Ok, here's an odd question O to E? With a service switch?

COL Vincent Stoneking — Sat, 24 May 2014 11:19:54 -0400

Does anyone here have experience transitioning from Officer to Enlisted/NCO? Either personal or in the recruiting/retention/career counselor world?

The question is: What are the age limit requirements for enlisting as prior service in the Navy, Air Force, and Army Reserves? My general impression is that the age cap extends one year for each year of prior service. Are there any special hoops for a former Officer enlisting? My first PSG used to be a MAJ (PSG Baker was the best PSG West Point ever produced!), but I have no current knowledge.

This decision is 4-6 years out, so it's in the "thinking about," not "doing something about" phase. I'm not ready to be a prospect yet.

Pointless detail follows. :-)

Situation: I have my 20 year letter (For AC folks - I am eligible to retire and start drawing my pension when I hit 60) and will hit my MRD in 2018 (2020 if I make COL). I like my civilian career & its trajectory.

There are two problems with this. First, a roughly 8-10 year "gray area" window (for AC folks - The time between when you are put in the retired reserve, and the time when you start getting the retirement checks). Second, and much more important, I don't feel even a little bit done. Enlisting would keep me "in the game" until 60 (assuming I didn't get QSB'ed...), when they tell me I'm done again.

My DREAM would be to enlist in the 19 series, get on a tank, and never leave. However, I won't be joining the NG (where the tanks are), and I don't know what use there would be for a 50+ year old tanker.

However, I think I would much prefer to go Navy or Air Force Reserve - in that order. Quite honestly, the only reason I didn't go Navy in the first place is that 18 year old me didn't want anyone to think I was following in my step-father's footsteps. I think I would also be a better follower in a service where I didn't know all the details about "how the sausage is made." If I did switch services, I would want to go through their basic & AIT or equivalent.

I am not looking to go active, though I have no issue with getting deployed or doing well above "base" reserve requirements. - I can easily work 90 or so days a year into my civilian work life.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2014 11:35 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 May 2014 11:35:13 -0400

Sir,

If you can afford that type of pay cut and your family supports, I would say go for it if possible. I've never planned ahead in life - I've always just followed what I found interesting at the time, and it's worked out pretty well. If you don't use life as an adventure, you're misusing life. We do every minute once, so do it well.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2014 12:30 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 May 2014 12:30:47 -0400

Sir,

I know that there is a process for this both to enlisted and WO ranks from Commissioned ranks.

I have met both.

The first was a LTC who was going to be forced to retire. He held a civilian tech job that required him to serve in order to maintain his civilian position. They permitted him to reduce to WO2 in order to continue service.

The second was a CPT who was in a similar situation. He reduced to E-6.

The only problem with this, in comparison to your situation, is that these were staying within the same component (USAR).

I think that your first step for research would be to either reach out to a local Navy recruiter or potentially BUPERS since the local recruiter may not know all the details of something of this nature. I would repeat the same with the USAFR. They may have guiding regulations which talk about high tenure/older applicants which may make this impossible for you. They may also have a manner to do this. It would be key to know their side of the house first, prior to taking any drastic measures on your USAR side which may create a bit of a reputation.

Response by LCDR Doug Nordman made May 25 at 2014 3:20 PM

LCDR Doug Nordman — Sun, 25 May 2014 15:20:38 -0400

Tough situation. Even if there's a DoD or service policy, it's probably a waiver that would be subject to drawdown restrictions.

Your best bet is to start shopping the recruiters now and parsing the references or messages that they're working under. I've seen the waiver process take months, and these days it'd be all too easy for your package to be submerged in someone's IN box.

Big-picture question: is your motivation the tech or the camaraderie? For example, would you find fulfilling work at a defense contractor or running a high-school JROTC program? There are plenty of ways to enjoy the military environment without being subject to the UCMJ...

Response by COL Randall C. made Jul 16 at 2014 11:01 PM

COL Randall C. — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 23:01:22 -0400

Vince, it is doable, but I still haven't thrown this against my personnel folks so it's all my supposition. I was thinking along these lines before for the very reasons you mentioned (especially gray area retirement). I was looking and finally stumbled across the information in the reg governing enlistments (AR 601-210). Para 3-14b is what you're looking for.

My observations:
- Age shouldn't matter since the only requirement for the RC is that you can qualify for retired pay by age 62 (3-3b).
- Since you're a 'current drilling member' of the RC, you won't need a MEPS medical exam (3-7j(1)(c)), but you will need other medical docs.
- Retention control point considerations don't apply in your case (3-10)
- Your enlistment grade will be determined by the CG, USAREC (for USAR) or the DARNG (ARNG) (3-18a(6)). Could be up to E-9, but is going to be determined by your past military training and experience and their ability to meet the prerequisites for the relevant MOS. Likely E-5 (maybe E-6) in our case, but that's a WAG (how does OES translate into NCOES? How does officer MOS translate into enlisted MOS? etc) ... I'm assuming there is going to be some arcane science that the G1 folks up at USAREC or DARNG HQ are going to know.

Response by CW2 Jonathan Kantor made Jul 17 at 2014 7:07 AM

CW2 Jonathan Kantor — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 07:07:44 -0400

While I was recruiting, I met a former 1LT who got out after his term ended. He wanted to go back into the Army but had given up his comission so we had to do a rank evaluation waiver. I was able to get him an assignment that he wanted as an E-5. The jerk backed out at the last second and didn't ship from MEPS. That's my only experience with what you are talking about... sort of.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2015 5:57 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 17:57:24 -0500

I know a retired Major. He served 43 years, because "that's all the time they allow you in between 17 years old and 60". He stayed Army his entire career, but started off as enlisted, and was promoted to E5. He got his commission, stayed until he was an O3, then went back to enlisted. Got promoted to E7, then lost a stripe and went back to E6, then went BACK to the officer route and retired at O4.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2015 4:01 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Feb 2015 16:01:25 -0500

There is a former Major in my brigade(now E5) running around in a similar situation. I believe he ran out of time and was going to retire, but chose to go enlisted instead to rack up a few more retirement points.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Mar 4 at 2015 1:25 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 13:25:54 -0500

I have met a few Navy LDOs and Warrants who reverted to their Enlisted status for various reasons. For instance, being a Master Chief has a lot more recognition and status (for lack of a better word) than does an O3.

In any case, your pension is based on the highest grade in which you serve honorably, so such a person, at retirement, even if at, say E8, would still be paid a pension based on their O4 status...

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Mar 4 at 2015 9:33 PM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 21:33:32 -0500

Sir, I have considered going back and being a CWO if I get to the point where I cannot advance further in my current career. I love doing my job and training soldiers, sadly something I see less of as I get higher in the ranks.

If you have success or get solid advice on this, please share.

Response by 1LT Richard C. made Apr 30 at 2015 4:58 PM

1LT Richard C. — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 16:58:52 -0400

Here is another option..

I worked my way through the enlisted ranks, received commission through OCS, as a 1LT, I found to my dismay that the college I banked my credits with was not on the list of accredited schools so no CPT for me. I reverted to enlisted and stayed until I hit the 23 years. I then moved onto the Govt sector, and let me say that there are a lot of jobs out there on USA jobs. I found that I kept busy through other efforts in my area, Rope Rescue, Search and Rescue, Fire Dept, Masons, ESGR, DOI Vets, and my day job. I am also looking at State Guard (which is very different from National Guard).