# Can some still be considered a \[RANK\] after exiting the military? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 12, 2017, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-still-be-considered-a-rank-after-exiting-the-military/804296 "2017-12-12T17:24:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-still-be-considered-a-rank-after-exiting-the-military/804296/61 "2019-06-03T21:54:24Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > I’m not clear that he did that. Poirot always introduced him as Captain Hastings, but Poirot was a foreigner. > > (The few separated-not-retired military types I’ve known didn’t use their rank. The reason they separated was because they didn’t want to be in the military any more.) You’re not clear who did what? Sorry, I’m not feeling great, couldn’t parse what you meant there. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2019, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-still-be-considered-a-rank-after-exiting-the-military/804296/62 "2019-06-04T01:07:25Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > You’re not clear who did what? Sorry, I’m not feeling great, couldn’t parse what you meant there. 🙂 I’m not clear that Captain Hastings ever referred to himself as Captain Hastings. But it’s been a while since I read any of the books. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2019, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-still-be-considered-a-rank-after-exiting-the-military/804296/63 "2019-06-04T02:19:02Z")
> [@A\_Man\_A\_Plan\_A\_Canal](#): > > Having been retired from the military is a lot different than just separating after a period of honorable service. I’ve been retired from the AF for 13 years, but I still get paid, I’m still on the rolls as inactive reserve, I still have a sticker on mycar, and when I drive through the gate at the base, the guard still says ‘Good morning, Senior.’ I still have my rank and title–and I’m keeping it. Okay, I’m obviously missing something here… what’s the difference between “retired” and “served 8 years and decided not to re-enlist?” ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2019, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-still-be-considered-a-rank-after-exiting-the-military/804296/64 "2019-06-04T03:29:56Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Okay, I’m obviously missing something here… what’s the difference between “retired” and “served 8 years and decided not to re-enlist?” The main difference is you don’t get retirement pay if you don’t serve at least 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2019, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-still-be-considered-a-rank-after-exiting-the-military/804296/65 "2019-06-05T00:54:41Z")
You still get to shop at the Exchange, you still get to stay on base, or at the resorts, you still get preference for transport… you still are the kind of person who /wanted/ to be in the military, not the kind of person who couldn’t wait to get out. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2019, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-still-be-considered-a-rank-after-exiting-the-military/804296/66 "2019-06-05T01:53:48Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > The main difference is you don’t get retirement pay if you don’t serve at least 20 years. I’d go with the main difference in the US being that you are still legally theirs. They can call you back involuntarily. Retirees are also technically still under the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice.) It’s rare to call someone back from retirement for UCMJ offenses. It’s a real thing and sometimes happens in high profile cases that reflect badly on the service. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2019, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-still-be-considered-a-rank-after-exiting-the-military/804296/67 "2019-06-05T04:55:58Z")
Under some circumstances, non-retirees can be called back to service. I understand this happened with my father. I never asked him about the details, but he was in the AAC during WWII, got out, and was called back to the Air Force for the Korean War. I think it was only those who had been let go before their initial enlistment was up that could be called back. At any rate, he decided to stay in and ended up retiring as an E-8. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2019, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-still-be-considered-a-rank-after-exiting-the-military/804296/68 "2019-06-05T11:29:20Z")
DP ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2019, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-still-be-considered-a-rank-after-exiting-the-military/804296/69 "2019-06-05T11:32:02Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Under some circumstances, non-retirees can be called back to service. I understand this happened with my father. . . . I think it was only those who had been let go before their initial enlistment was up that could be called back. . . . Under _a lot_ of circumstances non-retirees can be called back into the Service. While it doesn’t happen very often, if certainly can. Most people think they are enlisting for four years for example. But they are really enlisting for eight. The four years active duty that they are aware of, but there is generally another four years of reserve duty that they just wave away. 99.9% of the time that’s fine and you don’t have to do anything (although you’re technically supposed to answer the mail and update your address). But the military has the ability to bring you back during that time. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2019, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-still-be-considered-a-rank-after-exiting-the-military/804296/70 "2019-06-05T11:51:13Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Okay, I’m obviously missing something here… what’s the difference between “retired” and “served 8 years and decided not to re-enlist?” There is a difference between what you desrcibe. ‘Retired’ = “retired”; ‘served 8 years and decided not to re-enlist’ = “seperated”. The difference between the two has to do with benefits, and some of the strings that are attached to those benefits (discussed upthread). The big difference, is that retirees get the montly retirement paycheck, and a military ID card stating they are retirees (which allows other benefits). Those seperated, do not. Both get to wear “I am a Veteran!” ballcaps. > [@dtilque](#): > > The main difference is you don’t get retirement pay if you don’t serve at least 20 years. [nitpick] I retired at 15 years, 10 months. I have the blue ID card. I have full benefits and entitlements. I get retirement pay. It’s not the full “50%-for-20-years” gig, but it beats a kick in the shins. [/nitpick] Tripler There are rare, case-by-case exceptions to every rule. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2019, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-still-be-considered-a-rank-after-exiting-the-military/804296/71 "2019-06-05T11:52:07Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > What does “Chief” mean, besides “someone who outranks me”? > [@Lemur866](#): > > It means you’re a Chief Petty Officer in the navy. AKA the guys who actually get everything done. I never knew this. Next you’ll tell me there’s a naval or military rank with “sport” or “tiger” in it, too! ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2019, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-still-be-considered-a-rank-after-exiting-the-military/804296/72 "2019-06-06T13:37:13Z")
To be specific, chiefs are grades ["]E-7, -8, and -9]([Uniformed services pay grades of the United States - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniformed_services_pay_grades_of_the_United_States#Enlisted_pay_grades)[1). Back in the day there was a distinct break in uniform between chiefs and the lesser ranks, the latter wearing the ‘crackerjack’ uniform while the former wore something a lot closer to an officer’s uniform\* (but without shoulder boards for the dressier ones). Nowadays the distinction between the two is a lot less. \*When I was in a tenant command on a small Army base, I had a corporal plea with me on how to distinguish chiefs from officers, since he was embarrassed by constantly saluting the wrong guy. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-still-be-considered-a-rank-after-exiting-the-military/804296/73 "2019-06-06T17:52:54Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > I never knew this. > > Next you’ll tell me there’s a naval or military rank with “sport” or “tiger” in it, too! No, but there’s a Master Sgt and a Master Chief. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-still-be-considered-a-rank-after-exiting-the-military/804296.md?page=3)