Military Reenlistment (RE) Codes

Updated: April 24, 2023

In this Article

U.S. Military RE codes, found on military discharge documents like the DD-214, define a service member’s future eligibility to enlist or reenlist after discharge or separation from the military. The RE Codes for all branches of service are listed below.

Where to Find the RE Code on a DD-214

You can find the RE Code in Box 27 of a DD-214. The re-entry code may vary depending on the veteran’s branch of military service.

RE codes – along with separation codes – determine a veteran’s eligibility to reenlist.

Separation codes are numeric or alphabetic codes that characterize or provide reasoning for a service member’s discharge.

You can find an individual’s separation code in Box 26 of their DD-214.

General Reenlistment Guidelines

Each branch of service establishes its criteria for reenlistment eligibility, so RE and separation codes vary by branch.

There are four general categories of RE codes.

RE Code 1: May reenlist without issue.
RE Code 2: May reenlist, but restrictions may apply. This code may also mean the circumstances that resulted in the code are no longer applicable.
RE Code 3: May reenlist but may need a waiver.
RE Code 4: Ineligible to reenlist or join another service without an Exception to Policy (ETP) waiver.

The Department of Veterans Affairs uses different criteria than the Departments of the Air Force, Army and Navy to establish a veteran’ status. Some veterans discharged under “other than dishonorable” conditions may still use VA benefits like the VA’s home loan program.

U.S. Army RE Codes

Here are the Army re-entry and reenlistment codes, according to Army Regulation (AR) 601-210 and National Guard Regulation (NGR) 600-200.

RE-1: Individuals who were fully qualified for service when last separated. Fully qualified for enlistment.
- RE-1A: Individuals with over six years of paid military service. Fully qualified for enlistment but are ineligible to reenlist for 93 days after separation.
- RE-1B: Individuals who have not been tested and qualified for their primary military occupational specialty (MOS) during the current term of service. Fully qualified for enlistment.
- RE-1C: Separated individuals who did not score at least 90 points in at least three ASVAB aptitude areas after Oct. 1, 1980. Individuals who tested before Oct. 1, 1980, but did not score at least an 85 in at least three areas may also have this code. Fully qualified for enlistment, provided they meet all other criteria.
RE-2: Individuals separated for the convenience of the government following AR 635-200. Fully qualified for enlistment or reenlistment under Army regulations.
- RE-2A: Individuals separated before Aug. 15, 1977, with over six years of service for pay who have incurred an additional service requirement but declined to meet it through reenlistment or extension. Fully qualified for enlistment. Ineligible to reenlist in grade or for 93 days after separation.
- RE-2B: Individuals who were fully qualified when last separated but could not reenlist at the time of separation due to an enlisted year group management plan. Fully qualified for enlistment.
- RE-2C: Individuals who were fully qualified when last separated but unable to reenlist due to a reenlistment control policy. Civilians with this code are fully qualified for enlistment.
RE-3 Individuals who are not qualified for continued Army service without a waiver. Ineligible for enlistment without a waiver.
- RE-3A: Individuals who do not meet minimum scores for the Army Qualification Battery (AQB) or the Army Classification Battery (ACB). This code no longer disqualifies service members for enlistment or reenlistment if they meet other criteria. Also applies to individuals with over six years of paid service who incurred an additional service requirement but declined to reenlist or extend to meet the additional service requirement. Must have separated on or after Aug. 15, 1977. Fully qualified for enlistment.
- RE-3B: Individuals who have time lost during their last service period due to confinement, unauthorized absence, desertion or other unfavorable circumstances. Ineligible for enlistment without a waiver.
- RE-3C: Individuals who have completed more than four months of service but do not meet the pay grade requirements or were denied enlistment under the qualitative screening process (QSP) according to AR 600-200-4. Ineligible for enlistment without a waiver. This code also applies to soldiers who have completed over eight months of service but do not meet prior-grade and service criteria in the Qualitative Management Program (QMP).
RE-4: Individuals separated from the military due to a nonwaivable disqualification according to AR 601-280. Ineligible for enlistment in most circumstances.
- RE-4A: Individuals who did not meet basic eligibility citizenship requirements in AR 601-280-2 when they last separated from active duty. Ineligible for enlistment without meeting citizenship requirements.
- RE-4R: Individuals retiring after 20 or more years of active federal service under Title 10, U.S. Code 3914 or 3917 are ineligible for enlistment.

