Are you all kidding? I went back on active duty in the summer of ‘84. There must have been 500-600 prior service people at Ft Dix heading to Europe alone.
Nope, not kidding. We were working until 2200 every night just trying to keep up with all the separations. During an El Nino year, without air conditioning, on the upper floor of the building, in southern California.
My guys were fabulous. Not a word of complaint.
Marine Corps always cuts first. As the smallest service it has to constantly justify its budget. They cut big in 84/85. The Navy made me an offer to stay on active duty, but meant a ship for three years, as a single dad that was not an option. Even now there are quotas in the Army for prior service, but like our “boat spaces” they get filled quick and hardly make up for the cuts.