# Can fired military officers be re-hired? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 25, 2025, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fired-military-officers-be-re-hired/1023391 "2025-09-25T19:11:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fired-military-officers-be-re-hired/1023391/1 "2025-09-25T19:11:56Z")
The secretary of defense has called an unusual meeting of all the generals and admirals from all of the US armed forces. So far no reason has been given, but let’s consider a hypothetical that in some way or another the generals and admirals that don’t swear personal loyalty to our current commander in chief get fired right there on the spot, or that for whatever other reason this meeting leads to a purge of some kind. Are there mechanisms for a subsequent commander in chief to rehire the fired generals and admirals, or would the next commander in chief have to “start fresh” by purging the old guard and promoting the colonels and captains that they deemed best suited for the job? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fired-military-officers-be-re-hired/1023391/2 "2025-09-25T19:24:27Z")
‘Fring’ an officer from a role does not mean that they are discharged from service or stripped of commission (which would typically require a general court-martial), just that they are removed from that role and put into the ‘general pool’ of officers without billet. In some cases, this could result in mandatory retirement if they are above the normal mandatory age or years-in-service outside of that role, in which case their commissions could not be reactivated without extraordinary executive action. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2025, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fired-military-officers-be-re-hired/1023391/3 "2025-09-27T02:11:10Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > In some cases, this could result in mandatory retirement if they are above the normal mandatory age or years-in-service outside of that role, Would that pretty much apply automatically to anyone at the level of general or admiral? I don’t imagine many are very young. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2025, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fired-military-officers-be-re-hired/1023391/4 "2025-09-27T21:13:42Z")
The Hegseth meeting includes one star officers. It’s possible to reach that rank by one’s early 40s. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2025, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fired-military-officers-be-re-hired/1023391/5 "2025-09-27T21:28:30Z")
Fun fact: a US military officer can be recalled at any time, at any age, for any military necessity. They can retire, but the only way out permanently is if they resign their commission after their initial service commitment and the service permits it. Furthermore, as long as they are retired they are subject to the UCMJ at all times. That status very rarely results in any action, be it criminal proceedings or involuntary recall, but the government retains those options in perpetuity. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2025, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fired-military-officers-be-re-hired/1023391/6 "2025-09-27T21:39:22Z")
Higher ranking generals have their rank tied to their position. If they are removed from their position they will revert to a lower rank. If removed it would behoove the officer to retire and collect their pension. If they refuse to retire the president can force them to leave. It’s a bit more complicated than that but I would guess anything that happens currently would be made very simple with a “get out” and let the courts clear up any issues. This article goes over a lot of the issues. > **[Can Presidents ‘fire’ senior military officers? Generally, yes…but it’s...](https://sites.duke.edu/lawfire/2016/09/15/can-presidents-fire-senior-military-officers-generally-yesbut-its-complicated/#:~:text=In%20my%20opinion%2C%20yes.,constitutional%20power%20of%20the%20President.%E2%80%9D)** > > A journalist recently asked me whether a President could “fire” a general.  The answer – pardon the pun – is generally, yes…but there are some legal complications. The context we are addressing is … ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2025, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fired-military-officers-be-re-hired/1023391/7 "2025-09-27T21:41:06Z")
And yes as was said above a flag officer is never truly retired they are just inactive. They can be recalled when needed. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2025, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fired-military-officers-be-re-hired/1023391/8 "2025-09-27T22:49:33Z")
From that cite: > That said, the incentives are such – not to mention professional propriety – that it’s extraordinarily unlikely that any President in the modern era would be obliged to force officers out, as almost all would retire if asked. Written during Obama’s presidency. Wonder whether that attitude has changed. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fired-military-officers-be-re-hired/1023391/9 "2025-10-01T05:02:50Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Higher ranking generals have their rank tied to their position. If they are removed from their position they will revert to a lower rank. If removed it would behoove the officer to retire and collect their pension. So is there a time limit at which they can collect a pension at their higher rank before they become lower rank? How does that work? Google tells me the salary difference between 2 and 4 stars is about $200K to $220K. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fired-military-officers-be-re-hired/1023391/10 "2025-10-02T15:01:11Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > If removed it would behoove the officer to retire and collect their pension. Does a military pension go by last pay rather than highest pay? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fired-military-officers-be-re-hired/1023391/11 "2025-10-02T15:16:18Z")
There may be exceptions but I think it’s based on the pay of their last rank. For example if a two star is court martialed for bad behavior, the punishment might be reduction in rank to colonel. That means they collect a colonel level pension.