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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.
Posted in these groups: 
Prior Service
Re-enlistment
Prior Service Re-enlistment
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 25
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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!
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PFC (Join to see)
Sir, can you tell me how you went about commissioning after your enlisted years. I'm planning on taking a similar track and could benefit from the clarity.
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Maj Marty Greene
While on active duty in the late 70's, I took college classes on base at night, using the G.I. Bill. (this was before TA) While doing so, I also took as many DANTES and CLEP tests as I could, and used the Community College of the AF to log my USAF tech schools, basic tng, etc, as worth college credits. I had a very forgiving college that accepted all of these. As such, I was able to attain a degree quickly, as an E-6. I never left active duty; I went TDY to OTS, with follow on TDY's to school, and PCS to Germany as a 2LT. (assuming that I passed all those courses, and I did!) Actually, my B.S. was so "light," that I had to take more undergraduate courses (about 4) to be accepted into a Master's program a few years later! I did all that, too, and finished my MBA. I retired in 1994 as a Major, answered the recall in 2009, and served the special recall until 2011.
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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.
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PO3 Noemi Diaz
How did you manage to get back in after 14yrs? I've been out just as long but they won't let me come back in because I didn't go reserves, don't have a bachelor's degree, and didn't work as a cook for 5+yrs after I got out. If you don't mind me asking, what was your rank when you separated? I was told as E-4, my rank would be knocked down for every 5 years out and they don't accept any lower than E-3.
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9
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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. :)
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. :)
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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.
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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
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1SG(P) (Join to see)
It is different in all levels of the military. I enlisted in 1992 and was discharged in 1995. I just reenlisted last year. Very different culture.
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PO3 (Join to see)
I got out of the Army in 1995 and joined the Navy in 1996. I got out of the Navy in 2002 and am looking to re-enlist next year. Most of my friends from the Navy are E-7 and up (many became officers). If I had stayed Army, I could've RETIRED a couple of years ago, lol...
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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
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My husband graduates prior service BCT next week after being out for 16 years.
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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.
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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.
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