[Parthalan]

Can someone explain to me why it has been said that Kerry was discharged from Active duty when he was never "Active"? I refer to the "Enlistment Contract" on the kerry site

http://www.johnkerry.com/about/military_records.html

under the field of "Branch & Class of Service" it says USNR-R. If he was "Active" it would only say USN.

[Vermonter]

I was in the Navy Reserves during that period and all my military paperwork lists me as USNR. Regular Navy was USN

[Lokibob]

A reserve officer can be called to active duty, they are still designated USNR, but hold the rank, just the same.

It is just the way reg Navy (Army, AF) keeps the reserve forces under control.

[muawiyah]

Regarding thta "active" deal ~ Kerry was an officer. They are different than enlisted men. Most of the time in most of the branches of the service, most of your officers are RESERVISTS!

Some officers have Regular Commissions, but most have Reserve Commissions. So, they get referred to that way. It has absolutely nothing to do with their active duty status.

[streetpreacher]

Deployment is considered active duty.

[Doc-Joe]

When I first enlisted, I was active USNR for four years. All of my official documents stated "USNR," not USN.