I'm planning on applying to Army OCS if the Navy won't take me into their OCS. In the Army, do you get as much a chance to see the world?

SN Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 19:13:30 -0500

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2016 7:17 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 19:17:55 -0500

Sure.....just not by boat

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2016 7:21 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 19:21:22 -0500

Partially depends on what you Branch in. Having said that, we have units in Southeast Asia and Japan, Africa, South America, to name a few

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2016 7:43 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 19:43:27 -0500

I'd guess "no". Many Sailors have taken quick stops in places Soldiers rarely get the option to visit - Philippines and Thailand (maybe if SOF), Japan (best of luck unless you're ADA).

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Nov 13 at 2016 7:49 PM

COL Jon Thompson — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 19:49:27 -0500

I think these days, you can almost count on some kind of deployment. We have units rotating to Korea and Europe constantly and there are plenty of mil to mil partnership missions taking place in Africa and other continents. So you will most likely see another part of the world.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Nov 13 at 2016 8:56 PM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 20:56:18 -0500

A few thoughts on Army and Navy chances to see the world...
- CONUS Basing. The Navy has to be on a coast while the Army is still on bases that were in the middle of BFE in the 1830s and still are. Advantage: Navy.
- Travel. Other than a coast line, water looks pretty much the same everywhere. For the Army, you actually get a chance to see some terrain. Advantage: Army.
- Deployments. The Navy does ports of calls on a routine basis while on a voyage/deployment. The Army deploys as well but usually to the arm pits and asshole places of the world. Advantage: Navy.
- Overseas Stationing: Navy has places like Japan and Okinawa. Army has places like Germany and Korea. Advantage: Neither.
- Bottom Line: Either service has its benefits. It all depends upon what you want out of life. Key I think, however, is job satisfaction. What service provides the best opportunity for you to be satisfied with your job and life? Seeing the world just happens to be a fringe benefit of either.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Nov 13 at 2016 9:37 PM

SSG Trevor S. — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 21:37:36 -0500

In the Army you might see way less of a percentage of the world, but more percentage of the land mass.

Response by LTC Joseph Gross made Nov 14 at 2016 12:16 AM

LTC Joseph Gross — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 00:16:22 -0500

The biggest recruiting lie in the Navy is that you "join the Navy and see the world". The Navy simply doesn't have overseas bases like the Army has. You have Rota, Spain and a few other minor bases that you have about a 1% chance of seeing. And during my brother's 17 year career (early retirement in the 90s), he saw exactly one foreign country and that was for a one day port stay. The Army has bases all over the world and you have a much greater chance to be stationed overseas with the Army than any other branch.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 14 at 2016 6:46 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 06:46:15 -0500

Well so far I've been shoved up the world's a**hole more than a few times while in the Army. I do have several friends in the Navy, and while I cannot personally attest to it, they've told me they've been to far more countries than I and have had a lot more fun. Obviously everyone has a different experience.

Response by ENS Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 14 at 2016 10:16 AM

ENS Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 10:16:47 -0500

I've honestly never heard of this. I've heard of Blue to Green for Army CWOs.. never inter service OCS though. Good luck!

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Nov 14 at 2016 12:30 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 12:30:17 -0500

In the interest of full disclosure, I was an AF officer for 22 years and an Army Civilian for 6; my daughter is in the Navy Reserve. Here's my take on your question: see the Air Force recruiter before you make your decision.

The Army and Air force have bases in CONUS. The Air Force Bases generally have nicer facilities and newer quarters for officers and enlisted. (Just ask the Army about this. If they are honest they will tell you they tease AF members about their good facilities and "golf courses.") In the Army and Navy (except for aviation in each Service) the front line fighters are enlisted. In the Air Force the front line troops are officers. The AF enlisted folks do all sorts of jobs to launch "aerospace vehicles," most of which officers operate to deliver fire and steel on target.

Army and Air Force deploy overseas. Most, but not all, AF deployments are to more pleasant, less hostile areas. The Air Force needs a fairly safe "rear" area to maintain and launch aircraft. Consequently most Air Force deployment locations are not quite so far up the a$$ hole of whatever place we are protecting US interests.

The Navy has CONUS bases mostly along the coasts. Same for their overseas locations, which are fewer than the Army or Air Force. The Navy Stations often have nice facilities and good quarters; some, however, look like they were left over from WWII. Naval operations are conducted on boats and ships. If you are interested in going into NOS (Navy Occupational Specialty) that orient on operations, then you'll spend several months every year at sea. This means you'll be looking at lots of water for a pretty long time. (If you're a submariner, you'll be looking at the other guys and girls on you boar for a pretty long time.) Port calls are often to nice places and there's no requirement to port call into some sht-hole location to do the mission, but sometimes the mission is to "show the flag" in places that suck. The Navy has its own Air Force, Army (the Marines), civil engineers (SeaBees), and other interesting communities. Depending on your NOS you can end up deployed to great or sucky places. For example, the Navy has a resupply station in Bahrain and runs a hospital in Kuwait. They also deploy medical personnel to Germany. I'll let you figure out which locations suck.

Back to my main point: talk to all the recruiters before you make up your mind.

Response by COL John Hudson made Nov 15 at 2016 8:35 AM

COL John Hudson — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 08:35:44 -0500

Zachary, I spent 30 years in Army, having been raised in the Air Force, and my brother was Navy...so our family was air, sea, and land. Regardless of what you chose personally, never forget those four little words at the bottom of every set of orders, "Needs of the Service." You'll be sent where the "service" decides you are most needed. Yes, you'll be asked to complete the required, "dream sheet" and sometimes, unbelievably, it comes true! That said, all of the services have out-of-conus experiences mostly related to their particular role in military life. Have fun, no matter where you wind up !!!!

