Can you get demoted for having a ~20 year gap in service?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 13:20:18 -0400

Trying to be as vague as possible, but can an e5 at the end of his contract in the 90’s get demoted to e4 if he were to re-enlist about 20 years later?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2020 2:09 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 14:09:47 -0400

If I am understanding your vagueness as well as I think I am....

Someone ETSs in the 90s as an E-5 and now wants to come back in about 20 years later.

Want to know if ETS rank can be retained or if a drop in rank has to happen.

Am I understanding your vagueness properly?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2020 2:51 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 14:51:29 -0400

Short answer is, yes that can happen.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2020 3:16 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 15:16:16 -0400

It's called a grade determination, and yes it definitely happens when the Army, HRC, or USAREC determines that one is required

Response by SGT Chris Padgett made Apr 26 at 2020 4:07 PM

SGT Chris Padgett — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 16:07:53 -0400

If you're asking the question I think you are, then yes.
My last unit, there was an E-6 that ETS'd 1995. Came back in 2001 as an E-4.
The running joke was he was the only SP4 in the Army that had been through BNOC.
But in all seriousness, he was promotable when I left.

Response by SFC Robert Walton made Apr 27 at 2020 10:29 AM

SFC Robert Walton — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 10:29:27 -0400

But of Course the Military changes from time to time and so does our minds, after 20 years you forget things so a reduction to give you time to learn new and relearn old is warranted. I have also seen former NCO's have to go back to Basic. So the correct answer is Yes.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2020 2:00 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 14:00:22 -0400

I was an E6 (TSgt) in the USAF and had an 8 year break in service, had to come back into the ARNG as an E4....

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2020 1:56 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 13:56:28 -0400

I got out as an E-4 in 1997. When I looked to re-enlist in 2005, they wanted me to come back to AD as an E-2. They showed me the reg where it roughly stated reduction by one grade after 24 months and an additional grade every 6 moths after, not to go below E-2.