Reasons for separation – not the character of separation – determine RE (re-entry eligibility) codes.

Soldiers separated under RE-3 or RE-4 codes must seek a waiver from a recruiter to enlist. Depending on the type of discharge and disqualification, a waiver may be impossible.

The Army Board for Correction of Military Records can correct RE Codes that were entered incorrectly, but can not upgrade an RE code for other reasons, according to Army Regulation 601-210, Regular Army and Army Reserve Enlistment Program.

To correct an RE code, soldiers must provide the Board with evidence that their discharge characterization or reason for discharge is erroneous within 15 years of separating from the Army.

U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard RE Codes

Here are the reenlistment and re-entry codes for the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, according to Bureau of Naval Personnel Instruction (BUPERSINST) 1900.8E.

RE-1: Eligible for reenlistment.
- RE-1A: Eligible for reenlistment.
RE-2: Ineligible for reenlistment or recommended for reenlistment but ineligible because of one of the following statuses: Fleet Reservist Retired (except for transfer to Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL), Commissioned Officer. Warrant Officer, Midshipman, Cadet.
RE-3A: Non-citizen. Eligible for reenlistment if the member meets citizenship requirements.
RE-3B: Restricted assignment due to parenthood, pregnancy or childbirth.
RE-3C: Reenlistment authorized by CMC only. Ineligible for enlistment without a waiver due to conscientious objection.
RE-3D: Ineligible for enlistment without a waiver due to failure to meet disciplinary standards.
RE-3E: Erroneous induction, enlistment, extension or reenlistment.
RE-3F: Failure to pass the physical fitness assessment.
RE-3G: Condition (not physical disability) interfering with service member’s performance of duty.
RE-3H: Hardship or dependency.
RE-3K: Disenrolled from Naval Academy or another officer program without qualification for enlisted status.
RE-3M: Ineligible for reenlistment in current rating.
RE-3N: Importance to national health, safety or interest.
RE-3P: Physical disability (includes discharge and transfer to TDRL).
RE-3Q: Disqualified for officer candidate training due to inability to meet physical qualifications for appointment as an officer in the naval service.
RE-3R: Failure to meet professional growth criteria in MILPERSMAN 1160-030 and 1910-125.
RE-3S: Sole surviving family member.
RE-3U: Minority age (Under 18).
RE-3X: Non-swimmer.
RE-3Y: Received voluntary separation incentive (VSI).
RE-3Z: Received special separation benefit (SSB).
RE-4: Ineligible for reenlistment unless received due to discriminatory discharge under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.
RE-5: USNR-R released the sailor after at least 90 days of active duty training (ADT). Sailor returned to reserve unit/activity without determination of reenlistment eligibility.
RE-6: Ineligible or denied reenlistment due to high year of tenure.
RE-7: Completing the initial 2-year active duty obligation under the 2×8 Navy Reserve Program.
RE-8: Temporary medical conditions or unsatisfactory initial performance and conduct (available to recruits assigned to Recruit Training Command for initial training only).

To request a change to your Navy reenlistment code, contact the Bureau of Naval Personnel (PERS-254) or submit a request to change your RE code by writing to the Board for Correction of Naval Records.

U.S. Air Force RE Codes

These are the United States Air Force’s reenlistment reason codes, according to Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2606.

