Posted on Jun 19, 2018
Is an Re4 discharge code deserved or even legal in this situation?
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I got out of the military in 1997 and they gave me an honorable discharge with re4 code. At the end of my enlistment, I decided to reenlist, but I wanted to reenlist and get a reenlistment bonus, so I decided to change rates. I had already extended my enlistment 3 times and was due to separate the day my schooling ended. Some how some where someone dropped the ball and didnt make me sign any forms or documents that said upon graduating school, I promised to reenlist. I wanted to reenlist for 4 years but because I had extended 3 times, my years in service were off and it made me eligible for 2 reenlistment bonuses which was not allowed. So during the final weeks of school, the Navy said I had to reenlist for 8 more years to get me out of the timeframe of being eligible for 2 bonuses. I didnt want to reenlist for 8 years. So when it was time for me to do my reenlistment physical, I went in for my seperation physical. I got everything signed off on without any problems and when the day came to graduate and reenlist, I just got out. needless to say everyone from that command and my old command got all riled up over it and they were scrambling to find a way to keep me on medical hold or anything they could do to make my life hell, but I had covered all my bases and I was out. Then I get my papers and I had an RE4 discharge. Is that even legal? I never signed anything saying I would reenlist in the first place so it was their mistake, I just exploited it. Does that earn me an re4?
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Perhaps you shouldn't have pissed them off. If it is anything like the Army, the command was fully within their rights to sign off on a bar to reenlist due to your conduct.
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SGT (Join to see)
SN Susan Little - fair enough. But all branches of the military are not only “what have you done for me lately” types, but “what can you do for me tomorrow” types also.
As you wrote yourself, you tried to exploit the system, and it backfired on you. Ok. Now, please bear with the crude analogy, but it’s quite applicable. It was told to me a long time ago, and I’ve never forgotten it, as it’s some of the best advice I ever received.
“In your life, You can build 1000 bridges, and suck one c*ck. The world will NOT remember you as a bridge builder.”
So despite all your medals, and ribbons and Iron ladies, and flair, etc, (ie: the 1000 bridges you built), you tried to exploit the reenlistment/bonus system (sucked one c*ck) and the Navy did NOT like your conduct.
By giving you an RE-4 code, that was their final parting gift as to how you are remembered. (NOT a bridge builder). Maybe harsh, but absolutely true. You’re judged on your poor choices, not your good ones. The Navy said “good bye, here’s your honorable, don’t come back.”
No soldier/sailor, etc should ever make the mistake of thinking they’re irreplaceable. Or thinking the Big Army/Navy etc is going to bend over and, “whoops, we messed up, how do we fix it to accommodate your program?” They can and will move on from troops, from E1-O10.
Just like there’s no regulation to say you couldn’t do what you did...there’s no regulation saying the Navy couldn’t do what they did.
As you wrote yourself, you tried to exploit the system, and it backfired on you. Ok. Now, please bear with the crude analogy, but it’s quite applicable. It was told to me a long time ago, and I’ve never forgotten it, as it’s some of the best advice I ever received.
“In your life, You can build 1000 bridges, and suck one c*ck. The world will NOT remember you as a bridge builder.”
So despite all your medals, and ribbons and Iron ladies, and flair, etc, (ie: the 1000 bridges you built), you tried to exploit the reenlistment/bonus system (sucked one c*ck) and the Navy did NOT like your conduct.
By giving you an RE-4 code, that was their final parting gift as to how you are remembered. (NOT a bridge builder). Maybe harsh, but absolutely true. You’re judged on your poor choices, not your good ones. The Navy said “good bye, here’s your honorable, don’t come back.”
No soldier/sailor, etc should ever make the mistake of thinking they’re irreplaceable. Or thinking the Big Army/Navy etc is going to bend over and, “whoops, we messed up, how do we fix it to accommodate your program?” They can and will move on from troops, from E1-O10.
Just like there’s no regulation to say you couldn’t do what you did...there’s no regulation saying the Navy couldn’t do what they did.
