Going from Navy to Army?

When I was a LT I had a CPL Campbell who was also active enlisted in the Navy for several years before he went reserves and then decided to switch to Army for reasons similar to your own. He was one of my best junior enlisted in the company with a great work ethic and attitude. I think he was some sort of mechanic in the Navy, but he was an 88M truck driver in our distro platoon. His experience was a positive one and he was very happy with his switch. I would definitely encourage you to look into it further. I don't think you necessarily need to do something similiar to your old MOS if you don't want to. Obviously the entire military is downsizing to a certain extent, but I'd bet your prior service would probably help you secure an enlistment. Have you talked to a recruiter yet?

PO2 Campbell:

I knew this RM1 from the Navy and he transferred over to the Army and became a WO1. He was a hard charger, and he conveyed to me that he had a hard transition.

He did not go to Army Basic, and fortunately for him he had some Senior Warrants that took him under his wing. He became a 251 series.

Being a prior recruiter, I would say it does depend on your MOS. I remember putting in a few prior service Navy Guys, the only issue is that I had to wait for that window to open. It was not automatic.

PO2 Michael Campbell As you look around this room, you will see a lot of guys/gals that have switched services for a multitude of reasons. Some good, some bad, but each personal.

My advice to you would be this-when looking to make the move, pick the service that will give you the most of what you seek: MOS/AFSC opportunities (jobs), training, job satisfaction, travel etc, whatever it is you are seeking. You have time to make the decision that is best for you, which will not be the same as what is right for anyone else.

Each service offers variables, and this forum will provide you a unique opportunity to seek other like minded people who have done the same.

Good luck. I talk with guys about this fairly regularly. My advice is always the same. Let's talk, then you make up your own mind and I will support you. I would rather have someone swap service and continue to serve honorably, then just walk away....staying in gets harder and harder with each passing year.

BEFORE YOU TRY THE ARMY TRY THE AIR FORCE YOU MIGHT LIKE IT BETTER TRUST ME
ESPECIALLY IF YOUR M.O.S WAS TECHNICAL...AIR FORCE AFSC MOST ARE TECHNICAL..

Thanks for all the answers guys! The recruiters got back with me today, and basically told me that the Warrant Officer program is basically my best bet, without taking a rank down and trying out for SF, so it looks like I'll be building a package for that and crossing my fingers....Now, to find a high ranking CWO that I know to endorse me.....

I went from the Army National Guard to the Navy and back to the Army National Guard. The Army is a very different beast from the Navy and you may have the same issue with downsizing. The technology side of the Army isn't what you would be used to as an FC depending on your systems.

I switched from the Marine Corps and did some reserve time before going active. I wasn't required to attend basic training and I was promoted to SGT at my first unit. I don't regret the change;just wish I had done it sooner. Keep in mind though the Army itself is in a period of downsizing but you wont know if you dont ask.

Good that your looking into all your options.

Just a caution as the Army is reducing in numbers. Should talk with your local Army recruiting office for more details.

Not happy with your civilian job?

PO2-I spent approximately two years "living with the Army", and for me personally... it was a very rewarding and broadening experience. As an officer, there are things I am unqualified to comment upon; and your rate and civil experience means some of what I have to relate will be very "general". However, here are my general observations, if they help. The Army differs from our Navy in many cultural ways. "We" are used to being both our rate... and whatever the Duty Roster decides we are for the day. The Army seems (by virtue of size) to be more about specialization. On a ship, an MS3 might also be part of the "Crash and Smash" detail, on VBSS, or assigned Force Protection duties in port. It's more likely (though not a certainty) that your duties in the Army will be more consistently tied to your MOS. The Navy seemed (at least in my experience) to identify the "Suck" as going for long periods of time without sufficient sleep (regardless of role), spending months at sea, and upholding rather arcane, and at times... ridiculous standards of protocol. In the Army, there appeared to be very different levels of "Suck", again... entirely dependent on one's MOS. If we say, "Choose your Rate... Choose your Fate"; the Army has this down to a science. A maintainer is going to be asked to fix equipment that's been woefully abused, by personnel who by virtue of their MOS, are going to expect it to be fixed because, "that's your lane". An Infantryman is going to be asked to endure the brunt of all physical discomfort and risk... while many others will get infinitely better treatment...and that too, is "their lane" (though there's no shortage of friction resulting from it). However, I also noticed that Army NCOs and officers are less rigid about the "window dressing" when in the field, or when the task assigned demands some "common sense" (though perhaps not as much as the "Gator Navy"). The Army has EXCEPTIONAL senior enlisted leaders...bear in mind every basket has a few bad apples. Also, just as a BMC and an ETC differ in how they approach things... you'll see differences between a SSG in an infantry company, and one in the S-1 shop. You may also find it "entertaining" to see junior officers a bit less "segregated" in the Army. They generally do not eat until their Soldiers have, normally share their same level of accommodations (when deployed), and (in my opinion) are expected to be more "hands on", earlier on in their careers. Believe me when I say that I've received my fair share of "chewing outs" from senior officers and senior NCOs alike as a JO... but the Army seems less concerned about "hiding" this-especially in combat arms. The other side of that coin however, is that if you're approached by an O-2 or O-3 in the Army... there's a damn good chance they will expect far greater level of deference then their Navy counterparts (especially if they are serving in a combat arms MOS). In the Navy, it's not unusual to have a senior chief as the watch section leader... with a couple of JOs in a perfunctory role "beneath" them. You won't likely see that in the Army (I had more than one first lieutenant express surprise that we often had a Chief acting as convoy commander, with an O-3 in the turret). As far as duty stations stateside go... the Navy "spoils" us a little (I know, sounds ridiculous, but stick with me) in that we're almost always near the water. As run-down as Norfolk and Little Creek are... they're a far cry more "entertaining" than Ft. Riley, Kansas. I found the DFAC to be first rate, even forward deployed... but nothing compares to Navy chow. If you're in a maneuver role, or spend any time in the field... you'll experience MREs (again, I didn't find these to be anywhere near as bad as they're sold to be). The real question may be how well you like, or hate, getting away from the Navy's somewhat "unchangeable" routine. I have no knowledge of how well or how poorly the Army manages things like education benefits, promotion, and the many other very important things to a Soldier's career. It seemed to me that just like the Navy... there are things they do better or worse than others. Ultimately, I think the most important distinction is that the "scales" are somewhat "upside down" between the Army and Navy. In the Fleet, our technical experts, weapons systems specialists, analysts, aircrews, and bridge personnel catch the limelight (Naval Special Warfare aside... because really; can we draw any comparison there?). In the Army... Infantry is the Queen of Battle; everyone else is a "POG", and how seriously (or not) you take this fact of life may ultimately influence your experience. Best wishes, and good luck!