RE-1A: Ineligible to reenlist, but condition waived.
RE-1J: Eligible to reenlist but elected to separate.
RE-1K: Career airmen selected by their commander or civilian director under the selective reenlistment program who have 13 months or fewer remaining in service.
RE-1M: Second-term or career airmen who are eligible to reenlist but not yet in the selective reenlistment program.
RE-1P: Second-term or career airmen with fewer than 19 years of service who are selected by their commander or civilian director under the selective reenlistment program or have less than 13 months of service remaining. Eligible to reenlist.
RE-1Q: Second-term or career airmen with fewer than 20 years of service who are selected by their commander or civilian director under the selective reenlistment program or have less than 13 months of service remaining. Eligible to reenlist.
RE-1R: First–term airmen selected for reenlistment under the selective reenlistment program.
RE-1T: Airmen serving on extended active duty from the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. Eligible to Reenlist.
RE-2A: HQ AFPC denied reenlistment.
RE-2B: Discharged under general or other-than-honorable conditions.
RE-2C: Involuntary separation with honorable discharge or entry-level characterization of service.
RE-2D: Returned prisoner of war (POW) with less than six months of service since their return to active duty.
RE-2E: Serving a period of probation and rehabilitation.
RE-2F: Undergoing rehabilitation or separated while undergoing rehabilitation in a DOD regional confinement facility.
RE-2G: Participating in or failure of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment (ADAPT).
RE-2H: Participating in ADAPT program for alcohol, or has failed to complete orientation.
RE-2I: Non-U.S. citizen serving on initial enlistment.
RE-2J: Under investigation by military or civilian authority, which may result in discharge or court-martial.
RE-2K: Formally notified of involuntary separation.
RE-2L: Civilian criminal court charges pending for an offense for which the military manual for courts-martial would authorize confinement. Also applies if court-martial charges have been preferred or a court-martial conviction is under appellate review.
RE-2M: Serving sentence or suspended court-martial sentence; or separated while serving or suspended court-martial sentence.
RE-2N: Religious conscientious objector who can not go on unrestricted assignment.
RE-2P: Absent without leave (AWO)L; deserter dropped from rolls.
RE-2Q: Medically retired or discharged.
RE-2R: Airman within 23 months of 60th birthday with at least 18 years and one month of service and less than 13 months remaining.
RE-2S: Airman within 23 months of 60th birthday with at least 18 years and one month of service and more than 13 months remaining.
RE-2T: Possesses high year of tenure date of at least 20 years of service and is within 23 months of the high year of tenure date and within 13 months of separation.
RE-2U: Possesses high year of tenure date of at least 20 years of service and is within 23 months of the high year of tenure date, but has more than 13 months until separation.
RE-2V: Applied for retirement or retirement approved.
RE-2W: Retired and recalled to active duty in the regular Air Force.
RE-2X: First or second–term or career airman considered but not selected for reenlistment.
RE-3A:
- First-term airmen separating before 36 months of service or 60 months of a six-year contract, but no other barriers to enlistment except grade, skill level or time in service.
- First-term, non-prior service female airmen who learn of a pregnancy before enlistment or shortly after enlisting and receive an immediate discharge.
- First-term entry-level or prior-service airmen “involuntarily separated” for failure to progress in military training.
RE-3B: First, second-term or career airman who was ineligible to reenlist but the condition causing ineligibility no longer exists.
RE-3C: First-term airman not yet considered under selective reenlistment program.
RE-3D: Second-term airmen who refused PCS or TDY for retention, including those who deny retention for deployment.
RE-3E: Second-term or career airmen who refused to go for training or retraining or declined to attend training or retraining.
RE-3F: Airmen selected for non-retention by the Air Force retention board.
RE-3I: Airmen selected for reenlistment under selective retention program, but removed from eligibility after non-selection for the career job reservation (CJR) list.
RE-3K: The Air Force Personnel Command (AFPC) and the Air Force Board (AFB) for Correction of Military Records use this code when no other reenlistment eligibility code applies.
RE-3S: Separated with a special separation benefit.
RE-3Q: Airmen selected for non-retention by the Air Force quality force review board (QFRB).
RE-3V: Separated with voluntary separation incentive.
RE-4A: Hardship or dependency discharge.
RE-4C: Separated for concealing juvenile records, being underage, failing to meet physical standards for enlistment; or failing to obtain a 9.0 reading grade level on the Air Force Reading Abilities Test (AFRAT), or void enlistments.
RE-4D: Senior airmen (E-4) with at least nine years total active federal military service (TAFMS) but fewer than 16 years who were not selected for promotion to Staff Sergeant (E-5Z).
RE-4E:
- Four-year enlistee airmen first class (E-3) with less than 12 months time in grade or below, but at least 31 months if in their first enlistment term.
- Six-year enlistees who have completed at least 55 months of service in their first term but have not yet made senior airman (E-4).
- Second-term or career airmen with fewer than 16 years total federal active military service (TAFMS) but have not attained the rank of senior airman (E-4).
RE-4F: Five or more days lost time due to unauthorized absence, confinement or other derogatory circumstances. Ineligible to reenlist without a waiver.
RE-4G: No Air Force specialty code (AFSC) skill level commensurate with grade.
RE-4H: Serving suspended punishment for Uniformed Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) Article 15.
RE-4I: Serving on a control roster, which means the airman is under a six-month probationary period due to poor bearing, conduct or otherwise failing to meet Air Force standards.
RE-4J: Unsatisfactory fitness assessment under Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2905.
RE-4K: Pending evaluation by a medical or physical evaluation board.
RE-4L: Separated or eliminated from an officer commissioning program such as Officer Training School (OTS) or the Airman Education and Commissioning Program (AECP).
RE-4M: Breach of enlistment or reenlistment agreement.
RE-4N: Convicted by civilian authorities. Ineligible for reenlistment for the length of the maximum allowable confinement for the closest UCMJ offense under the Manual for Courts-Martial (MCM).

