Originally Posted by
trvsmrtn
For enlisted ranks, it depends on the service. In the Navy you’re not transferred to the retired rolls until 30 years. So if you retire at 20, you can be recalled over the next 10 years. That’s the Navy, not sure about the other services.
For officers, I’m pretty sure we are subject to recall for the rest of our lives, but there are some caveats.
A friend of mine (age 70 or so) got into big trouble with his wife because during a house reorganization he had thrown away her prom dress. She told him that his Army uniforms were still in the closet. He replied, "In a worst-case, WW3 scenario I might get called up. But honey, you ain't NEVER going to another prom."