It's been a lot of years ago but I served 4 years active duty and then was two years in inactive reserve. I did not receive a dd214 until after that period. I was told at that time that officers were in the inactive reserve for life.. Any truth to that?
Also, when I enlisted I had just turned 18 years old and the recruiter told me there was no need to register for the draft. After 4 years active duty I came home and within a month I was drafted. The notice was very pointed that I was being drafted because I had never registered.
It was a red tape nightmare getting out of that. After 4 years of military life I was sick of it. I finally convinced the draft board that I had done my time and they eventualy quit bothering me.
SECNAV INSTRUCTION 1920.6A
From: Secretary of the Navy
To: All Ships and Stations
Subj: Administrative Separation of Officers
1. Resignation
a. General. Officers serve at the pleasure of the President, and no terminal dates are established for their commissions. The Secretary of the Navy, by virtue of his authority to act for the President, may establish such criteria for the voluntary resignation of an officer's commission as deemed necessary for the maintenance of a sound officer corps.