How can I determine if I am eligible for an inter-service transfer?

PVT(P) Aaron M. M. Bryant — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 09:47:28 -0500

I reenlisted in Jan 2018 -- I now have just under 4 years left, will the Army let me transfer, or would the Marines accept me? If so, what's needed to get the process started?
Any useful info is welcome. Thanks.
#MericaFTW

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Feb 13 at 2019 10:33 AM

SPC Erich Guenther — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 10:33:58 -0500

Just so I understand you correctly. Your Active Duty Army Infantryman in 11 Series MOS with four years left in your Active Duty contract and your asking if the Army would release you to transfer over to the Marine Corps to complete your remaining 4 years of Active Duty time. If that is your question the answer is NO you are not allowed to do that because you signed up for that remaining 4 years and it is not benefiting the Army in anyway to release you. Now say you want to go OCS, then the Army would change the contract from Enlisted to Officer because in the Army's eyes they are getting an Officer instead of enlisted so it is benefit to them. Say you want to go Marine OCS, well that is not going to work either because the only out you have to OCS is via an Army Board of Officers and they cannot sign off on your eligibility for the Marine Corps. You have one more option left in that you can drop 3 months or possibly a little more off your existing Active Army contract if you enroll in ROTC program in a college of your choice. Thats the only other way I know of to shorten your contract other than hardship or General or below discharge. The folks you read about on the Internet that are transferring Marine to Army or vice versa are at the very end of their Active Duty tour and they have a release signed from their Active Duty chain of command. So what you seek above is possible if you had no more Active Duty time and were about to ETS, then yes they can transfer you over to the Marines without a lapse in Active Duty time. In that case you just transport after turn-in of everything Army at your last Army post.........just transport to a Marine post and take on Marine issue and start trainng with them. As for myself, I have only ever seen the transfer work in the reverse direction from Marines to Army because the Marines have strict rules on Prior Service applicants. So just my two cents.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2019 10:44 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 10:44:04 -0500

There are no interservice transfers. If you do a quick search you'll see a lot of people have answered this question before.
Also, don't believe anyone about getting a conditional release. That doesn't apply for active duty.

Response by SFC James Heath made Feb 13 at 2019 11:30 AM

SFC James Heath — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 11:30:39 -0500

If you are able to transfer to the USMC you loose all rank and start boot camp all over again.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Feb 13 at 2019 11:54 AM

SSG Brian G. — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 11:54:43 -0500

There is no interservice transfer. You can be attacked to a unit of another branch temporarily but to be a part of that service you have to ETS from your current branch, then apply with the branch of choice and go back through MEPS all over again. You are then subject to their standards and likely have to take their basic training.

You cannot start this until you have ETS'd. You can look into it by seeking out a recruiter and asking what will be needed and they will tell you. A lot will depend on your RE code and you medical condition as well as age upon ETS. Not to mention your ASVAB scores as you will have to retake that as well.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Feb 13 at 2019 11:57 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 11:57:57 -0500

PVT(P) Aaron M. M. Bryant Your best bet is to go see an inservice recruiter. The business rules for anything related to recruitment, retention, ect are volatile. What someone knows from last month when "they did it" are likely not the same this month.