Posted on Jan 9, 2024
Is it possible to switch from Army National Guard to Active Duty Marine?
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I want to join the Marines. I am a split op and went to basic during my junior year summer. During my time there I realized how much I really liked the military. But during my time in Fort Leonard Wood I realized that I joined the wrong branch. I saw that in the Army there was a lot of sloppiness. Basic was not what I expected, I didn’t feel accomplished, the Drill Sargents were lazy and we didn’t even do all the training we were supposed to do. All the things I looked forward to we didn’t do. The ceremony where we got the US Army patches didn’t feel special because I felt like I was cheated of a true military experience. Now It could just be my MOS, but everywhere I looked in Fort Leonard wood, there was sloppy soldiers, but there was also Marines. Every marine I ran into was in shape, squared away, and looked like what a true member of the military should look like, and according to my Drill Sergeant, they were support MOS. I was sold on the idea of being a Marine when I talked to one when I was at sick call. When I graduated I knew I had found my place. The more I researched the Marines, the more I wanted to become one. They have traditions, brotherhood, and most of all they all are unapologetically Marines. Now before you come at my neck, I joined the National Guard because I wanted to go to college, but I am too poor to afford it. In high school I am a fuck up, but when I was at basic, I felt like I belonged, and all my needs were met. I wasn’t sure about college, but I am sure about the military. When I enlisted I did not know anything about the US Military, I just saw an opportunity to make something better of myself and took it. I am in my senior year of high school, and I want nothing else than to serve as a marine. I talked to a few people about this and they say it’s possible, but haven’t given me clear instructions on what to do and how to go about doing this. If I am going to serve active duty, I want to do it in the branch that I feel best suits me and the branch that I believe is the best in the entire US Military. I still haven’t gone to AIT and I hope that it makes it easier. I also don’t mind losing my sign on bonus. I’d rather have a career. I also don’t mind doing Marine Boot Camp. Thank you!
Marines
Career Counselor
Posted 4 mo ago
Responses: 13
Short answer: Yes, it is possible .. but is likely? No.
When you first enter any component/service of the military, you incur an eight-year mandatory service obligation (MSO). The MSO is how long you've agreed to serve in any component/service of the military. Your enlistment contract with the ARNG is likely between three and six years though.
You would have to serve a minimum of nine months after completion of your Initial Entry Training (IET .. BCT + AIT). At that point you could request a conditional release (DD Form 368) through your leadership up to your state's AG (most likely delegated down to the G1 for the state).
If the conditional release is approved, you would have one year to work with a recruiter to arrange for your enlistment in the Marines. Discharge from the ARNG would be coordinated to occur the day before your enlistment in the USMC.
All bonuses, incentives, etc. that are service specific (Army bonuses, any from your state, etc.) would be recouped. DoD bonuses if still applicable would transfer.
But, as I said - possible, but not likely. Your state's ARNG may release you after your complete of nine months of service after your IET (actually, your TAG could waive that as well), but it's very unlikely unless there was some extenuating circumstance.
The Army will have made a hefty resource (time an money) investment in making you a qualified Soldier by the time you complete your IET and "I don't like the Army and want to join the Marines" isn't enough of an incentive for them to release you from your contract.
I do understand and can empathize with your view. Truth be told, I was very put off by the Army when I was becoming an officer (I was commissioned through ROTC) and didn't see any of the esprit de corps that my father talked about from his Army career. Long story short is that your IET experience is not representative of the rest of your career.
Like everything, there are good units, bad units, and everything in-between. Since you'll have to stick it out until nine months after you finish AIT, you'll have at least a better sense of the "Big Army", Army National Guard, and your unit by then. If you still are feeling that way, then by all means, submit for the conditional release - the worst case is that it is denied.
However, until then I would recommend that you approach your enlistment with an attitude of getting the absolute most you possible could out of it. Aggressively pursue training opportunities, expand your military education, and seek out those NCOs that you would like to emulate and talk to them (there are plenty of 'in shape, squared away Soldiers who look like what a member of the military should look like').
You might be very surprised to find out you have a different attitude when you do this, but if not, then there is a process you can try - just remember, it's a request to be released from your contract early, something that does not have to be approved.
--------------------------------------------
* NGR 600-200 (Enlisted Personnel Management) - https://www.ngbpmc.ng.mil/Portals/27/Publications/NGR/NGR%20600-200_20210325_v2.pdf
* AR 601-210 (Regular Army and Reserve Components Enlistment Program) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN30575-AR_601-210-000-WEB-1.pdf
* DD Form 368 (Request for Conditional Release) - https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/forms/dd/dd0368.pdf
When you first enter any component/service of the military, you incur an eight-year mandatory service obligation (MSO). The MSO is how long you've agreed to serve in any component/service of the military. Your enlistment contract with the ARNG is likely between three and six years though.
