[Vineyard]

Your information is close to correct; not totally correct.

A commission is "indefinite", but not "for life" unless the officer has at least 20 good years of service at retires ... then the officer is entitled to state his rank (with the tag ... USN(ret) or USNR(ret) or as appropriate for the other services.

Kerry got an honorable discharge when he went from enlisted status (Officer Candidate OCUI-2), and was immediately commissioned as an Ensign, USNR.

When he, as a reserve officer, left active duty, his status changed. (Probably USNR-S1 - non-drilling).

Usually, an officer can be S1 for about 2 years before being transferred to S2 status. Then, the Navy typically "cleans house" and will discharge reserve officers who have been in an S2 status for 4 -6 years.

The interesting fine print on on of the Navy's letter to Kerry regarding his Honorable Discharge in 1978 was the paragraph directing him to return his ID card. Now ... if he had been given a less than honorable discharge - he certainly would not have had an ID card.

Having said all that, I still recognize that Kerry's people are quite capable at cutting/pasting/editing and re-Xeroxing stuff to create papers that say what ever looks good, and the bad stuff could have been taken out. Also ... the letter I mentioned (return ID card) could have had some errors ... some sort of "form letter" where paragraphs might have been added.

Bottom line ... don't count on anything .... BUT Kerry should be pressured to sign the SF180!!!

Mike

[RebelTex]

"Kerry's people are quite capable at cutting/pasting/editing and re-Xeroxing stuff to create papers that say what ever looks good, and the bad stuff could have been taken out. "

Could that be why documents on sKerry's website list 1 of his medals as "Siver Star with V"?

Many posters here with military experience have said that there is no such designation 'V' (for valour) given for the Silver Star because that award requires valour for it's consideration.

[cookcounty]

Kerry got an honorable discharge when he went from enlisted status (Officer Candidate OCUI-2), and was immediately commissioned as an Ensign, USNR.

So he would have a DD214 from 1968? And then one from 1978?

[glorgau]

BUT Kerry should be pressured to sign the SF180!!!

It's too late. The campaign is over - the SF180 won't be important unless there is a long wrangle over a protested election.

Prediction: It's being saved as a post election trump card.

[deport]

Thanks for at least bringing out more of the details of what can and most likely happened along the way regarding why Kerry wasn't separated in 1972...... There is evidence that he completed his Reserve commitment in 1972 and was offered either the option of staying in the Ready Reserves or being placed in the Standby Reserves - Inactive (USNR-S2)... That info is on the following document dated 1 Mar 72 [Contingent Transfer to the Standby Reserves - Inactive]. Pay close attention to item #2 and #5 (b) in the following document.... Transfer to Standby Reserves - Inactive .. Then go to the second document on the above URL dated 16 Aug 72 where it modifies his date of transfer to the Standby Reserves - Inactive to 1 July 72.

Again thanks for at least trying to bring some sanity to this ongoing discussion, not that it will stop the spread of continued speculation.