New RN (and old NCO!) looking to join Army Reserve, couple of obstacles, though:

[new RN old GI]

a) I'm a little bit over the age limit of 46 1/2 years--but I have 12 years active federal duty + 12 years reservist time, so I believe the Army Reserve will consider me to be about "34 1/2" years old for direct commissioning application purposes. This, according to my local Army Healthcare Recruiter office, will not be an issue.

(b) The second obstacle, however, appears to be tougher. I was recently non-retained from a state army ng QMP retention board. I had elected by endorsement to be placed in the IRR just in case, as I had feared, I was not retained due to failing two consecutive APFTs (I hurt my back but didn't have a permanent profile--my back is presently fine and I can pass the APFT now). I was discharged from the state army ng with an honorable discharge (NGB form 55 A), RE code '3' with a character of seperation code 'A' and placed into the IRR. Reading various AR 600- and 135- regs getting a RE-3 waiver is possible (but not easy); I'm not exactly sure about the seperation code "A", have not yet found the applicable table that explains these codes.

The healthcare recruiter commander I initially talked to said he could arrange the paperwork to request a waiver regarding the RE code 3, relating that he was fairly confident based on my service record packet (or "curriculum vitae", as he put it) that I would get a waiver. However, he has been promoted and moved on, and the (brand) new healthcare recruiting commander seems to be relying on his NCOIC, who says that I cannot send a packet up because I need to be a TPU soldier. And the catch is, of course, I cannot be a TPU soldier now that I have been honorably discharged due to non-retention.

Wondering if any current/vets RN-soldiers, especially former recruiter types, have any insight to my situation. btw, I'm an former DLI east asian language grad who otj learned Pashto during OEF rotation and was awarded the "Spirit of Army Nursing" at nursing graduation. I'd like to practice psych nursing, think I can still significantly contribute to the Army.

Thanks for your insight to my situation,

New RN, Old GI

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

I am not a recruiter type..but a 'google' type... perhaps the below helps explain? On RE-3A - Section 2.

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/l/blcode3.htm

RE-3A - Section 1. Individuals who do not possess scores of or higher in any 3 or more aptitude areas of the AQB or the ACB. However, this code is o longer used for this disqualification. Fully qualified for enlistment if mental requirements of table 2-1 can be met. Prior service mental requirements are nonwaiverable. Waiver, if approved, is valid only for the purpose ol providing continuous, unbroken service for RA in-service personnnel.

Section 2. Individuals with over 6 years of service for ay who have incurred an additional service requirement and who decline to meet the additional service through reenlistment or extension and were separated on or after 15 Aug 1977. Fully qualified for enlistment. Waiver, if approved, is valid only for the purpose of providing continuous, unbroken service for RA in-service personnel.

[Rme4life]

my experience with the military is that there is always a waiver for everything. if this recruiter is not willing to look into this for you, ask him/her to send it up to the next person in their chain of command. I have never met a recruiter that was not willing to send your packet to the meps and have them be the ones to say yes/no. every time i took someones word that I did not meet some qualification, i would meet someone a year or so later who would tell me, oh ya me to, i just put in for a waiver and got it. i work right now with someone who got called back to active duty and is no way meeting any army standards, so when the army is hard up for soldiers, they tend to overlook a lot when they might not have 10 years ago. just keep on their you know what. they will eventually do their job just to get you to stop bugging them. good luck.