Posted on Sep 10, 2015
Re-enlisting after long period; how difficult is it?
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I have been out of the navy for 14 years and I have missed it so much. My ex wife refused to let me reenlist. Now that she is gone I feel it is time to try and get back. How hard is it to get back in? Does anyone have any advice?
Re-enlistment
What Would You Do
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 46
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Talk to a recruiter, NC1 and some in service that is about the same age as you. Pick a rate that has good advancement unless you are force to take a certain rate or slim pickings
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Your best bet is start with Navy Reserves. See if you still enjoy it a lot has changed. That would be you bet option at this point and the age limit I think is 49.
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Remember in the life of a service member 14 years is 2/3 of a career. People change as well as military bearing. People you served with are senior in rank and you're not. Your peers are more physically capable and enjoy other social things like music and thought. When you were in laughter and friendships made it easy to adapt to everything. Can you respect less mature leaders and jump to! You will have respect because of the age difference, but your level of knowledge will be an overview both junior and seniors alike will watch for and comment on. The saying it's hard to return home as its never the same may be true.
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PO2 Gregory Luck
Your comments are so right. After leaving your home and friends and returning after several years things back home are never the same. The same surely would be in the service. Sitting around acting stupid and having fun like we did at 22 years old would be completely different then how we would act and feel at 40. I am not saying a person couldn't enjoy it but it would be nothing like being fresh out of high school with your eyes wide open and not already having the life experiences such as marriages, kids, divorces and bills.
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I tried to reenlist in the reserve last year without any luck, unless things have changed since then they aren't taking any prior service back on AD and even reserves are tough. I got so far as clearing medical at MEPS and signing a contract but my recruiters couldn't find anyone willing to approve it and eventually just stopped talking to me.
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Nice to know that you have got the spirit to come back in but things are a whole lot different in the Navy 14 years ago. Crews are smaller on ships, they now have a program called Perforn to Serve, which means you are given so much time to make rank or get out. Also PTS will meet the needs of the Navy, so if you are in an overmanned rate you could be given a choice to switch to another rate before you reenlist or be told to get out. The main thing is how long you been out.
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PO1 Bryant Sampson
Plus be prepared for younger PO1s and CPO's. It's dog eat dog in the Navy now. Don't get me wrong I'm retired now and I still love the Navy but I would research it some more before you decide to reenlist. Good luck on your venture.
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PO2 Robert Cuminale
There's nothing new about any of that. It started in the 1970's. We had too many E5s in particular who were happy to be in the middle with few real responsibilities and fewer onerous tasks. (like Cap'n O' The Head) The pay charts were adjusted and other than the annual raise you couldn't hang around being an E5/20 years.
They also went after the grossly overweight people. You either lost weight or you were gone even if you still had time on your contract.
They also went after the rates that were loaded with squatters in particular the Filipinos who made up almost all of the Stewards. A lot of them camped out as E5s because you had to be a US citizen to be an E6. And the Navy was tired of having to retest them for advancement because of all the cheating. They would play the time zones off and radio the test answers all over the world as soon as they finished their tests.
They also went after the grossly overweight people. You either lost weight or you were gone even if you still had time on your contract.
They also went after the rates that were loaded with squatters in particular the Filipinos who made up almost all of the Stewards. A lot of them camped out as E5s because you had to be a US citizen to be an E6. And the Navy was tired of having to retest them for advancement because of all the cheating. They would play the time zones off and radio the test answers all over the world as soon as they finished their tests.
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I WENT THROUGH NAVET IN MAY 1984 CROSSING FROM ABH-3 TO GMG-3 BUT NOW DAYS MY BEST ADVICE WOULD BE GO TO YOUR LOCAL RECRUITER ASAP AND GET FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH
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