Does Retired mean Retired?

[Purplehood]

I think I know the answer, but hope that someone that does know can chime in...

As a Military Retiree, can I be recalled to Active Duty involuntarily? I think the answer is Yes, but am not positive.

[Oldgringo]

I suspect one's age comes into play at some point?

[Purplehood]

I dunno. I got reactivated from the Inactive Reserves when I was 48. Not sure how that would differ from Retired Reserves.

[MoJo]

How long have you been retired? Officer or enlisted? I know officers are subject to recall for 5 years after their retirement. I don't know about enlisted.

[Purplehood]

I worked for a living.

[Keith B]

Here ya go:

Recall to Active Duty
In an event where Congress declares a state of war or national emergency, the Secretary of Defense can authorize the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force to recall retired military personnel. Retirees may be recalled up to age 64 for general officers, age 62 for Warrant Officers, and age 60 for all others. Retirees are placed into one of three categories for recall purposes.

Category I (usually called first) includes retired servicemembers who meet the age and grade criteria, were not retired for permanent disability, have a US address, and have been retired fewer than five years.

Category II (usually called after Category I) includes servicemembers with the same qualifications as the first category, but retired for more than five years.

Category III includes all other retired servicemembers, including permanently disqualified disability retired servicemembers. Category III will generally not be recalled. A member of the Retired Reserve who returns to active duty may only receive one type of payment. Presently, there has been no indication that recall of military retirees is even being considered.

[Keith B]

Here is the DoD Directive http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corr ... 35201p.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Purplehood]

Wow. Thanks.

[ammo two]

Yep, can you believe it. 14 more years until I am in the clear. It seems like an awful long time.

[ELB]

I do remember reading a few stories on retirees being recalled to AD early in the Iraq war for certain critical specialties. I got the impression this was a somewhat "negotiated" deal, that they weren't dragged kicking and screaming back into service. There wasn't any mass recall. And even then, it was only the Army. The Air Force was trying to push people out the door, and even offered new lieutenants the opportunity to exchange their Air Force commissions for Army ones, in lieu of being forced out a few months down the road.

[MoJo]

I do remember reading a few stories on retirees being recalled to AD early in the Iraq war for certain critical specialties. I got the impression this was a somewhat "negotiated" deal, that they weren't dragged kicking and screaming back into service. There wasn't any mass recall. And even then, it was only the Army. The Air Force was trying to push people out the door, and even offered new lieutenants the opportunity to exchange their Air Force commissions for Army ones, in lieu of being forced out a few months down the road.

A good friend of mine who was in my squad in the 82nd Airborne stayed in the Army and retired as a Major in '88 or '89 was called back in '91 for Desert Shield/Storm. I think the reason he was recalled was he was a Field Grade Officer with extensive combat/spec ops experience.

[C-dub]

I think I'm safe. I'm 44y, been out for 22y now, and the Tomcats I did electronics on are gone. It would take too long to retrain me.