Posted on Feb 8, 2024
Has anyone switched from Army Reserves to Active duty?
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Did you have to go through the whole MEPS process again? Or only talk to the career counselor and submit MEDPROS and ARB etc?
Posted 10 mo ago
Responses: 7
The process is as follows:
1) Find an Active Duty Recruiter.
2) Submit a DA Form 368 Conditional Release
3) Go thru MEPS
4) Await Ship Date when everything is GREEN and you've sworn in (again).
Yes. You go thru the ENTIRE MEPS process. To include the Duck Walk again. Since you would be considered Prior Service, you fall under Prior Service Business rules and you see the Career Counselor/Sign Contract/Conduct Oath after all the IETs
1) Find an Active Duty Recruiter.
2) Submit a DA Form 368 Conditional Release
3) Go thru MEPS
4) Await Ship Date when everything is GREEN and you've sworn in (again).
Yes. You go thru the ENTIRE MEPS process. To include the Duck Walk again. Since you would be considered Prior Service, you fall under Prior Service Business rules and you see the Career Counselor/Sign Contract/Conduct Oath after all the IETs
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I actually only spoke to a career counselor no physical or anything medpros were green accross the board signed my contract with active duty already!
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SPC (Join to see) - A few things to add in addition to what MSG (Join to see) gave (his #1 is a 'foot stomp' .. it all starts with seeing an Active Duty recruiter).
He mentioned "Prior Service Business rules". The difference between someone walking in as a blank slate and you is that you will be limited based on those rules. The bottom line is that there have to be current vacancies on the active duty side you can transfer into (for your current MOS) or you'll be given a limited set of MOSes you can transfer into based on your current rank.
Additionally, as long as you don't separate from the reserve component and transfer to the active component (i.e., the conditional release route), or if you do separate, as long as you reenlist within certain time frames (varies based on requirement), then there are many items that are abbreviated or reused from your first enlistment.
● You probably won't be required to go through the physical again as long as you have one that is current within a year (will need your current PHA and immunization records from MEDPROS). If you're switching to a MOS on active duty that has physical entrance requirements above and beyond the normal exam though, you would be. This is especially important if you did sustain an injury/illness during your enlistment.
There is a difference between the medical standards to enlist and the medical standards to be retained. As long as you are currently an active member (not 'active duty', 'active') of the military or are within 12 months of separation, then the "retain" standards apply and not the "enlist" standards. If you have to go through BCT again for some reason, you'll likely get a full physical.
● Unless you're transferring into an active duty MOS that has a higher requirement than the ASVAB you took for your current enlistment, you probably won't be required to retake the ASVAB (you won't need a new one if you're going into your current MOS or if the ASVAB scores meet the new MOS requirements*).
There are many other items that may not be required (see AR 601-210*, Chapter 3), but the medical and qualification test are the two big ones.
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* The ASVAB has changed over the years, so the requirements from the time you took the test apply, not the current requirements. See DA Pam 611-21 - https://armyreup.s3.amazonaws.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/26130943/DA-PAM-611-21-20210126.pdf
* AR 601-210 (Regular Army and Reserve Components Enlistment Program) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN30575-AR_601-210-000-WEB-1.pdf
* additional reference: Multi-service regulation (AR 601-270 for the Army) for Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) - https://health.mil/Reference-Center/Policies/2011/09/13/Military-Entrance-Processing-Station
He mentioned "Prior Service Business rules". The difference between someone walking in as a blank slate and you is that you will be limited based on those rules. The bottom line is that there have to be current vacancies on the active duty side you can transfer into (for your current MOS) or you'll be given a limited set of MOSes you can transfer into based on your current rank.
Additionally, as long as you don't separate from the reserve component and transfer to the active component (i.e., the conditional release route), or if you do separate, as long as you reenlist within certain time frames (varies based on requirement), then there are many items that are abbreviated or reused from your first enlistment.
● You probably won't be required to go through the physical again as long as you have one that is current within a year (will need your current PHA and immunization records from MEDPROS). If you're switching to a MOS on active duty that has physical entrance requirements above and beyond the normal exam though, you would be. This is especially important if you did sustain an injury/illness during your enlistment.
There is a difference between the medical standards to enlist and the medical standards to be retained. As long as you are currently an active member (not 'active duty', 'active') of the military or are within 12 months of separation, then the "retain" standards apply and not the "enlist" standards. If you have to go through BCT again for some reason, you'll likely get a full physical.
● Unless you're transferring into an active duty MOS that has a higher requirement than the ASVAB you took for your current enlistment, you probably won't be required to retake the ASVAB (you won't need a new one if you're going into your current MOS or if the ASVAB scores meet the new MOS requirements*).
There are many other items that may not be required (see AR 601-210*, Chapter 3), but the medical and qualification test are the two big ones.
-------------------------------------
* The ASVAB has changed over the years, so the requirements from the time you took the test apply, not the current requirements. See DA Pam 611-21 - https://armyreup.s3.amazonaws.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/26130943/DA-PAM-611-21-20210126.pdf
* AR 601-210 (Regular Army and Reserve Components Enlistment Program) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN30575-AR_601-210-000-WEB-1.pdf
* additional reference: Multi-service regulation (AR 601-270 for the Army) for Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) - https://health.mil/Reference-Center/Policies/2011/09/13/Military-Entrance-Processing-Station
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MSG (Join to see)
I had initially joined in 1993 for the Reserves and then went Active Duty in 1996. I had to do the whole MEPS physical all over again. If that has changed, then all the better for the OP.
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COL Randall C.
MSG (Join to see) - I dug up the old copy of AR 601-210 from 1995* and looked at the changes. Back then the reg just stated that you had to meet the retention standards, not the enlistment standards:
"Completed Army BT or IADT and meets medical retention standards (less weight) of AR 40-501, chapter 3, if enlisting within 6 months of release from AD in the Army or currently a member of a USAR or ARNG unit."
However, it didn't specifically say that you didn't need a medical examination and could use an existing physical (PHA) like it does in the current version.
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* 28 FEB 1995 versino of AR 601-210 - https://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/api/collection/p4013coll9/id/597/download
"Completed Army BT or IADT and meets medical retention standards (less weight) of AR 40-501, chapter 3, if enlisting within 6 months of release from AD in the Army or currently a member of a USAR or ARNG unit."
However, it didn't specifically say that you didn't need a medical examination and could use an existing physical (PHA) like it does in the current version.
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* 28 FEB 1995 versino of AR 601-210 - https://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/api/collection/p4013coll9/id/597/download
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COL Randall C.
MSG (Join to see) - *chuckle* I think it was probably one of those things where if it isn't "specifically allowed, then it is denied".
Since all the reg said is that you only needed to meet the retention standards, not the enlistment standards, in whoever made the decisions mind it was likely "Ok - full physical, but it's evaluated against retention instead of enlistment standards".
On the plus side, I scoured the internet and wasn't able to find pictures of you quacking, so you're probably safe.
Since all the reg said is that you only needed to meet the retention standards, not the enlistment standards, in whoever made the decisions mind it was likely "Ok - full physical, but it's evaluated against retention instead of enlistment standards".
On the plus side, I scoured the internet and wasn't able to find pictures of you quacking, so you're probably safe.
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