Want honest opinions

[shuttle]

I want an honest opinion about how I can better my chances for being an officer. I joined the navy in 1994, (20 years old) but I was discharged with a panic disorder. I did not agree with the finding but I was young and dumb and did not fight it. I joined the National Guard in 1999 and injured my knee before I shipped to basic. Since you have to ship within a year I was discharged. The National Guard psychiatrist did not believe I ever had a panic disorder, and viewed the diagnosis as incorrect So, on my DD-214 it shows a personality disorder as the reason for discharge and a code of RE4. On my dd-22(?) it just shows a failure to ship, with a reenlistment code of a 2 I believe. When I talked to a NG recruiter he said the NG code meant I would have to have a specialist look at my knee before I could rejoin. I went and had another military physical done recently and I scored 1 in everything except vision where I received a 2.
So the only other things in my past are I have been fired from two jobs. The first time was when I was 22, and I had already given notice. It was the HR directors way of

[DaveinUtah]

Not to be rude....I read about three sentences and couldn't take it. Once bit of advice to better yourself, use PARAGRAPHS

[GrayW4442]

If you want a honest answer....

You don't have a chance, your military record is horrible! I don't know a agency in America that would hire you with those issues.

Second, I'm sure most departments don't take GED's

[Hardhead]

Ny honest opinion is that you should find yourself another field to get into. Or maybe finish your schooling and put in some good, controversy free time at a related job (security etc) while going to school. Then you'd have your paper and some positive work record that they could look at when making hiring decisions. Aside from that... forget about it.

[shuttle]

If you want a honest answer....
You don't have a chance, your military record is horrible! I don't know a agency in America that would hire you with those issues.
Second, I'm sure most departments don't take GED's

WEll, that was my main concern. The part I find most interesting is the departments I have talked to have not had any real issues with the history except if it is valid. The first one was overturned by the Army, and the knee injury is not an issue now. Even if it comes back I can wear a soft brace which is fine for the police form, but not for the Army.
No department I have talked to has an issue with the GED since I have college credit with a strong GPA.

Ny honest opinion is that you should find yourself another field to get into. Or maybe finish your schooling and put in some good, controversy free time at a related job (security etc) while going to school. Then you'd have your paper and some positive work record that they could look at when making hiring decisions. Aside from that... forget about it.

I have though about working PT in a related industry for some other experience. The problem with that is I am not looking to do this as a career but as a reserve officer. In CA officers only start in the 50-60's which is about 1/3 of what I currently make. Now, the the boards have seemed to like that my work history shows continous employment with the same company with a rapid increase in job related responsibility. I have thought about finishing my degree since i have enough misc credits that I could apply for si I would only have 1 semester left. I know my background will come back strong since all admited to any issues, and they can talk to people that knew me during those times.

[webjeep]

The one thing that I can say is that many agencies will look at the bottom of the DD214 before anything else and if it does not say RE1A under the reenlistment code then it all goes in the trash. Applying for a reserve position and having an opportunity to explain coupled with your recent good work history can only help. I'd say that it's a toss up and depends on who gets your package. Good luck.

Please, please, try to use some form of paragraph in future posts, my eyes are still hurting.

-web

[shuttle]

The one thing that I can say is that many agencies will look at the bottom of the DD214 before anything else and if it does not say RE1A under the reenlistment code then it all goes in the trash. Applying for a reserve position and having an opportunity to explain coupled with your recent good work history can only help. I'd say that it's a toss up and depends on who gets your package. Good luck.

Please, please, try to use some form of paragraph in future posts, my eyes are still hurting.

-web

Well, I have thought about going back to the guard for a year or two to clean up the record. The BI I have talked to said the problem with my military record is that it is bad but that it is really tells nothing about me. The panic disorder was overturned so they were not worried about that. Anyone who knows me would laugh at that even being mentioned about me. I have always been know for being very calm, and very in control. The knee injury was out of my control, and had I been able to wear a soft brace in basic for a week I would have been ok. I have ordered copies of all my paperwork for backgrounds and I will go to poly in a week or so.

[Magnum314]

Some departments may not take you, but others who take the time to look into the details of the matters you discussed won't have a problem with them as long as you have been honest and forthright. As the Lt who followed me through my process stated, "If we had to only hire people who were squeaky clean, we'd never hire anyone."

The only for sure way for you to not get hired is to quit trying. 20 departments can say no, but it only takes 1 yes.

Until they give you a solid "No", keep going and don't look back.... and then reapply next year...

Go watch the movie "Rudy" tonight and tell all the naysayers to go take a leap!

[SuperSix5]

The one thing that I can say is that many agencies will look at the bottom of the DD214 before anything else and if it does not say RE1A under the reenlistment code then it all goes in the trash.

Agreed. Most agencies look quite hard at a person's DD214.

[pkagel]

Well, how about you join the USAF reserves and get your DD214 cleared up that way.

[mosetti]

The one thing that I can say is that many agencies will look at the bottom of the DD214 before anything else and if it does not say RE1A under the reenlistment code then it all goes in the trash. Applying for a reserve position and having an opportunity to explain coupled with your recent good work history can only help. I'd say that it's a toss up and depends on who gets your package. Good luck.

Please, please, try to use some form of paragraph in future posts, my eyes are still hurting.

-web

Mostly true, but not entirely true. I think you will find that the Separation code may have much more to do with it. If I am not mistaken, retired Navy and Marines get an RE 2. Retired Army get RE 4R.

[webjeep]

Mostly true, but not entirely true. I think you will find that the Separation code may have much more to do with it. If I am not mistaken, retired Navy and Marines get an RE 2. Retired Army get RE 4R.

My sep code os MBK1 and my reentry code is RE1A, I was in the corps. Your reentry code is indicative of how willing the service is to take you back, since it is difficult to track down all of your supervisors the RE code is similar to a civilian supervisor saying, hell yeah we'd rehire him in a heartbeat or get bent. I am no expert, an admin pogue would prbably be better qualified to answer specifics on that, but it's how it was explained to me.

-web

[Ballen0351]

The problem with that is I am not looking to do this as a career but as a reserve officer. In CA officers only start in the 50-60's which is about 1/3 of what I currently make.




If you are making 150000 a year and you have all those issues in your past is it really even worth the trouble just to be a reserve officer. Seems like a department would not really want to bother putting in the time to get your past cleaned up just for there reserve program
But If you feel its worth it good luck

[mosetti]

I am no expert, an admin pogue would prbably be better qualified to answer specifics on that, but it's how it was explained to me.

Agreed. My also recieved RE 1 MBK when I got out of the Army. I do know that retired Army get RE 4R, because they retired with 20 or more years and are not eligable for reelistment.

Any former admin pogues out there?

[stalker3]

my honest opinion: if I was doing your backround investigation or was on your applicant review board, I would recommend DO NOT HIRE.