This may turn into a pretty long question but Ill try to keep it as to the point as possible. I got out of active in May of 08. I filed a claim with the Va and before I got the decision for them I started feeling guilty for getting out. So within weeks of getting out I joined the reserves. Soon after I got the va decision that I was 30% PTSD. Ive decided I want to go 68x Mental health specialist and get back into active duty. I dont know for sure if I can get back into active now as apparently i have to be deemed fit for duty by meps im assuming since the va cant clear me. Im very frustrated with the whole situation, I can just join the reserves no questions asked and I told them I had a claim in for PTSD but yet I cant get into active duty. So my questions are, can the commander of my reserve unit release me completely without it affecting me negatively. Secondly, I was a cook, and as I said I want to reclass to 68 x. Is that possible? Thankyou in advance for any info.

I'm not a career counselor, so I don't know the stipulations about 68X in regards to previous mental illness. I do know the Army is habitually short on cooks, so reclassing out to anything else might be difficult.

The MEPS determination will be pretty much the same process as if you were already on active duty and getting a MEB. They'll review your health record and determine, based on your record and the physical (and mental)requirements for your MOS, if the Army can keep you.

I'm not sure about getting paid by the VA. I know my wife gets a check from the VA every month, and she gets her reserve check every month, and she wants to go active duty again at some point in the future. That being said, I would also like to know about that.

You will have to see a recruiter to go active duty. They will help you out with all the requirements, including the release from your unitl.

I actually did this without reclassing though. I was reserves and just spoke with my commander to recieve a conditional release (the condition being that you join active duty). Like 2HYSPD4U said talk to a recruiter, they will be able to assist with the paperwork and tell you if you can or can not reclass.

Please PM me with a bit of personal info (AKO email, name, and/or birthday) and I'll look in to your situation.

I'm guessing you were IRR when you joined a reserve unit. In that case, it's not an enlistment, just a transfer. Regular Army requires an entirely new contract.

For VA benefits, you can't double dip. For each day of military duty performed, they deduct one day of benefit from you VA disability check. If you're on active duty, the VA check is $0.00, but you're still a disabled vet.

Thanks for the info everyone. Im not sure why everyone is mentioning the VA check hehe, I know as soon as I go active I have to call them to stop payments but at this point I think I'm ready to retire army. I do have the DD for 368 for conditional release. Wish me luck with my second trip to meps.

68X has a physical requirement of 111121, and unless your condition has changed that since your last physical, you're good to go. If you took a separation physical, the results aren't showing in TAPDB.

You may need to re-take the ASVAB or get a waiver. You're just a point shy of the ST requirement.

Now just as a clarification, you didn't "join" the Reserves; you were already in the reserves when you left the Regular Army.

For your options, you may find it easier to get your MOS in the Regular Army if your are already qualified for it. The Active side really has no love for the prior service, and they'll probably want you to fill your current MOS, or some random one in high demand (88M, MP, civil affairs, etc)

So option: If you really want to be a 68X, and the Regular Army won't have you, there's about 4 units within 100 miles (1 within 50) of your location that have that MOS. You can up your ASVAB, talk with the gaining and losing commands, and drop a 4651 to transfer.

AR-MEDCOM does tend to be a bit picky with personnel, but it is quite doable.

If you do reclass, or go RA, you'll lose entitlement to any bonus your received upon affiliation, and may have to pay some of it back. Something to consider and discuss with your career counselor prior to making any decisions.

I have recieved orders that im part of the 447th mp company after doing a 4187. How is that different from joining the reserves? Funny you mention paying back a bonus, when I did the contract up with the first recruiter he told me id get a 10k 3 year affiliation bonus. Then he took off and a new recruiter came that said he was wrong and Id have to do 4 which at that point I told him to just put the paperwork aside and Id figure out what I was going to do from there. And now here I am lol. Its been a nightmare!

So what are you going to do? Are you going to speak to a recruiter in your area?

I have my next drill on the 23rd so im going to meet the CC and then ask him to sign my conditional release form. From there hopefully I can get into active in the job I want. If not I will probably just stick out a couple more years as a cook and hopefully when my window opens up I can reclass.

Well thanks again for all the info. I think I know what I need to do at this point so if a moderator could lock this topic up i would appreciate it. Everyone take care of yourselves.

quote:

Originally posted by formercook:
I have recieved orders that im part of the 447th mp company after doing a 4187. How is that different from joining the reserves?

You were in the IRR, which is part of the Army Reserve. The DD 4 is the only enlisted contract in the Army, yours was signed in 2003 when you first enlisted.

You didn't join the Reserves, you affiliated with a Reserve unit thereby changing your duty status from IRR to TPU. This is why you didn't have to go through MEPS.

quote:

Funny you mention paying back a bonus, when I did the contract up with the first recruiter he told me id get a 10k 3 year affiliation bonus. Then he took off and a new recruiter came that said he was wrong and Id have to do 4

Here's the deal with that:
When you transfered, you had approximately 2 years 10 months of statutory obligation; you need at least 3 for the affiliation bonus. You would have had to do a 1 year reenlistment because you can only reenlist for whole years.

quote:

If not I will probably just stick out a couple more years as a cook and hopefully when my window opens up I can reclass.

No reason to wait. You're not obligated by your bonus to stay as a cook. If your unit will allow it, best to reclass sooner.

There is no BEAR program in the Reserves. Get qualified for the MOS you want before you reup so the bonus is for the correct job.

I'm not going to lock the topic. Someone else might have questions or insight.