Posted on Jan 23, 2020
SGT Psychological Operations Specialist
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I'm mainly confused about medical and if I'd have to go through again:
I spent six years Active and chose to go Reserves. A year and half later I'm wanting the Active lifestyle back. What are the steps in a nutshell? See a recruiter.. DD368 (wait for approval) .. Pick an MOS IAW Prior Service Business Rules.. But what about the rest? Medical/moral waivers for anything that occured while Active Duty? Medical all over again? I have no break in service, Honorable Separation with RE Code 1 (from RA), SPD Code is MBK, MEDPROS/Readiness all green and 1's, current secret clearance... Am I missing anything?
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Responses: 9
SSG Recruiter
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I just did this, I was an AGR recruiter and worked a lot of Reserve and Guard transfers to Active and did my own packet, got out, and had my battle send it up for credit. I left AGR in November, I ship for active next week, I probably have the most current info on here.

The process:
DD 368
Your unit will need a 4187 and possibly a packet. I did a REFRAD to IRR so I skipped this step. As a recruiter I didn't need a packet, statement as to why you want to switch, or even a 4187, just the 368.
You will need a recruiter to do your 368 and build your SF 86 in the system. You'll need DD 214 and any promotion orders or 1059s for schools and promotions since you got your 214. You'll also get a list of source documents your recruiter needs, get them as soon as possible.
Make sure you are green on everything in MEDPROS. You will be a no med at MEPS. You show up, you verify all the info on your packet then book your job. However, before you go to MEPS they will have to do a Grade Determination and you will get a list of available MOSs for retrain.

This is the most important part, not everything on that list will be available so have an idea of what order you would like for them to search if you are retraining. If your current MOS is open you'll get an option to keep it or reclass. Your recruiter has no pull in this process, it's done at MEPS and is based on what is available while you are in the hot seat. My number one wasn't available, my number two required a special eye exam which they couldn't do because I was a no med, my number three required a few phone calls but I got it.

However, do it now while you can before it goes back to the old way. Your grade determination comes back with rank, MOS, and ship date before you go to MEPS. You take it or leave it and they wouldn't do another grade determination until it expired if you didn't like what you got. By that time you'd likely require a new 368 as well. Get it while they are actually taking NCOs and allowing some kind of options.

If you have everything ready for your recruiter before your 368 is signed, should it be approved, you could be looking at two to three weeks before you can get to MEPS, longer if they suddenly have a back log of grade determinations waiting. Your ship date will likely be within 30 days. They have to get you shipped out before your 368 expires which can effect training seats. I didn't have that issue, went to MEPS in November and had time to wait until now to ship so I got my number 3 choice. Standard 368 is good for 90 days. However, your approving authority puts an expiration date on it, and they can do up to 12 months. I'd request 6 months if I were you to increase your window of opportunity.

You can message me if you have any questions. Being on the recruiter and applicant sides of the rest back to back I know some things.
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SSG Brian G.
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The process has changed over the years. First stop should be going to see a recruiter. They will be able to tell you exactly what is needed.

From my experience the recruiter filed the paperwork, I went in, sat down briefly with my reserve command and they signed off, then I was back to the recruiter and then off to MEPS where it was a complete new medical. Luckily most of the other is already done and in the system, But you go in, cough, turn your head, walk barefoot, breathe, take x-rays and the whole shebang. Seemed to almost fly the second time through. Had orders cut by the end of the business day.
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SSG Recruiter
SSG (Join to see)
4 y
It's different now, no med as long as PHA is green
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SSG Brian G.
SSG Brian G.
4 y
SSG (Join to see) - Ahh cool... mine was done late 80's so yeah, I expect some changes at this point.
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SSG Recruiter
SSG (Join to see)
4 y
SSG Brian G. they finally realized that your PHA is a physical and still valid so they put in a fast lane. It also means any prior waivers are still valid. Great way to take care of those transferring over to active.
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SFC Station Commander
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Go talk to her recruiter the longer you wait the longer everything's going to take in the hire of a chance they got a closing categories.
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