Served in the Marines for 4 1/2 years in the infantry (mortarmen/scout sniper)with 2 combat deployments to Iraq, now looking into the AFR as a PJ. One thing is that I'm currently recieving 40% VA disability. Is this enough to DQ me?
You would really have to talk to a recruiter. I believe that anything over 30% and you cannot get in unless you wave your VA disability. I have a 20% disability, coincidentally from the Marine Corps as well, and I am able to serve in the Air Guard.
So, I still receive most of my disability payments (depending on how much time I do in the Guard per year) and am able to receive Guard pay as well.
Can you still pass the physical/mental (don't know what your disability is) aspects at MEPS to get into the service?
The disability in and of itself isn't a disqualifier. It is the condition or conditions that contribute to the disability. 40% is a pretty hefty chunk.
In order to qualify as a PJ you will have to complete a flying class III physical. The conditions that contribute to your VA rating may disqualify on that flying class III.
Based on my experience - this may not work out for you.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Roy225,
I was rated 20% about a month ago. I was discharged from the Army after about a year into my six year enlistment. I didn't want to leave but since I was in training I think they just cut their losses. I am 33 and this was my second hitch so I think that was all taken into account. I have less than 10 yrs left and really want to finish my 20 in th ANG or AFR. The recruiter seemed positive but any advice would be gladly accepted. My reenlistment code is RE-3 and I think JHO?
ryerye13B, I don't think that a 20% rating will be all that problematic. But I'm don't know what conditions are contributing to that rating. That is between you and your recruiter. The other obstacle will be your RE Code & separation code. If you separated from the Army with an RE-3 and your SPD code is not JBK, JCC,KCC,LCC,MCC,KCA,MBK,MCA,MCF,KCF,MDF,KDS,LBK;then you will need an RE Code waiver. That could conceivably limit your career field choices.
My DD-214 says JFO. I thought this was a grammatical error and should've read JFL. I can't find JFO anywhere but according to answer i received on the Army forum this is an answer I got:
"DD214 sep code JFO is a non-combat, service related disability and in most cases connected to an involuntary medical sep."
If it is JFO, then the discharge would be related to medical. I would say that you can disregard my last post about the RE Code waiver. It may come up, but when I was doing enlisted recruiting, and an RE/ SPD Code was driven by a medical issue, then a medical waiver may be needed - not an RE Code waiver.
I'm going out on a limb here . . . The way I see this playing out - is if the SPD is JFO, and your discharge was medically driven; then the first thing is try to get medically cleared for accession. I'm going to guess you will need a medical waiver. That waiver will go to the surgeon general's office for final approval or disapproval. I'm not aware of the medical conditionv(s) that contributed to your discharge or our VA compensation;nor do I recommend you post that information here. I would be cautiously optimistic. Just mentally prepare yourself in case this doesn't work out. Keep me posted.
