[PatrickHenry]

It's been a long time since I was an Army Reserve officer, so I won't rely on memory. According to this: Ready Reserve

"... the following individuals may be assigned to the Ready Reserve: 1. Military personnel released from active duty (other than active duty for training) who have incurred a total military obligation of up to eight years. ..."

As many of us know, the Ready Reserve is where you have those frequent meetings and the annual two-week active duty requirement. We don't have enough info on Kerry's situation yet, but this is definietly worth looking into.

[An.American.Expatriate]

Yes, this is what I recall as well - it would be interesting to know if it was just the "unfulfilled commitment" stuff, or something else - BUT the real point is he was STILL a commisioned officer!

PH - Since you were an officer, maybe you know the answer to this . . . does a commission "expire"?

[El Gato]

But you neglected this part: "The Ready Reserve consists of the Selected Reserve, Individual Ready Reserve and Inactive National Guard.". Those serving out a military service committement, which IIRC was only 6 years in those days, not 8 as now, *may* be assigned to the Selected Reserve (active Reserve and Guard) but only on a voluntary basis, otherwise they would be assigned to IRR, which has no inactice duty (drill) or active duty for training requirements.