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SN Susan Little
That's a great analogy and I completely understand but I think you have one detail twisted. I wasn't trying to exploit the system for a extra reenlistment bonus, I just didn't want to sign up for 8 more years. I would have gotten out at the end of my four no matter how much they put on the table and they could have even made that part of my reenlistment agreement. There was several ways we could have both honored our agreement but they put the two worst scenarios for both of us on the table and made me choose. And you're exactly right about thinking you're irreplaceable in the military. They want to make it sound like I did this huge injustice to them because the school cost this much and I took a billet somebody else could have had.... but that's cool cost them the same amount of money whether there was one student or 50 students in that classroom.
In addition it's not like I got out of the Navy and used that schooling to my advantage in the civilian world.
Had they told me prior to me going to school that I would have owed them 8 years I would have never gone to begin with. If anybody was served in Injustice it was me. I left Florida in February of 97 in shorts and a tank top and got to that shity ass School in that shity ass City with 3 feet of snow on the ground, got treated like I was back in boot camp for 6 months with no weekend Liberty, had to be in the barracks by 8 pm, freakin nasty showers where the water is never hot, it sucked! I would have gladly spent the remaining six months of my Enlistment right where I was on the beach in Florida in my house with my things and hot water and my dog and my man.
So yeah when they reneged on the agreement that we had and put me in that situation of course I'm going to look out for myself because I know I'm replaceable to the Military. But I'm irreplaceable to my family and kids.
In addition it's not like I got out of the Navy and used that schooling to my advantage in the civilian world.
Had they told me prior to me going to school that I would have owed them 8 years I would have never gone to begin with. If anybody was served in Injustice it was me. I left Florida in February of 97 in shorts and a tank top and got to that shity ass School in that shity ass City with 3 feet of snow on the ground, got treated like I was back in boot camp for 6 months with no weekend Liberty, had to be in the barracks by 8 pm, freakin nasty showers where the water is never hot, it sucked! I would have gladly spent the remaining six months of my Enlistment right where I was on the beach in Florida in my house with my things and hot water and my dog and my man.
So yeah when they reneged on the agreement that we had and put me in that situation of course I'm going to look out for myself because I know I'm replaceable to the Military. But I'm irreplaceable to my family and kids.
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I guess I don’t quite understand. Most times before a service school is offered to someone, the commitment that follows is nearly always discussed. This works like tuition at any college or university. If you plan on receiving the training, NORMALLY, it will be discussed at some point to make sure you’re aware of how you’ll be required to pay for that school. In the ’90, many times the student was briefed without any documentation (Page 7) stating the briefing was complete. In this case, it seems that you were made aware of a service obligation prior to graduation. Since you attended and graduated without the same obligation as your fellow classmates the Navy wanted to make sure you didn’t exploit them again by separating and then re-enlisting a few years later. In short, you stuck the Navy with the tuition bill for that training and delayed another Navy member from attending that school in your place who would of obligated, as required. Can they do it? Hell, yes! What did you think you’re going to get? An Honorable with an RE-1 or RE-2? That’s reserved for “stellar" sailors who don’t exploit the situation. The good news is that the only ones who look at RE codes are military recruiters and federal agencies. If the Navy had assigned a monetary value to this exploitation (cost of your training attendance), they would’ve put it on your credit report and we all know everybody looks at that these days.
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SN Susan Little
MCPO (Join to see) Thank you for saying that, as you can see, people automatically assume you are a s#itbird if you have a re4. Not that it's caused me any problems in the civilian world, I just don't like it. It wasn't so much of a funding problem as it was the eligibility for bonus thing. So aside from everything, The deal was, we send you to school, you give us 4 more years. I went to school and they reneged on the deal because of an oversite and offered me a new deal. I did not agree to the new deal and my enlistment ended. It's not as if I abandoned ship. Don't you think if they could've made me stay they would have? I took my other option. So what if they were pissed off about it. I was too. My orders were to Crete! I wanted to go! So back to my question, you can get an re4 just for pissing someone off? That's like getting arrested for nothing because a cop didn't like you and then being label a criminal.
