Switching from one branch to another

[Drake]

I would like to know if someone who has sevred in the army for lets say 10 years and has achieved a certain rank upon their contract expiring can they join another branch of the military? If so when they join this new branch do they have to start from point A or do they keep the rank they had in the previous branch?

[Grimmy]

That's a rather complex issue with more than a few variations in the answer.

There was/is? a "Blue to Green" thing where Navy personnel could move over to Army that I seem to remember hearing something about.

There's a new deal where persons recently seperated from any branch can join the Army and keep their rank...not sure on rank limitations, if any.

Persons can sometimes re enlist in another branch once their contract runs out with the branch they're currently in. Rank carry over and all that is, to the best of my understanding, an individually negotiated deal when doing that.

To get any clear or actually accurate info, you'd have to talk to recruiters or someone that's recently done a branch shift.

Take what I've said here as a load of guess.

[SGRock]

Really depends on the branch you go from and to and what you did. We had a recruit in my platoon in bootcamp that went from subs in the navy to intel in the Corps. only got PFC out of boot camp. But going from any service to the Corps you can be assured of going to P.I. or San Diego.

[Drake]

Thank you guys for answering my question.

[Drake]

With that new deal thing is it true for any branch shift? I mean can someone go from say the Army to Marines?

[Brad]

Like sgrock said, anybody going from any branch to the Marines is going to go to basic training all over again and more than likely step back in rank for the privilege of becoming a Marine.

It can be done - but it seems to me that someone in your position would be better off choosing a branch and going all out for it. If, later on, you want to make a switch, that's fine. But I wouldn't recommend going in saying to yourself, "I'll do Army for a few years, then join the Marines."

[Drake]

Brad thanks for the information.

[Rusty24]

The Blue to Green allows individuals in the Navy and AF go over to the Army. Most of the AF guys have lost rank. Last numbers I saw were somewhere in the neighborhood of 45 out of 70.

To come into the AF and keep your rank will depend on how many years you have in. There are alot of "if's" when it comes to this.

[Drake]

So someone that is in the Army and wanted to join the AF must go through basic training again?

[NUcraig1]

Originally Posted by Drake

So someone that is in the Army and wanted to join the AF must go through basic training again?

No, they would go to WTC at Ft. Knox. Its a 4 week program that is designed to reenforce the skills that you will need in the Army and introduce you to the Army's culture and traditions. Here's a link to a good article about "Blue to Green" and WTC http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Sep2...004091504.html

I hope this helps

[Drake]

Thank you for the article. Yes it has helped.

[Rusty24]

So someone that is in the Army and wanted to join the AF must go through basic training again?

.... No!

If they were in a seperate branch and wanted to join the Army they go through a small course that shows and teaches them certian aspect about the Army.


Read Below:

Army Adjusts Re-enlistment Policy

The U.S. Army has sent mailings to 78,000 people who left the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps offering reenlistment at their former rank if they have not been out of the service for more than four years. Under the new program, former servicemembers from all branches of the military can join the Army at their old rank and without going to basic training again. In addition they are eligible for a signing bonus of up to $19,000, depending on their skill specialty. Former sailors and airmen would still have to undergo the “Blue to Green” training course unless they have attended Army or Marine boot camp in the past.

This was sent to me this morning.