Military DUers: What is the significance of resigning your commission

[Bunny]

when you have completed your service? The 60 Minutes show the other night, concerning the back door draft, got me to wondering about this.

Former officers are being recalled, even though they received their discharges, because of some "fine print" involving them not resigning their commission. Basically, it seems that if you're an officer, you're a lifer, like it or not, unless you resign your commission.

So, my question is, why would you not resign your commission? What would be the downside of resigning? Why would it be important to keep the commission if you are a civilian?

Just curious.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Very techbically speaking when you leave the service

you resign your commision, but they can reactivate you at their pleasure...

Now this tells me that soome folks forgot to sign the dottted line so they are going first after those who did not sign that line.

But once yuo are an officer, you are one for life... you can resign it, which you loose all rights et al... but here is the trick, Officers do not have an expiration date on their active duty cards (yes you are right they are lifers), but they don't have an expiration card on them either on their retired cards

[Dr.Phool]

2. The broadcast also said

They were recalling people who DID resign their commissions. On e former officer was told that his resignation should never have been accepted, and it was a clerical error.

I'd really like to see my 60 year old Bush loving, Republican, brother-in-law, be told to report. He was an Air Force officer in the '60s.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Depends on his MOS... today I heard of a 72 Surgeon

at a front line Field Hospital in Afghanistan