The navy breached the agreement in the first place and opened the door for me to exit.
Maybe I should have asked where I can find the rulebook for determining discharge codes. I appreciate everyone's answers, however I don't believe pissing someone off is a legal qualifier for re4.
I understand WHY they are pissed but the oversite was on them. If they had told me I would owe them 8 I never would've gone to that shitty ass school in that shitty ass city, freezing balls in 3 feet of snow for 6 months, getting treated like a recruit all over again, no liberty weekends, away from my man... If anyone got screwed, it was me. I would have much rather spent the last 6 months of my Enlistment in sunny Florida 85 degree weather on the beach with my friends and family, at the best Duty station ever.
The navy breached the agreement in the first place and opened the door for me to exit.
Maybe I should have asked where I can find the rulebook for determining discharge codes. I appreciate everyone's answers, however I don't believe pissing someone off is a legal qualifier for re4.
I understand WHY they are pissed but the oversite was on them. If they had told me I would owe them 8 I never would've gone to that shitty ass school in that shitty ass city, freezing balls in 3 feet of snow for 6 months, getting treated like a recruit all over again, no liberty weekends, away from my man... If anyone got screwed, it was me. I would have much rather spent the last 6 months of my Enlistment in sunny Florida 85 degree weather on the beach with my friends and family, at the best Duty station ever.
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SN Susan Little
SGT (Join to see) yes that's an excellent indicator of what kind of Sailor I was. One comment to someone who clearly didn't understand the question about a situation that happened 20 years ago.
You must be a Marine... All on your high horse like "that's an excellent indicator bla bla bla". get over yourself.
You must be a Marine... All on your high horse like "that's an excellent indicator bla bla bla". get over yourself.
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MCPO (Join to see)
To be clear SN Little, the RE code is NOT a discharge code. You’re interpreting this the wrong way. You served honorably and therefore you should be treating with the same respect as anyone else who did their country a service and received the HONORABLE discharge. An RE-code is a re-enlistment code. That’s all! I’m willing to bet that the Navy didn’t give you the RE-4 code because some commander took it personal that you didn’t re-enlist in his Navy. I'm betting the RE-4 was given as a standard practice to those before you who scammed, exploited, and took advantage of the system. It’s not personal but more like policy. Unless, you’re applying for federal work then, it’s really a non-issue. Your RP peers who are mistreating you because of the language used to describe “why” you didn’t follow through after attending training but do you know any of your RP peers IRL? So why let it bother you?
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SGT (Join to see)
SN Susan Little - excellent response, stellar even. Well thought out, and even better worded. It just reenforces my original post.
You gamed the system, and you lost.
But as everyone has pointed out, respectfully, mind you, your separation code was likely due to your conduct. I certainly understand understood the question and situation as described.
What you don’t understand is that if you ask a public forum a “Hey, I tried to maximize the system to my benefit, and it didn’t work, so the navy stiffed me, is that even legal? type question, you might not get truthful answers that you don’t like.
Your behavior at that moment wasn’t stellar. The Navy told you to pound sand with an Re4. That simple.
It’s not a big deal, and I sure as daylights wasn’t a Marine. But anyway, best of luck to you.
You gamed the system, and you lost.
But as everyone has pointed out, respectfully, mind you, your separation code was likely due to your conduct. I certainly understand understood the question and situation as described.
What you don’t understand is that if you ask a public forum a “Hey, I tried to maximize the system to my benefit, and it didn’t work, so the navy stiffed me, is that even legal? type question, you might not get truthful answers that you don’t like.
Your behavior at that moment wasn’t stellar. The Navy told you to pound sand with an Re4. That simple.
It’s not a big deal, and I sure as daylights wasn’t a Marine. But anyway, best of luck to you.
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SN Susan Little I agree with the other responses. You admit to exploiting the system, and the Navy responded by providing you with a RE4 discharge. Why is this an issue 21 years later?
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