What are my chances for getting an RE code upgrade?

2018-07-24T13:52:29-04:00

I’m trying to re-enlist into the Army. Long story short I joined the reserves when I was 17 in 2006 and was discharged in 09. I was told the reason was to many unexcused absents but received nothing in writing. Didn’t really think much of it because I had no desire to go back. Fast forward to 2015. I decide I wanna go back and I call my unit for my discharge paperwork. They tell me they don’t have it and to get my records from the archives. So I get my records and there’s nothing in there about my discharge stuff. So I give up. Fast forward to 2018. I talked to a recruiter and he said he’d help me get my paperwork. Of course he can’t find it. We call HRC and they told me if no one has it then it doesn’t exist. Couple days later my recruiter said he found my recode but still no documentation on my discharge paperwork. He told me it was a recode 4 and I was kicked out for failure of the drug rehabilitation program. Couple problems here. One I never received any paperwork about any of this. Not a failed test or the option to go to rehab. I wasn’t even given any discharge paperwork when I was told I was done. My record has absolutely no record of a failed drug test or discharge stuff. The recruiter also jumped on the HRC website and couldn’t find anything after AIT. He told me they didn’t submit anything. I still don’t have a piece of paperwork with my recode on it. He told me someone sent it to his email. I plan on sending in a dd form 293. The recruiter things my unit was really jacked up and fucked me over. They literally didn’t submit anything to my file. Now I know you need to submit documentation to support your claims for an upgrade but I literally don’t have anything but medical shit and stuff from basic and AIT. I don’t talk to anyone or know anyone who was in my unit at the time. Pretty much the army fucked up. I found out I was out one day at drill during lunch. My platoon SSG pulled me aside and said “ dude your not in the army, you have to leave”. When I say I don’t have anything I mean not a single piece of paper standing why I was discharged and for what reason. I just want to get back in. The recruiter said he’s write a letter backing my story up because he’s seen my file too. Anyone else know what my chances are for getting it upgraded?

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Jul 24 at 2018 2:44 PM

2018-07-24T14:44:44-04:00

First, sounds like a lot of excuse making. "Unexcused absences"? The military is not high school. You chose not to show up and you got "fired" just like you would have at any other job. As for your RE code, I doubt that you will get it upgraded. As I have told any number of people on here already - and you could have easily looked up those previous questions on this subject - you demonstrated your inability to do the job and the military is probably not likely to waste time and money giving you a second chance.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2018 3:02 PM

2018-07-24T15:02:14-04:00

You do not get chaptered out of the Army for unexcused absences without a paper trail. Hell, you don't get chaptered for any reason without ANY kind of paper trail. There is counseling forms. There are certified letters sent. JAG is involved. JAG ensures that the unit performed each and every step right and crossed all the T's and dotted all the I's before they approve the paperwork to be sent higher. Because at every single level from company all the way up to USARC, the packet is QA'd by every Command and JAG level. Even if one level blesses off but the next level finds the packet is not complete, it is sent back down all the way to the beginning to start it all over. Once everything has been approved of, orders are cut discharging you from service. Believe me, there is paperwork somewhere. Find out the JAG office that supported your unit, BN, BDE, and DIV, because again each level needs to review and sign off. Also, since you joined the Reserves, you could also have your recruiter contact USARC, as the USARC CG is usually the final stopping point of chapter paperwork right before it all comes back down for distro of discharge papers.

Not going to lie, it feels to me that there is so many holes in your explanation that it looks like swiss cheese. But, regardless, have your recruiter contact the JAG offices and contact USARC.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Sep 11 at 2018 11:14 PM

2018-09-11T23:14:08-04:00

PFC Tony Dichristopher “Too many missed drills”? Why would the Army want you now?