Can I Reenlist in the Military After Separation?

Reenlisting in the military after separation is possible for most veterans who left with an honorable discharge and a clean re-entry code, and difficult or impossible for those who didn’t. Two items on your DD-214 do most of the work in deciding which group you fall into: the re-entry (RE) code in Block 27 and the character of your discharge. Everything else — age, medical status, criminal history, tattoos, available slots — matters only once those two clear.

What Your RE Code Allows

The RE code is the military’s shorthand for whether it wants you back. There are four:

RE-1: fully eligible, no waiver needed, any branch.
RE-2: currently ineligible but not permanently barred. Often applies to people who left for administrative reasons like retirement status or an officer commission. Some are waivable, some aren’t.
RE-3: eligible only with an approved waiver. Common after separations tied to weight standards, minor discipline, or certain medical conditions.
RE-4: permanently disqualified. Usually results from serious misconduct, a pattern of unsatisfactory performance, or certain medical discharges. Getting back in with an RE-4 essentially requires having the code itself changed through a records correction board, which is rare.

Your separation code in Block 26 is read alongside the RE code. Recruiters cross-reference both to decide whether you can proceed and whether waiver paperwork is needed.¹ If you don’t have your DD-214, request one from the National Archives using Standard Form 180.

What Your Discharge Character Allows

Discharge character sets the floor under the RE code. Honorable is the clean path back. A general discharge under honorable conditions preserves some VA benefits but typically carries an RE code that blocks straightforward reenlistment.² Some general-discharge recipients have waivable codes, but the characterization itself signals to recruiters that something went wrong.

Other Than Honorable discharges make reenlistment extremely difficult and are usually a hard stop without a discharge upgrade. Bad Conduct and Dishonorable discharges, which come from court-martial convictions, are functionally permanent bars. A dishonorable discharge also costs you VA benefits, federal employment eligibility, and firearm ownership under federal law.³

Age, Medical, Criminal History, and Tattoos

Once your paperwork clears, the rest of the eligibility check runs on the standards that apply to any recruit.

Age

Upper age limits for active-duty enlistment as of 2026:⁴

Army: 42 (raised from 35 effective April 2026)
Air Force: 42
Space Force: 42
Navy: 41
Coast Guard: 41
Marine Corps: 28

Some branches subtract your previous active-duty time from your current age when they run the calculation. The Marine Corps is known for this: a 34-year-old with six years of prior service would be evaluated as 28, right at their cutoff. Not every branch does it the same way, so ask a prior-service recruiter how yours calculates it.

Medical

You have to meet the same medical standards as a new recruit. DoD Instruction 6130.03 governs the list, organized by body system, covering vision, hearing, cardiac, orthopedic, and neurological conditions.⁵

Psychiatric and behavioral health history draws particular scrutiny. Documented mood disorders, personality disorders, or substance abuse can disqualify you. Veterans who sought mental health care after their first enlistment sometimes find that the treatment records themselves complicate a return, though not every diagnosis is an automatic bar. Severity, how recently you were treated, and current stability all factor in. If you were previously separated for medical reasons, even honorably, expect additional hurdles — the branch wants to know the condition won’t force another separation.

Criminal history

A record doesn’t always end the conversation, but certain patterns can’t be waived: three or more felony convictions, three or more DUI convictions, more than four misdemeanor convictions with adverse dispositions, or being under civil restraint (parole, probation, or confinement) when you apply. A single felony requires a waiver, and the nature of the offense weighs heavily. Sexual assault, violence against children, and drug trafficking face the steepest odds. An old, minor offense with evidence of rehabilitation is far more likely to be waived.

Tattoos

Tattoo rules have loosened across the branches, but they still trip up prior-service members who got inked after leaving. Every branch prohibits extremist, hateful, or offensive content, and facial tattoos are generally banned outside approved religious exceptions.⁶ Placement and size rules on hands, neck, and behind the ears vary by branch.⁷ If your ink is outside current standards, you’ll need to have it removed or altered before processing, and the military won’t pay for it.

The Process

Start by finding a prior-service recruiter, not a regular one. Prior-service recruiters handle the extra paperwork, waivers, and slot searches; regular recruiters sometimes turn prior-service applicants away because they don’t work those cases.

