How long after an honorable discharge can one re-join the Navy without having to go to boot camp again?

My husband got his honorable discharge as a PH, E-5 with recommendation for re-enlistment (RE-1, I believe) in 2006 after 6 years of active duty (it would have been 8 years, but he put in for his early-out two years early because it was offered to him due to his job being overmanned). He has been out for over 4 years now, and due to an impending job loss, wishes to re-join the Navy. He tried to do this in 2009, but while the recruiter said his job and rank was available (though it has apparently been changed from PH to MC), he didn't seem too eager to help him out. Fortunately his job was secure at that time, but now it is not. We have heard everything from "you never have to go through boot camp once you've been through the first time" to "no matter how long you've been out, you have to go through boot camp if you re-join". We seem to remember hearing something about 5 or 6 years being the cut-off for having to go back to boot camp, so if anyone can help us out with that (and possible information about how good his chances would be of getting back in in a timely fashion), that would be fantastic! We do intend on seeing the recruiter next week, just wondering how to best be prepared for the meeting in the mean time.