Sgt Jt McLaughlin 4255235 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I posted a question some months ago about getting back in the service and was looking for additional advice. I returned to Alaska in March for seasonal work, but prior to doing so I visited and contacted a number of recruiters, most of whom were somewhat discouraging or never returned my calls. In the last month, since returning to Florida, I&#39;ve visited both the local Marine Prior Service recruiter and the Army recruiter. The former suggested I visit the latter, although he did have me fill out some paperwork but then never responded to my follow-up request. The Army recruiter, on the other hand, said that I&#39;m a &quot;special case&quot; and that he&#39;d work with me, but not to be too hopeful. His cohort in the same office said that my chances were slim, but that he&#39;d defer to his boss. A little background: I&#39;m 37 with 5 years prior active (Marine) and 4 years reserve. With my prior service, it seems that I am eligible by age, although a Marine recruiter earlier in the year said I wasn&#39;t. Most of the recruiters have simply told me that they don&#39;t want to deal with prior service. I have the additional impediment that I was diagnosed with anxiety at one point and the Army said that the &quot;A&quot; word can be automatically disqualifying, despite the fact that I was previously able to reenlist in the reserves and IRR with no issues. I was instructed to bring a letter from the VA, with whom I have a service connection (and had concurrently with the reserves), stating that I am not mentally incapacitated. Today I obtained such a letter after speaking with a mental health provider. The thing is, when I went to the Army recruiting station, one of the subordinates (not the head recruiter who said that I needed the letter- he&#39;s apparently on leave), said that it wouldn&#39;t matter what I do.... there&#39;s probably no reenlisting in the military with my history. He didn&#39;t even look at the letter. I have received a lot of conflicting information that I&#39;m not sure what to believe. I&#39;ve been told that VA ratings are disqualifying. Conversely, I&#39;ve been told that percentages don&#39;t matter and as a reservist I don&#39;t need to give up my VA pension except on drill days. Others have said that I need to renounce my VA benefits before I can even be considered for a waiver... something I&#39;m reluctant to do if, for any reason, I later get DQed at MEPS. Some have said that waivers are available for my situation. Others have said almost certainly not. Most often, my calls go unreturned. I&#39;m pretty discouraged... bottom line, I&#39;d like to reenlist in anything I can, whether as a reservist or active duty. I never intended to let my reserve contract lapse but life happened... I didn&#39;t know that returning to the military was infinitely more difficult than just staying in. Am I absolutely disqualified, or should I keep insisting? Who do I even ask? The fellow I spoke with today said that I was &quot;broken&quot; and he&#39;d rather deal with fresh recruits. No one will definitely say yes or no, but I&#39;m getting the vibe that the answer is no. What now? 2019-01-02T23:51:17-05:00 Sgt Jt McLaughlin 4255235

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I posted a question some months ago about getting back in the service and was looking for additional advice. I returned to Alaska in March for seasonal work, but prior to doing so I visited and contacted a number of recruiters, most of whom were somewhat discouraging or never returned my calls. In the last month, since returning to Florida, I&#39;ve visited both the local Marine Prior Service recruiter and the Army recruiter. The former suggested I visit the latter, although he did have me fill out some paperwork but then never responded to my follow-up request. The Army recruiter, on the other hand, said that I&#39;m a &quot;special case&quot; and that he&#39;d work with me, but not to be too hopeful. His cohort in the same office said that my chances were slim, but that he&#39;d defer to his boss. A little background: I&#39;m 37 with 5 years prior active (Marine) and 4 years reserve. With my prior service, it seems that I am eligible by age, although a Marine recruiter earlier in the year said I wasn&#39;t. Most of the recruiters have simply told me that they don&#39;t want to deal with prior service. I have the additional impediment that I was diagnosed with anxiety at one point and the Army said that the &quot;A&quot; word can be automatically disqualifying, despite the fact that I was previously able to reenlist in the reserves and IRR with no issues. I was instructed to bring a letter from the VA, with whom I have a service connection (and had concurrently with the reserves), stating that I am not mentally incapacitated. Today I obtained such a letter after speaking with a mental health provider. The thing is, when I went to the Army recruiting station, one of the subordinates (not the head recruiter who said that I needed the letter- he&#39;s apparently on leave), said that it wouldn&#39;t matter what I do.... there&#39;s probably no reenlisting in the military with my history. He didn&#39;t even look at the letter. I have received a lot of conflicting information that I&#39;m not sure what to believe. I&#39;ve been told that VA ratings are disqualifying. Conversely, I&#39;ve been told that percentages don&#39;t matter and as a reservist I don&#39;t need to give up my VA pension except on drill days. Others have said that I need to renounce my VA benefits before I can even be considered for a waiver... something I&#39;m reluctant to do if, for any reason, I later get DQed at MEPS. Some have said that waivers are available for my situation. Others have said almost certainly not. Most often, my calls go unreturned. I&#39;m pretty discouraged... bottom line, I&#39;d like to reenlist in anything I can, whether as a reservist or active duty. I never intended to let my reserve contract lapse but life happened... I didn&#39;t know that returning to the military was infinitely more difficult than just staying in. Am I absolutely disqualified, or should I keep insisting? Who do I even ask? The fellow I spoke with today said that I was &quot;broken&quot; and he&#39;d rather deal with fresh recruits. No one will definitely say yes or no, but I&#39;m getting the vibe that the answer is no. What now?

