What are my options to join the Guard after going through a medical retirement and receiving a full honorable discharge with an RE4 code?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 23:03:56 -0400

Backstory: Bad jump accident a few years ago. Spinal injury, some broken bones and nerve damage. Got medically retired.

In the last two years I’ve been going to civilian drs and they seem to have done what the military can not and I’ve gone from practically immobile to mostly recovered (at least that’s how I see it)

I never wanted to leave and now that I feel like I could be fit for duty I’m looking for options, I’ve heard that the guard takes people with a rating but I have a RE4 with full honorable. Does anyone have any insight on my options?

Also full transparency. I know the retirement was a golden ticket and it would be stupid to ruin that. So if it was choosing between them I would probably stay out. I just miss it and feel like that’s where I’m meant to be.
Thank you in advance for the help

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Sep 12 at 2021 11:10 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 23:10:35 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member probably has some great advice on this one

Response by SSG Brian G. made Sep 13 at 2021 12:10 AM

SSG Brian G. — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 00:10:03 -0400

You're RE4. That pretty much means you are a no go. It does not matter about Honorable discharge. You are medically retired, you will likely not even pass muster to make it to MEPS. But miracles do happen. You can always try a recruiter.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2021 12:21 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 00:21:16 -0400

You need to speak to a recruiter....but dollars to pesos it ain't happening

Response by SSG Laurie Mullen made Sep 13 at 2021 12:58 AM

SSG Laurie Mullen — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 00:58:50 -0400

Try getting a civilian job with the Corps of Engineers. One of my child hood friends has worked for them since she was a teenager and one of my FB friends has been working for them since he retired from the Army. Both of them love working for the Corps of Engineers. Good luck.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2021 1:08 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 01:08:54 -0400

It's possible to get a waiver, you'll have to talk to a recruiter. You do need to ask, are you good to go or still going through therapy? Additionally, depending on how long you've been out they might make you go back through BCT again. So make sure to ask about that.

If this is good for you, then go for it. I can tell you 99% of Guard physical readiness is on your own. So only you can answer if you're ready to get back into training, and getting back into uniform.

So dig deep and speak with a recruiter about the process. If you decide to go another route, America still needs people to serve in other capacities.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2021 3:35 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 03:35:03 -0400

Medical separation, yes.
Medical retirement, no.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2021 6:26 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:26:36 -0400

RE-4 + back injury= never going to happen. No MEPS CMO will let you walk in the door with a spinal injury recovered or not. The other gentleman had it right, focus your energy on something else fulfilling like community service.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2021 6:55 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:55:49 -0400

Get yourself an Army Civilian job if you still feel the need to be a part of the Green Machine.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Sep 13 at 2021 10:02 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 10:02:16 -0400

This seems counterintuitive to me.
If your body is so broken they kicked you out because you don't meet medical retention standards, then doesn't it logically follow that you would continue to not meet retention standards if you accessed in another branch? Wouldn't they be obligated to kick you out all over again since you don't, and continue to not meet retention standards?

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Sep 13 at 2021 10:13 AM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 10:13:55 -0400

You can always check with a recruiter but I would be seriously doubtful it will work. Med Boards resulting in medical retirement are generally pretty final by design.
This is what you can find online about RE4

RE-4: Individuals separated from last period of service with a nonwaiverable disqualification (refer to AR 601-280). Ineligible for enlistment except as provided for in paragraphs 2-7c and 2-7d. (See waiverable moral and administrative disqualification.) Disqualification is nonwaivable.
RE-4A: Individuals who did not meet basic eligibility citizenship requirement of Chapter 2, AR 601-280, at time of last separation from active duty. Ineligible for enlistment unless requirements of table 2-1 can be met. Citizenship requirements are nonwaiverable. Applicable to EM who fail to meet citizenship requirements.
RE-4R: Individuals retiring after 20 or more years active Federal service (title 10, U.S. Code 3914 or 3917) Ineligible for enlistment.

Response by SFC Wendell Pruitt made Sep 13 at 2021 12:09 PM

SFC Wendell Pruitt — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 12:09:22 -0400

You may want to look into something like the National Guard Youth Challenge Program, You wear the uniform in many cases and work with Teens from 16 to 18 in a live in Military environment but you do not have to meet the Military Requirements of PT or deployment medical fitness, Essentially you use your military background and experience in a civilian state Position that falls within the National Guard Umbrella

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2021 1:08 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 13:08:57 -0400

RE Code 4: Normally not eligible to reenlist, nor join another service. Usually will require an Exception to Policy waiver to reenlist. (Google, Internet) Possible, but depends on needs of Service vs. your qualifications.

Response by SGT(P) Abner Lozano made Sep 13 at 2021 9:12 PM

SGT(P) Abner Lozano — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 21:12:46 -0400

Hey man. I feel you and completely understand. I got a Med Retirement, too. I want back in but in out circumstance, the short answer is no. RE Code 4’s are very difficult to get to reenlist. First thing, you’d need an Exception to Policy which is hard to get to begin with. But someone mentioned the Youth ChalleNGe Program. Those are great programs and get to be in that military environment.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Sep 13 at 2021 10:43 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 22:43:27 -0400

You may feel good now but those with no previous injuries, our bodies do not get better in the army life as we get older, we break down. Take your success now and run with it (not to a recruiter). You got to play with the 82nd, jump out of Army planes, and have more to be proud of than 99% of society. It sounds that if you want to be walking in your sixties you need to accept this outcome. Spinal injuries can effect your sex life and relationships, and are not something to think you are close to 100%. You did more cool shit in the Army than I did and moving on is probably best for you.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Sep 14 at 2021 9:03 AM

SSG Edward Tilton — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 09:03:31 -0400

you are retired, period

Response by SGT Jonathan Persons made Sep 14 at 2021 11:17 AM

SGT Jonathan Persons — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 11:17:53 -0400

Short answer that you probably won't like.
You are not going to be going back to wearing the uniform as a member of the military.

Look at options like working with a local FRG or possibly for the county or state Department of Veterans Affairs. Just because your time in uniform has ended, your story hasn't.

Response by SFC Michael Kinsley made Sep 14 at 2021 9:57 PM

SFC Michael Kinsley — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 21:57:28 -0400

SFC Pruitt is on target.
Check out your state's National Guard ChallenNGe Academy.
It is great job if you like mentoring youths.

Response by SFC Jeremy Boyd made Nov 23 at 2023 12:04 PM

SFC Jeremy Boyd — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 12:04:07 -0500

I'm a little tardy to the party on this particular feed, and I'm not going to jump on to provide the same feedback that everyone else has given, but I will provide an alternative. Does your state have an active State Defense Force? They have much less stringent medical qualifications and are typically an all volunteer, unpaid force that falls under the State's Military Department. Their mission keeps them within state borders and is meant to augment the Army and Air National Guard during times of emergency. You receive pay and benefits at the level of your rank when activated for state active duty. My understanding is that it operates very similarly to ARNG and ANG, in that you have monthly drills, wear the service uniform with certain differences to distinguish from the federal services, and ply your knowledge and expertise to better your state and your community. It may not be exactly what you were looking for, but it may be about the closest thing you can do to match your prior Army time.