Atmahan, you might be good for 24 years commissioned service. Check out the FY13/14 Continuation plan:
I'm not there yet year-wise, but if I read it correctly, most URL O-4's will get approved for continuation this year; despite the drawdown, it seems like they're short of "field grade" O's in the Navy (judging by my talk w/some OSOs, and the fact there's still a SWO bonus). I'm not banking on it, but I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Anybody on here been through one of these panels?
Interesting that it mentions 1315s and not 1325s?
There was someone in my unit who just got out SELRES recently. We both came in with long breaks in service; not sure how long his was and after our initial meeting, we kinda kept missing each other, as I became busy pursuing quals to make myself look better for the last O4 board (which I made). He was an aviator, but not sure if he was 1315 or 1325. We caught up briefly, though, and exchanged conversation as each of us had received continuation letters from PERS 911.
As he was O4, and I was O3 at the time, I figured we had different form letters. I told him I had sent my letter in and was awaiting the outcome, whereas he informed me he wasn't going to bother because the continuation they offered would not get him to his 20 yrs. I didn't want to pry too much about it, but he was probably like me, in getting passed over for the next rank. So my guess is too many bad years will still put you too far behind the 8 ball. In my case, I was an O3 passed over twice, and continuation in that situation (as stated on the page) is for you to request continuation from the letter they send you, which gave me 1 additional year to get myself together for one last board. Suffice it to say it was a stressful process, but I got through the system.
For me, when I got out, I had no intention of returning, and didn't realize I was even still on the clock in the IRR (heck, I didn't know I was in the IRR-thought I was all the way out!). When I came back, I didn't know where I was promotion-wise and really didn't think much about (didn't even know I was up for board on the first look!) as I was still figuring the reserve world out.
I wish I could had spoke with him before he decided to leave, because I would had advised him to put in for the continuation and ride it out and if he was still shy a few years to just enlist to get the remainder. At retirement, you still get paid based on the highest rank achieved (although, you have to ride the last few yrs on the enlisted side-but I would think it worth the retirement).
My thoughts: You kinda have to rely on PERS to get the request letter to you (one of the few times where slipping through the cracks may not be in the members favor)...a correct address is a must for that! The continuation is actually a request, where they outline what attrition rule you fall under and what your are eligible to do. If you decide you want the continuation, you send the request along with your personal letter begging for approval by the deadline stated (which is actually pretty generous). It is not necessarily automatic, but if you fall into one of the critical designators, it favors you. Manning needs are always changing, so what is critical can vary really quickly. But the way this policy is designed, it basically an opening to allow O4 passovers to still have a chance to stay in, but too many bad years could make it challenging to get 20.
Also, I am pretty sure he fell into this latest FY13/14 policy, as that is what I fell under...