Response by MAJ Jim Ellis made Nov 15 at 2016 9:48 AM

MAJ Jim Ellis — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 09:48:54 -0500

I did the same thiing. The only place I went was Korea but not until I was 04. I saw a lot more of the US but that's it. I was a brown Water Navy in Vietnam 68-69 and then at 57 they called me to go to Afghanistan for 15 months as an 04.

Response by Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. made Nov 15 at 2016 11:33 AM

Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 11:33:57 -0500

I respect your service in the Navy and your experience could be different than what I have observed.. From a perspective of working with all the branches of service, the Navy in general appeared to treat its Ensigns like crap in comparison to 2nd Lts in the other services. However, you will be a"mustang" officer with an understanding of your service so things may be different for you. Hopefully you will hear from other Navy officers who had prior experience. If you love the sea and ships, stay Navy.

Response by MAJ Vic Artiga made Nov 15 at 2016 12:35 PM

MAJ Vic Artiga — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 12:35:04 -0500

It will depend on what your branch will be and where the Army stations you after OCS. If you are branched combat arms, don't expect to travel or see the world as much as the Navy does. I served as a field artillery officer with the 25th ID in Hawaii for three years in the 1990s. I went to the Big Island five times and the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) once. In short, I didn't really go anywhere worth seeing. Don't expect to travel to too many places in the world as an Army officer--especially in combat arms! The Army is much smaller now than in the 1990s, so the odds of being stationed overseas are much lower now--unless you want to go to Korea. Unlike during the Cold War, the Army doesn't have much of a presence in Europe anymore. I would look into the Air Force if traveling is one of your goals. I do have one caveat. I branched transferred to military intelligence (MI) and joined a National Guard MI unit. We had missions all over the world! During the ten years I was with this unit I travelled to Monterey, Ca; Hokkaido, Japan; Sebaco, Nicaragua, Quito Ecuador, Kuwait, Iraq, The Ukraine, and multiple trips to Hawaii. We had so many overseas training missions I had to turn down trips because they conflicted with my civilian job.

Response by LTC Donald Sipe made Nov 15 at 2016 12:46 PM

LTC Donald Sipe — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 12:46:25 -0500

I enlisted and later went to OCS. No regrets. In my 28 years of service I got to live in or visit each of the 50 states. I also lived in or visited each of the continents, except Antartica.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Nov 15 at 2016 2:58 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 14:58:19 -0500

I have been many places. Some times with a rifle as my passport. I have been Korea, Germany, UK, Iraq, Afghanistan, France, Lithuania, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Italy, and Kuwait. Question is are you ready to lead soldiers anytime, anywhere.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2016 3:22 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 15:22:35 -0500

As a former Sailor who opted to go Army OCS via Blue to Green, I'll chime in my .02
1) Do not choose the Army (or any service) if your priority is to see the world. That being said, the Navy offers a better chance for a fleet Sailor to see the world vs most other branches (outside of Marines riding on ships). Special Operations Forces tend to see a wide array of the world, given their specific skill sets and regional/cultural training. You'll see some interesting places, regardless of MOS/Branch.

2) Prepare yourself for a different culture. Literally, from PT to the difference within units in the Army. Combat Arms is way different than logistics units - and everything in between.

3) The thing I enjoy about the Army, is the land. I did two tours on two ships with a deployment on each - I have my days that I miss the ocean, but I'm thankful that when I'm deployed now, I'm not limited to the bulkheads of the ship.

Feel free to pm me if you have any specific questions - keep in mind, my Navy to Army transition was in 2006.

Response by LT Louis McKellar made Nov 15 at 2016 3:39 PM

LT Louis McKellar — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 15:39:52 -0500

I was AF enlisted and Navy officer. I saw a lot of the world in both services, but always TDY. Never had an accompanied tour so my family could enjoy it.

Good luck!

Response by 1LT Rich Voss made Nov 16 at 2016 2:23 AM

1LT Rich Voss — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 02:23:38 -0500

Wow. Army second fiddle. Colonel Smallfield makes an interesting case for each, but I went to Army Armor OCS, which of itself no longer exists, and saw pretty much all of Western Europe from my base in Germany. Had my own car and drove everywhere. Can get to most places even on just a weekend by car. But, it's where my ancestors are from, so immersing in that culture was of great personal interest. I'm also an artist and music lover, so the various places, like Amsterdam, were truly awe inspiring. Walking through the actual homes of those artists, like Van Gogh, amazing. I've got to go back, and soon. Last time was in 2002. I lived there in the 60s and traveled back and forth through the mid-70s. Maybe I'll "retire" in Europe, who knows ?

Response by LTC Gregory Davis made Nov 16 at 2016 10:26 AM

LTC Gregory Davis — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 10:26:15 -0500

Some branches within the Army travel to more places than others. For instance, an Infantry officer will travel to locations where Infantry units are. Loggie officers however go to more locations because everybody needs loggies. And that is coming from an old cranky Military Policemen!

Response by Capt Peter Colby made Nov 29 at 2016 10:40 AM

Capt Peter Colby — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 10:40:01 -0500

As a retired Marine Corps Mustang, I believe I understand what you are asking. Should you be offered the privilege to serve our Country as a commissioned officer, "seeing the world" should not even be a consideration.