Under what circumstances can a retired enlisted member of the Navy be ordered back to active duty without consent?

A retired enlisted member of the Navy can be ordered back to active duty without consent during a national emergency. This is due to the need for additional forces to respond to an urgent situation that threatens national security or public safety. In such circumstances, the government has the authority to recall retired personnel to ensure that military readiness is maintained and that adequate manpower is available to address the crisis at hand.

This situation is specifically outlined in laws and regulations concerning the recall of military personnel, which allow for such actions in a national emergency. The gravity and immediacy of a national emergency necessitate flexibility in military staffing and operational capacity, which is why retired members can be called back without their consent under these conditions.