navy Reserves as a nurse in 2013. I, as several have noted, I could've retired 2 1/2 years ago. On the other side of the coin, I'm going back on active duty this year and should be able to retire as an officer in less than 14 years. I too, have many friends that have either retired from the Navy, or are getting close to retirement and are either senior enlisted or an officer of some sort.

Response by Maj Marty Greene made Aug 20 at 2015 3:21 PM

Maj Marty Greene — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 15:21:08 -0400

I retired the first time in 1994, with 24 yrs service, i.e. 10 enlisted, 14 commissioned. Then, FIFTEEN YEARS later, as a 59 yr old guy, I came back to Active Duty for a special two-year recall. What a hoot! I went often to the AOR, including Afghanistan. Since then, I am now fully retired!

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 4:16 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 16:16:26 -0400

I've been out almost 10 years and just got back in in June. Coming from the Air Force into the Army now, I have to attend BCT. This is something I should have done years ago.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2016 9:46 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 09:46:41 -0500

I was air guard 96-2005. This past summer I joined the Army Guard and just completed BCT. OCS is coming up next. 10 year gap seemed like it would have been worse for me but BCT wasn't too bad. I wish that I would have gotten back in sooner.

Response by PO3 Leron Rumph made Jan 5 at 2016 2:31 PM

PO3 Leron Rumph — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 14:31:17 -0500

I'm in Cleveland Ohio and I have been trying to go back to active duty for about a year now but I keep getting the run around can anyone give me some advice or help

Response by SFC Marcus Belt made May 30 at 2016 6:48 AM

SFC Marcus Belt — Mon, 30 May 2016 06:48:18 -0400

Yep. I had an 8 year break-in-service between the Navy and the Army.

Response by SSG Robert Albright made Aug 10 at 2016 10:56 PM

SSG Robert Albright — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 22:56:47 -0400

I was out for almost 10. Joined the Guard in 04 then went back active army in 08 at age 42. Was the oldest man in a LRS company for 5 years and had a blast! Ended up having to medically retire in 2013 due to ruptured and herniated discs.

Response by Sgt Darrin Momsen made Jun 24 at 2017 8:02 PM

Sgt Darrin Momsen — Sat, 24 Jun 2017 20:02:04 -0400

I have been out for 5 year and 8 months and I am trying to go back in. Whichever branch is willing to take me. I have 8 years and 3 months on Active Duty. I am not really wanting to go reserves but I will take what I can get. I have an RE code of 1a, no disqualifying factors. I should be the guy everyone wants but the navy is either too lazy or something because I have started the process twice now and the guys just stopped talking to me. The Marine Corps wants me to get a civilian doctor to skip meps, I am guessing because of prior service business rules. I am just wanting to get back in for retirement.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Aug 21 at 2017 4:46 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 04:46:46 -0400

I had an 8 year break in service, was on active duty from 1966 to 1974, left for 8 years and came back into Air Force Blue, 1981 to 1997 as a SSgt, which was My rank on AD but lost the time in grade due to the length of time. In 1981 I became an IMA in the active duty 3245th SPS, which was later the 66th SPS at Hanscom AFB, MA. Once I retired I had spent 22 years in Air Force blue.
*** The IMA (Individual Mobilization Augumentee) program was one that required prior Military service plus a full time Law Enforcement background which I had in both the Military as well as a civilian as well as a BS degree in Criminal Justice. In other AFSCs the requirements were the same for their job areas. In addition to the Security Police duties there per request of the unit Commander to fill a need I had also served as the active duty First Sergeant in that active duty Security Police unit.
That was also a very positive experience and the Commander was prior enlisted for 8 years and great to work for. I broke in a new Commander after him also prior enlisted, as well as a new First Sergeant after that.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2017 9:31 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 21:31:04 -0500

I first joined the Army in 1986 and got out in 1989. I rejoined the Army in 2002 after a 13 year break in service. I met a few Soldiers that did the same thing.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2018 4:44 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 16:44:22 -0500

My husband graduates prior service BCT next week after being out for 16 years.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2018 3:17 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 15:17:41 -0400

Was in the Marine Corp for four years (94-98) did my four in the IRR and waited ten years and went in the AC army, went through WTC (which was 4 weeks) went enlisted in March of 2009 but gave me service time for the b prior that put my actual entry date at 03/03/2005 so as I ponder my Medical Retirement (involuntary separation) have 13 years and was hoping to do 20 but somebody else had another plan and just glad he let me experience the world and the 1 percent of us that were willing to join and defend this country that I love

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2018 2:11 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 14:11:34 -0500

I was out for nearly 10 years. The hardest part was taking a "voluntary" reduction from E6 to E4 to get back in....

Response by CPT Colin Fulbright made Apr 26 at 2019 12:42 PM

CPT Colin Fulbright — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 12:42:35 -0400

I don't think it's especially uncommon to see people leave AD, have a break in service, and then rejoin the guard or reserves. What is less common are those that leave AD and return to AD at a later date. But, major events like 9/11 have a way of motivating people and encouraging gov't to let them return.

Response by SPC Reimundo Maldonado Sierra made Feb 13 at 2021 8:28 PM

SPC Reimundo Maldonado Sierra — Sat, 13 Feb 2021 20:28:25 -0500

I was out for 17 years

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Feb 13 at 2021 9:06 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Sat, 13 Feb 2021 21:06:18 -0500

Daughter joined ANG right after HS. Served 10 years. Had 10 year break in service. Commissioned into Navy Reserve Nurse about 10 years ago. I swore her in as Commander Massey last Saturday. So proud she caught up to her Dad’s rank!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2021 10:41 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Feb 2021 22:41:15 -0500

16 year break, rank reduction to get back in. Been back in now for 5 years.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2021 2:52 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 02:52:02 -0400

83 to 91. After 9/11 I wanted back in. Waited until Sept. 2006. NVARNG.
Made one stop in Afghanistan in 12-13.
Still in. Getting med boarded out.
Would do it all over. But with shorter break, maybe

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Oct 20 at 2021 6:14 AM

1SG Dennis Hicks — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 06:14:55 -0400

I took a short break after 11 years on AD when one of my old Platoon Leaders called me up and sold me on coming back, I then entered the Reserves, it was somewhat of a shock but I adapted. when all was said an done I was shy a couple of years for 40 years total service. Didn't stop a recruiter from calling me and talking me in for another 2 years but HRC was to slow with paperwork and I took full retirement instead. Funny thing is about 2 months after I took retirement I got a call to take a physical and return :)