How can i get back into the military although i have a re- code 4?

Question

I was in the U.S.Navy in 2003 i was separated in 2005 with an other than honorable discharge. On the documents it said "Misconduct" although i beg to differ. As a result i was given an Re- code 4. I really badly want to Join the military again. I've seen other people re join under worse circumstances. What can i do to get back into the military?

Answer 1

Well, let me be the proverbial knight in shining armor...

I had an RE-4 YFI (feigned alcoholism) from the Navy 1998. I just enlisted (2006) in the National Guard as a specialist (E-4), with a security clearance and even got accepted for OCS although I haven't gone yet-but am excepted. The Army National Guard CAN get you in. It just takes paperwork and determination. The recruiter will have more paperwork to do on you than his regular peeps and they will tell you "no," but they are just being lazy. I can even go active duty now if I want. As a matter of fact, I have talked with the Navy and the Army and they will both take me in a slong as my DD 368 (conditional release form) is approved by my general. So, in short, there is hope. You just gotta find a recruiter that will work for you.

Answer 2

I agree with PK. Unfortunately, your chances are zero.

Answer 3

RE4 is not waiverable.  You CANT enlist with this code under any circumstance.  ...and I'm not trying to be mean.  

Even if you were try and fight it, it would be so difficult because they would need to interview the same folks that helped chapter you out---and that's why they don't even try.

Those other people that you say got in with worse probably didn't have the same RE code.  It's all in the chapter how they rate your 214 for reentry.

You have one option to try.  Get a Congressman involved and see what they can do.  It's a long shot.  Good Luck!

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@ sterock, I admire you giving the vet a silver lining but there's no amount of begging, pleading, investigation, waivers or bribes that will get a RE4 code in the military.    

The only way (long long long shot) would have to be the VET requests an executive reversal of said chapter.  I've been around enough executive staff to know that most Generals will look at this and never begin an investigation due to the type of discharge and no real reason to believe it was unjustified.  

Moreover, soldiers who recruit will be the same way--because the reg dictates what possible outcomes there are.  They are not lazy, they are not being mean, they are just trying to be realistic.  You are not.

The National Guard and Reserves fall under the same reg, AR 601-210.  

Just to put the opinions at rest, this is a quote from the reg:

Reentry Code 4 (Applies to):

Person separated from last period of service with a nonwaivable disqualification (In this case, OTH Discharge). This includes anyone with a Department of the Army imposed bar to reenlistment in effect at time of separation, or separated for any reason (except length of service retirement) with 18 or more years AFS.

Eligibility: Ineligible for enlistment.

I took the time to look deeper into the reg, just like I used to when I was a recruiter.  I cannot find anything that will help you.  

The unwritten options are seeking a Congressional waiver.  Still, the paperwork goes through USAREC, back to the regs and may meet the same resistance as before.  

They can overturn things when there has been a disservice, but I'd be willing to bet, his chapter/discharge had enough in there to incriminate himself easily.

...and they just don't right a wrong without validating the alledged violations with investigations plus interviews.

Lastly, I'm sure he wants back in the active duty side of the house, not part time, like you got in.  Call me when you get accepted into OCS-- I have some reservations on that one.

Generals don't generally sign conditions of release so u can go active.  If you found a way to get in the guard, I can see what you're doing now and something sounds fishy.  

But I'll say this, people are just talking to you.   There's nothing concrete in anything they say.  I've been at the very top of my game in rank, positions, and fields--including recruiting, recruiter trainer, career counselor, Equal opportunity Advisor, Medic, Fire Support Spec, OPS NCO, Brigade Staff Suppot and Critical Care (Burn) Nursing--Chief Nurse.  Flight quaified too.  

I know when someone is just formulating sentences without much substance.  And all you're really doing is bashing recruiters and talking about how YOU got in the guard with an RE4 code.  

You're still too new to get the military the way u should.

Finally, and this is a genralized answer and not meant to be offensive.  I'm just defining some key terms for us.

"OTHER THAN HONORABLE" means essentially you didn't discharge honorably but not as dishonorably as some of the more severe violations.   Again, any discharge thats not honorable is for all purposes, dishonorable.  

Semmantics comes in to play for the purposes of benefits and is too based on individual chapters/discharges.

Not all chapters/DCs soldiers deserve to lose all benefits---that's why they have different classifications.

If I had to have a discharge that wasn't honorable, I guess rather take General Discharge.  These usually have some underlining reason not always at the fault of the soldier.  Still not honorable but you get many of your benefits.  That's my take on that one.

I'm done.  Hope the info helps.  Good Luck!!!