Given how important tabs are in the Army, should a prior service Marine now in the Army have a special tab indicating their background?

Absolutely!!!! It should read "GFP"....Glutton For Punishment!

No. I don't think that they should. Should it be on their ERB/ORB? Sure. But as for a piece on their uniform, no. Because service in any other Branch does not make you any more or less qualified in the Army. Your job will probably be different, and your responsibilities likewise. So, in short, prior service is great, but does not warrant a distinguishing tab/badge/ribbon/patch.

So, should a Marine Food Service Specialist get a tab too? I know Marines have very high esprit de corps, but 'just' being a marine doesn't really mean as much as you'd like it to. Sorry to burst your bubble.

A uniform item does not mean being a better Soldier than anyone else. Most of us outgrew the expert bayonet, grenade, and machine gun badges when we were E-1s. Can't even believe people are entertaining this post.

I feel because your a vet marine you should have a tab and whatever means to show in leadership experience and the physical fitness you obtain in 10 years of service you are more qualified in all aspects of rank and service

Not sure how I feel about this.... have a Marine tab/device/patch perhaps, and then what? I understand the pride, but being in another branch means you moved on, and accepted their awards, values and traditions, etc.. Not saying you revoked or abandoned honor, courage and commitment because of the move, but what would that make/prove? Hopefully I'm not missing the point, but even if I were to crossdeck, I'm leaving one organization and entering another - it would be like me keeping MARPAT, so they would know who I am. I'd rather work and prove than have a tab/badge (although it would look cool to have a Ranger and Airborne tab)... which again, we don't really have in the USMC, besides Jump wings (gold and lead sleds, Jump Master included), scuba bubble (there were 2 variants), EOD (few variants I think, correct me if I'm wrong), Naval Aviator, Naval Navigator and Aircrew...

I agree, as a army infantryman who later joined the Marine Corps. I myself witnessed firsthand Marines in the Army infantry were treated with the respect they earned and deserved. Me going into the Corps after 11 years in the army I was treated respectfully, but I did earn the CIB while in the army and was allowed to wear the Combat Action Ribbon in it place. So that let other Marines know that I had been and done things that at the time there weren't many with my rank that had. I'm all for Marines having something that shows they've been around the block a few times. Semper Fi brother!

A prior service Marine is already authorized to wear his/her Combat Action Ribbon on his dress uniform. So that badge of distinction is already there. If they don't rate one of those, then that Marine time isn't really worth advertising anyway.

Like a warning Label.

I am former Army before I went to the Air Force. My old Air Guard unit had many former Army and Marines in it. I don't know about a tab, per se. But I would like to see some type of uniform marking to indicate that someone has come from another service. Most two service guys are in the Guard and Reserve, and I think that many of them would appreciate the recognition.