Have any of you made the switch from Navy to Marines? What was your experience, and is there anyway to keep your rank?

Tabitha Pelfrey — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 14:35:28 -0400

My husband was a MA2 in the Navy and he was medically discharged in 2010. He’s currently trying to go back in and he’s considering joining the Marines as an MP. He’s aware he’ll have to attend Marine Recruit training. We also saw they bump you down to E-2. Have any of you made the switch from Navy to Marines? What was your experience? Is there anyway to keep rank or at least not go from E-5 to E-2? What’s MP life like in the Marines? Also does anyone know how a dependent waiver works in the Marines if he does have to go down to E-2? Sorry for all the questions. Thank you for taking the time to read all of this! Just to add all of his medical stuff has been cleared already and he has a completed form 2807 and 2808.

Response by Cpl Gerald Tucker made Sep 9 at 2019 3:14 PM

Cpl Gerald Tucker — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 15:14:32 -0400

The Few the Proud

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Sep 9 at 2019 3:36 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 15:36:51 -0400

Honestly, from a practical standpoint, I wouldn't make that particular switch. If you're going to switch branches, go Army. Just by virtue of size and budget, the Army can simply do more for him, you and your family. Honestly, that's the smartest switch anyone can make.
Source : I did it too! (USMC 99-04, Army 05-current)
The Army has:
Better bases
Better diversity of assignments
Better schools
More schools
Better training
More training opportunities
Better Promotion potential
More diverse mission types
More broadening opportunities
More overseas assignments
More deployment opportunity
Better access to tuition assistance
More family support
Less stingy awards
Better civilian credentialing
Better Equipment
The list goes on and on and on and on.... The Marines are basically K Mart to the Army's Target.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2019 3:53 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 15:53:38 -0400

Hopefully whatever he was medically discharged for has been resolved. If he was a MA2 and discharged in 2010, how old is he now? You have to been in boot camp before your 29th birthday. There is no getting around being a E-2, there are a select few who get E-3 out of bootcamp, but those are 1 in 500 or so and normally reserved to the top boot camp graduate. His promotion up the ranks to E-4 and E-5 will be accelerated because it is based off a point system and he has significant points for time in service which will put him ahead of his peers at the same time. There has to be a job opening in the MP field for him to get it. He also has to have the line scores from his ASVAB to qualify. Not all branches determine jobs the same way and have the same line score determination. For example, a individual I put in was qualified for firefighting in the Air Force and wanted to do it in the Marine Corps. He was not qualified to do the exact same job in the Marines. Same exact school which is run by the Air Force, different determinations. My intent is not to sound negative if it comes off that way, just some things I have seen before as both a MP and a Recruiter. The military police field is similar to being a MA. There is no ship security per se. Two different sub sections within the MP field. Garrison (base operations, gate guard, road patrol, etc) Field side ( Combat Arms side. Convoy security, Enemy Prisoner of war, route reconnaissance, tactical site exploitation, area security) There is a larger group on the field side than the Garrison side. The MP force is blended with civilian police officers on the garrison side. You do not get a choice which you do, you just get told. Some stay field side, some stay garrison, some do both side in a tour. As far as the dependent waiver, I cannot remember the rules, however I believe there is certain exceptions to the waiver for prior service as opposed to a young individual with no prior service. Best of luck to you.

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made Sep 11 at 2019 10:26 PM

CPL Gary Pifer — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 22:26:29 -0400

The only former Navy recruit I ran across in Marine Corps boot camp did not make it....he was older 27 and was harassed constantly. I would go Army guard or Air Force Reserve ...then go active.

Response by PO1 Robert Ryan made Dec 21 at 2020 6:23 PM

PO1 Robert Ryan — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 18:23:24 -0500

i was an E-6 in the Army, when I joined the Navy I was brought in as an E-3. No need for infantrymen in the Navy. I was converted to MA2 for having a secondary MOS of 95B (MP) in the Army. retired as MA1.