Bring your DD-214 to the first meeting. The recruiter reviews your RE code, separation code, discharge characterization, and service dates, then gives you an initial read. If your codes are clean, the next step is checking whether the branch has prior-service openings, which is a real bottleneck: available slots move with retention rates and force needs.

After the initial screening you’ll go to a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) for a medical evaluation, including height and weight, hearing and vision, blood and urine tests, and drug screening.⁸ Your recruiter forwards your medical documentation ahead of the visit, and a provider pre-screens it to flag whether you’re likely qualified, disqualified, or in need of more testing.³

Timelines vary. A prior-service applicant with an RE-1 code, a clean record, and no medical concerns can move through in weeks. Someone needing a waiver or extra medical documentation may wait months.

If Your Codes Are Blocking You

Waivers

A waiver is an official exception to a disqualifying factor. It’s never guaranteed. Approval turns on the nature of the disqualifier, the strength of your record overall, and how badly the branch needs your skill. Common waiver situations include minor criminal offenses, certain RE-3 sub-codes, medical conditions that have resolved, and age in some cases. Your recruiter assembles the package; higher authorities decide.¹ Some items are simply non-waivable — serious felony patterns, certain discharges, and specific medical conditions. If a recruiter tells you a waiver isn’t possible for your situation, that’s usually the final word, though trying another branch is sometimes worth the effort.

Discharge upgrades

If your discharge character or RE code is the block, an upgrade may be the only path. Two boards handle these:

Discharge Review Board (DRB): requests within 15 years of discharge, filed on DD Form 293. The DRB can change the characterization of your discharge and the reason for separation.
Board for Correction of Military/Naval Records (BCM/NR): requests at any time, filed on DD Form 149. Broader authority, including correction of RE codes.

Both boards want a clear explanation of why your discharge was unjust or erroneous. If separation was tied to a service-connected mental health condition, untreated PTSD, or military sexual trauma, make that case explicitly and include supporting medical records.⁹ Veterans separated under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” or similar policies have a streamlined process under the Farrell v. DoD settlement. Upgrades take months and approval isn’t automatic.

Switching Branches, Guard, and Reserves

You aren’t limited to the branch you originally served in. The Air Force actively recruits prior-service members from every branch and generally allows you to keep your rank or its Air Force equivalent.¹⁰ Other branches take cross-service applicants too, subject to slot and specialty requirements. Watch for break-in-service limits: the Air Force, for example, requires that your break not exceed six years.

The National Guard and Reserves are a middle ground for veterans who want to keep serving without going back to full-time active duty. Entry tends to be more flexible for prior-service members and slots more plentiful. You still need to meet height, weight, and medical standards, and you’ll need your DD-214 along with an approved DD Form 368 (Conditional Release) if any service obligation remains.¹¹ If you’ve been out more than five years, some Guard components may require you to repeat Basic Combat Training before starting your new assignment. Prior-service Army National Guard enlistees may also be eligible for bonuses and student loan repayment depending on skill and term.¹²

VA Disability Stops When You Go Back In

If you’re receiving VA disability compensation, returning to active duty ends those payments. You can’t collect active-duty pay and VA disability at the same time.² Call the VA at 800-827-1000 as soon as you know you’re going back. If you wait, the payments keep coming and you’ll owe the overpayment back. Your rating doesn’t disappear. It’s suspended while you serve and can be reactivated, and possibly re-evaluated, when you separate again. If your rating is substantial, work the loss of that monthly income into your decision before signing anything.

1
Office of the Naval Inspector General. FAQs – What Are Reenlistment Codes
2
Veterans Affairs. If I Return to Active Duty, Will I Still Get VA Disability Payments?
3
United States Military Entrance Processing Command. Frequently Asked Questions
4
USAGov. Requirements to Join the U.S. Military
5
Department of Defense. DoD Instruction 6130.03 Volume 1 – Medical Standards for Military Service: Appointment, Enlistment, or Induction
6
U.S. Army. Army Eases Tattoo Restrictions With New Policy
7
United States Coast Guard. Tattoo, Branding, Body Piercing, and Mutilation Standards (COMDTINST 1000.1F)
8
GoArmy. Processing and Screening (MEPS)
9
Discharge Review Boards. Discharge Review Board
10
U.S. Air Force. Prior Service: Continue Your Military Career in the Air Force
11
National Guard. Prior Service – Army National Guard
12
MyArmyBenefits. Active Duty Bonuses for Service Members