Air Force Reserve Reenlistment Reason Codes

Here are the Air Force Reserve’s re-entry codes, according to Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2606.

RE- 5A: Member is eligible for reenlistment.
RE-5B: Member has been selected for reenlistment but has not yet decided to reenlist.
RE-5C: Member is ineligible to reenlist due to poor fitness scores.
RE-5E: Reenlistment denied for unsatisfactory participation, performance, attitude, bearing or behavior. Assigning this code requires an accompanying Air Force Form 418.
RE-5F: A non-citizen who did not obtain United States citizenship in their first enlistment.
RE-5G: Air Force Reserve ineligible noncommissioned officer (NCO) status denied or vacated.
RE-5H: Airman First Class (E-3) or below.
RE-5I: Under consideration for administrative discharge.
RE-5K: Airman has applied or been approved for retirement, or is within 23 months of retirement.
RE-5L: Selected for reenlisted but declined.
RE-5M: Undergoing Article 15 UCMJ action.
RE-5N: Conscientious objector, or a person with religious convictions that would prevent unrestricted assignment.
RE-5O: Airman is assigned to inactive status list reserve section (inactive standby reserve).
RE-5P: Airman is assigned to a nonaffiliated reserve section (NARS) but ineligible to participate in military activities for retirement points.
RE-5Q: Airman is awaiting the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) Surgeon General’s consideration of a physical disqualification.
RE-5R: Airman is attending an accredited or recognized theological seminary to prepare for ecclesiastical ministry.
RE-5S: Airmen who are eligible for an extension to their high year of tenure date (HYTD).
RE-5T: Airmen approved for HYTD extension (see RE-5S).
RE-5U: Airman’s application for an HYTD extension (See RE-5S, RE-5T) was not approved.
RE-YY: Airman is eligible for the Air Force Reserves but has not yet been accepted.