2019-01-02T23:51:17-05:00 2019-01-02T23:51:17-05:00 SGT Christopher Hayden 4255355

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Try the National Guard. It might be the only chance you have at getting a waiver.

2019-01-03T04:14:37-05:00 2019-01-03T04:14:37-05:00 MAJ Private RallyPoint Member 4255733

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>You&#39;d think with all the news about Army missing its recruiting goals, that they would be moving Heaven and Earth to get you to sign!

2019-01-03T08:35:34-05:00 2019-01-03T08:35:34-05:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 4255948

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>You can also try the USAR. Message me and I&#39;ll try and get you a definative answer. No one on RP can tell you no. USAREC is the only authority. If you want it, fight for it. I&#39;ll help you get in touch with a Recruiter who will do their job regardless of how difficult your case may or may not be.

2019-01-03T09:58:59-05:00 2019-01-03T09:58:59-05:00 SFC David Xanten 4256221

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I would suggest that you start by writing to the CG of the Recruiting Command and if that fails try writing to the President. Sometime you have to take the bull by the horn and go over peoples head. In your letter, just stick to the facts. Good Luck.

2019-01-03T11:42:41-05:00 2019-01-03T11:42:41-05:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 4256378

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Me being prior service Corps, did 4 yrs Marines, 5 yrs National guard and 2 in the reserves... If he or she dont want to do their job. Take it to a higher recruiter

2019-01-03T12:38:29-05:00 2019-01-03T12:38:29-05:00 SGT Frank Pritchett 4256624

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>You might want to try the Army, the Marines is very selective according to age.

2019-01-03T14:08:19-05:00 2019-01-03T14:08:19-05:00 PFC Elijah Rose 4256749

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Look uo the discrepancy. We&#39;re all human and it&#39;s probably a difference of branch, or private experience. Don&#39;t be fooled by an image of self confidence.<br />Instances of recruiters outright lying are rare, I only know of one instance:<br />A single mother in her late 20&#39;s who needed a steady job because of her sick mother. Like every servicewoman trying to prove how tough they are to their family, she trashed talked the air force constantly and insisted on the toughest MOS she could get (infantry). But the recruiter talked her into getting a Signal Analyst job with airborne school attached saying that those together make it ia combat MOS. No, I never told her, and by now she would have flunked out of airborne school. I have no doubt she&#39;s a great analyst, but I also know the recruit did what was best for everyone by lying to her.

2019-01-03T15:08:33-05:00 2019-01-03T15:08:33-05:00 1SG Bill Farmerie 4256803

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The rules for recruiting change all the time. There are times they are not taking prior service. That in itself could be why you are receiving conflicting answers.

2019-01-03T15:35:50-05:00 2019-01-03T15:35:50-05:00 LTC Ray B. (Ret) 4872477

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Go in the reserves then transfer to active

2019-08-01T21:52:25-04:00 2019-08-01T21:52:25-04:00 SGT Donna Millar 6114079

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Question is what in your percentage for disability? It is my understanding that 30% or higher is an automatic no go for reenlistment in anything except Reserves and then only with a waiver. Also depends on the disability. Hope you had some sort of success.

2020-07-18T14:23:31-04:00 2020-07-18T14:23:31-04:00 SFC Kenneth Hunnell 6563275

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Your last recruiter was the most honest, recruiter&#39;s do not want to deal with retreads, they get no credit towards there quarterly goal

2020-12-08T16:22:00-05:00 2020-12-08T16:22:00-05:00 2019-01-02T23:51:17-05:00