Prior service enlistment allows those who have served in the military before to return in the same pay grade and rank. However, requirements vary by branch and can change, making it important to contact recruiters for up-to-date information. Limited opportunities and competition exist for those seeking re-enlistment.
Prior service enlistment is a form of military enlistment where a person has served in a military branch prior to their current enlistment. In the US, different branches of the military define prior service in different ways, usually based on the total time spent in the previous military branch. One of the advantages of such an enlistment is that one usually returns in the pay grade and rank they held before leaving the military. However, obtaining prior service enlistment can be difficult as some branches of the military are hesitant to enlist those with prior service.
The way in which prior service enlistment for different branches of the military is defined depends on each branch. There is not necessarily a standard established by the Department of Defense regarding the amount of service required for prior service status for re-enrollment. This can make the process of trying to re-enlist with previous service a little confusing, and getting more details about specific requirements and re-enrollment opportunities by contacting recruiters from various branches of the military. In general, however, prior service enlistment typically depends on the amount of time a person has served in the military.
This prior service enlistment status depends on the military branch a person wishes to enter, not the branch in which he or she previously served. These past service definitions can also change, so contacting recruiters is often the best way to get up-to-date information. At a minimum, someone should normally have completed basic training and may need to have served a certain amount of time before leaving the military. Most branches of the military also require certain conditions under which a person left the military in order for them to be eligible for prior service enlistment.
There are several advantages to obtaining prior service enlistment. Someone who gained a moderate position and was paid a decent salary before leaving the military may be able to return to an equivalent position and pay off. However, the US military generally has a limited number of enlistment opportunities for those returning to the military. Those interested in former service enlistment are often in competition with people who are in service and want to re-enlist, as well as people serving on the reserves who want to enlist in active duty.
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