You would have to serve a minimum of nine months after completion of your Initial Entry Training (IET .. BCT + AIT). At that point you could request a conditional release (DD Form 368) through your leadership up to your state's AG (most likely delegated down to the G1 for the state).
If the conditional release is approved, you would have one year to work with a recruiter to arrange for your enlistment in the Marines. Discharge from the ARNG would be coordinated to occur the day before your enlistment in the USMC.
All bonuses, incentives, etc. that are service specific (Army bonuses, any from your state, etc.) would be recouped. DoD bonuses if still applicable would transfer.
But, as I said - possible, but not likely. Your state's ARNG may release you after your complete of nine months of service after your IET (actually, your TAG could waive that as well), but it's very unlikely unless there was some extenuating circumstance.
The Army will have made a hefty resource (time an money) investment in making you a qualified Soldier by the time you complete your IET and "I don't like the Army and want to join the Marines" isn't enough of an incentive for them to release you from your contract.
I do understand and can empathize with your view. Truth be told, I was very put off by the Army when I was becoming an officer (I was commissioned through ROTC) and didn't see any of the esprit de corps that my father talked about from his Army career. Long story short is that your IET experience is not representative of the rest of your career.
Like everything, there are good units, bad units, and everything in-between. Since you'll have to stick it out until nine months after you finish AIT, you'll have at least a better sense of the "Big Army", Army National Guard, and your unit by then. If you still are feeling that way, then by all means, submit for the conditional release - the worst case is that it is denied.
However, until then I would recommend that you approach your enlistment with an attitude of getting the absolute most you possible could out of it. Aggressively pursue training opportunities, expand your military education, and seek out those NCOs that you would like to emulate and talk to them (there are plenty of 'in shape, squared away Soldiers who look like what a member of the military should look like').
You might be very surprised to find out you have a different attitude when you do this, but if not, then there is a process you can try - just remember, it's a request to be released from your contract early, something that does not have to be approved.
--------------------------------------------
* NGR 600-200 (Enlisted Personnel Management) - https://www.ngbpmc.ng.mil/Portals/27/Publications/NGR/NGR%20600-200_20210325_v2.pdf
* AR 601-210 (Regular Army and Reserve Components Enlistment Program) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN30575-AR_601-210-000-WEB-1.pdf
* DD Form 368 (Request for Conditional Release) - https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/forms/dd/dd0368.pdf
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I Served In The Marines Then Went Army, You Can Make Your Army Experience Better By Being Squared Away! Do Your Job And Volunteer For Everything You Can , Show You Want To Better Yourself, You Make Your Career Successful,Not The Branch You Serve In,
The Marines Don’t Usually Take Prior Service And You Will Be Prior Service Having Served In The Guard .
The Marines Don’t Usually Take Prior Service And You Will Be Prior Service Having Served In The Guard .
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SPC James Neidig
LTC Jeff Wilkinson
Thanks For The Information, Sir
When I Served In The Corps Back In The Early 80s They Were Very Selective Letting Prior Service In .
I Had A Friend Who Was In The Coast Guard Reserve And We Went To The Marine Recruiter Together I Got In , He Didn’t, He Was An E-4 With 3 Years In .
So He Ended Up Joining The Army And Retired At 24 Years As A Master Sergeant.
Thanks For The Information, Sir
When I Served In The Corps Back In The Early 80s They Were Very Selective Letting Prior Service In .
I Had A Friend Who Was In The Coast Guard Reserve And We Went To The Marine Recruiter Together I Got In , He Didn’t, He Was An E-4 With 3 Years In .
So He Ended Up Joining The Army And Retired At 24 Years As A Master Sergeant.
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Yes, you can but it requires work on your part and the willingness of your command to let you go. It's harder if you enlisted with a bonus paid to you.
Talk with your chain of command about your desire. If you're a good Soldier, they'll hate to lose you but more than likely the command will let you go. But don't be surprised if your Battalion Commander and CSM want to discuss it with you as well. You'll need to talk with a Marine recruiter and have that all lined up to. The process may take several months.
LTC (Join to see)
Talk with your chain of command about your desire. If you're a good Soldier, they'll hate to lose you but more than likely the command will let you go. But don't be surprised if your Battalion Commander and CSM want to discuss it with you as well. You'll need to talk with a Marine recruiter and have that all lined up to. The process may take several months.
LTC (Join to see)
(5)
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