Looking for Advice

[LiquidAluminum]

What is the name of your state? Tennessee (soon to be Ohio)

In 1996 I was 17 years old and had just graduated High School. My parents insisted that I join the Navy so I could get work experience and go to college for free while I was in. My family and I were both mislead by my recruiter on so many levels it's not even funny. My recruiter told me that I would be able to go to OCS school to be a pilot for the Navy knowing full well that he couldn't send me to OCS school on his own, nor would I be able to go because I'm color blind in certain shades. I was stuck being an engineman in the Navy for what time I as in and at the time I did everything I could think of to get myself out. My parents were all for this once they found out just how bad all of us had been lied to in the first place. Ultimately I was able to find my way out when I tested positive for a drug test were Marijuana was found in my system. Not that it matters but that is the only time in my life that I ever smoked Marijuana and it was only so I could get caught doing so.

I was discharged from the Navy in July of 1997 with an other than honorable discharge and an RE-4 code on my DD-214. Now it's 11 years later and I feel that I've grown into quite a fine man. I'm very computer literate and have been working in IT now for years. I have a beautiful wife *high school sweetheart* and 2 amazing kids. Recently I've been trying to do something with my life and trying to find a way that I could not only excel in my field but be able to return back to school while doing it. I then began thinking about different jobs that the military had to offer without any coaxing from anyone else. Now that more than a decade has passed and I'm getting ready to turn 30, not only do I see the error of my ways, but I wish I could go back and stop that stupid kid that I was from doing something that he would regret in the long run. My question is this...I've seen several people on different forums talking about how it's possible albeit slim to get your RE-Code and discharge upgraded, yet no one ever lists the steps to do so.

I've spoken to several recruiters who tell me that there is nothing that they can do for me, and some others that have given me a little hope but still haven't pointed me in the right direction. Is it possible to have this done, and if so what are the steps that I need to take to initiate this. I do know that I don't want to go back into the Navy but I have been thinking very seriously about joining the Air Force. All I want to do at this point is give myself and my family the best possible lives for ourselves and be the man that I know I can be. What I did was a very stupid and childish thing to do and it has cost me dearly because of it. I'm wondering if it's even possible to get a second chance with a branch of the Military when I've got that code standing behind me. I know if I can get the code upgraded, I can get the appropriate waivers needed to insure my re-entry into a different branch but I desperately need help in finding information on how to make this happen. I'm thinking of contacting my congressman and asking him to write a letter of recommendation to the Military Review Board, but I've read posts saying that even though it's possible it could help, most of the time it does no good.

At the time I was a dumb kid and i was stuck in a situation that I could not control. I did everything in my means to get kicked out and finally when one came along that would ensure my exit that's the route I took. Here I am 11 years later wondering why I couldn't have just made the best of it and moved on with my life. I'm ready to do this on my own and I've got the support of my own family behind me now, it's just a matter of seeing what is possible and what is not. Please...if there is anyone out there...a recruiter, a Jag, someone that thinks, based on what I've told you I deserve a second chance, I beg of you, please point me in the right direction. It's a sad place to live when you realize that your country doesn't think that you are fit to fight for them. I'm not a bad person, I made a childish mistake and have paid for it 10 fold. I want a chance to not only make things right, but I want a chance to be the person I know I can be. I want myself and my family to have something to be proud of again when they look at me or I look at myself in the mirror. I took for granted what I could have had the first time...I will not let this happen again.

If you can help me or have any information regarding someone who might be able to, please reply to this post and let me know so I can get on the right track to getting this sorted out.

Thank you,
~L

 

[ElvisG]

I’m not an expert on getting your discharge changed. I do know that it is extremely difficult to do so though. You have to prove that your discharge was not warranted. Since you got popped on a drug charge I wouldn’t hold my breath on getting it changed. You can always try though.

Good luck on getting in the Air Force as a prior service. The Air Force is very picky on people enlisting. Not only that, they are reducing manning especially in the officer field. My wife is prior service Navy in the Air Force and I can tell you that they are trimming the fat on the enlisted side as well. I’ve been trying to join for 4 years with zero luck. The only people the Air Force is accepting as prior service for the last 4 years is Spec Ops. Two years ago, the Air Force did take other rates but only had 40 something billets that went to the cream of the crop. They only had 16 billets to fill last year and they went fast.

My advice is if you want to join the military again is to join the Army. They are the only branch considering RE-4 enlistments.

*edit
I need to change "not warranted" to this statement. I just found this information online. "You're going to have to convince a civilian Military Records Correction Board that the RE Code was issued in error." Also check out this website since it has more information about changing your RE-4 code.

http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/generalinfo/a/dischargeupg.htm

 

[LiquidAluminum]

Thank you very much for your advice. As much as I would love to get into the Air Force, I have almost all but accepted that it will not happen as they are the pickiest of the branches to get into. I've given up on being an officer, espcially this late in my life. I have no problem with going enlisted again, and I think at this point I would rather do that even try to be an officer after all that has happened in the past.

I was just hoping that at some point a review board might be apt to see my records and say *wait, this kid was 18 when he was nailed and now he's pushing 30, surely to goodness he's not stupid enough to screw up again* In a perfect world that's the way it would work for me I'm sure, but unfortunately it's not. I will definitely update this board with anything that I might be able to find out but I'm sure this is going to be a long and more likely than not fruitless battle. Please though, I welcome all advice from anyone who might know something which could possibly give me a leg up.

Thank you,
~L

 

[ElvisG]

I don't know if this correct or not but Google gave me this. I just Google "how do I change my RE-4 on my DD-214."

http://members.aol.com/forvets/htomd.htm#180

I hope this helps and good luck.

 

[fozzy2]

Read the following:

http://www.irwin.army.mil/NR/rdonlyres/2F83FEB7-8B58-4D45-B4D4-6E76B1DD8C2E/0/HowtoUpgradeYourMilitaryDischarge.doc


To summarize, the odds are very slim. The military does not care what you have done since you've been discharged, to uprgrade your discharge you must show that it was inequitable or improper when given. Getting your re-enlistment code changed, as the above site explains, is usually a different procedure. Once again, however, the odds are slim. Even if you can't get your discharge upgraded or your 're code' changed, you can apply for a waiver --- i.e. ask the military branch to ignore its usual regulations/prohibitions and enlist you anyway. Once again, pretty slim odds - particularly if you are trying to enlist in the AF. If you are willing to enlist in the Army for one of the combat arms, there might be more chance.