Posted on Nov 12, 2016
I'm seriously considering switching from the Army to the Marine Corps and I'd love some opinions/feedback. What are your thoughts?
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Marine Corps Basic Training
Marine Corps Basic Training
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 23
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First you are going to have to go to Boot Camp again. Until you graduate you are just another 'Recruit'! Once done there will be some early advantages.
I went to school with a former Army S/Sgt. (a very long time ago) He left Boot Camp a L/Cpl and was a Cpl. in less than a year. This was all contingent that he didn't screw up. From there on up he was on an even field with everyone else.
I went to school with a former Army S/Sgt. (a very long time ago) He left Boot Camp a L/Cpl and was a Cpl. in less than a year. This was all contingent that he didn't screw up. From there on up he was on an even field with everyone else.
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Why don't you try for the Warrant Officer program in the Army? You have devoted this much time and effort into the Army that it seems a waste to change services now.
When I tried to go back into the Corps I asked about the warrant officer process. My recruiter told me I had to be a e-5 or above but my time in service was good. I was also told that I was going to drop from e-4(Corporal) to e-3(lance Corporal). You are going to lose your rank completely and start all over.
Please rethink this. You need to get the pride you had for the Army back.
When I tried to go back into the Corps I asked about the warrant officer process. My recruiter told me I had to be a e-5 or above but my time in service was good. I was also told that I was going to drop from e-4(Corporal) to e-3(lance Corporal). You are going to lose your rank completely and start all over.
Please rethink this. You need to get the pride you had for the Army back.
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Well since i went the opposite way from the corps to the army i could only talk to you about my perspective. We had a prior service army E-5 at parris island and he hated life lol he left the island as a lance corporal. I wouldn't change my years in the corps for nothing and loved it but family wise it wasn't the best thing for my children. If you have the chance take it remember all your years active duty transfer so that is always a plus.
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I have a few reasons why I'm considering this.
1. I want to be on active duty but the active Army wont take me due to the current business rules, the Air Force wont due to their rules, and the Navy will only take me into the Navy Reserve. I talked to a Marine recruiter a while back and initially refused because I would lose my rank and have to repeat boot camp. However, he reviewed my ASVAB scores and said I could pick whatever job I wanted. I told him I'd like to go Warrant Officer and he told me that I met the requirements and could apply as soon as I finished boot camp. Again, I didn't do it. To me, it would feel like the last ten years of busting my ass would have been for nothing.
2. I'm sick and tired of my current unit. I hate to talk bad about a unit, but I just can't avoid it and still be able to give you an honest answer. I switched from the round-out to the 11th ACR to this unit in Colorado when I moved and it's a night and day difference. It is full of toxic leadership, I'm overruled when I try to enforce the standard, and I've been railroaded three times since coming here. Plus they will not let me switch units, even though the unit I'd like to go to has a slot for me. I'm simply stuck in a place I hate.
3. I am a Deputy Sheriff in Colorado and a lot of my fellow deputies are current or prior military. All the marines were celebrating the USMC birthday, which I didn't give a second thought to. Then, one of them came up to me during my shift and asked me what the Army birthday is. I was embarrassed to say that I didn't know. That's when it hit me. The corps puts so much pride in their history, traditions, sense for honor and family. While an argument can be made that the Army has those too, we are never taught that. Sure, you are taught the army values and soldier's creed in BCT, but that's as far as it goes. We were never taught our branches history, never had lessons to instill that undying love and pride in our branch and I feel like that's part of the problem the Army has today. It is a factor in our ever eroding discipline and professionalism that I see everyday online and every time I'm on duty. I know that the corps isn't perfect and they have their share of jack holes too, but every time I tell one of my marines buddies about the things I see or am putting up with, they are dumbfounded. I feel like the corps may have what I've always wanted out of the Army. Granted, any one of us can learn these things about the Army on our own time, but I feel it is essential to have this taught in training.
I guess the bottom line is that I'm not happy where I am at right now and want something more out of the military.
1. I want to be on active duty but the active Army wont take me due to the current business rules, the Air Force wont due to their rules, and the Navy will only take me into the Navy Reserve. I talked to a Marine recruiter a while back and initially refused because I would lose my rank and have to repeat boot camp. However, he reviewed my ASVAB scores and said I could pick whatever job I wanted. I told him I'd like to go Warrant Officer and he told me that I met the requirements and could apply as soon as I finished boot camp. Again, I didn't do it. To me, it would feel like the last ten years of busting my ass would have been for nothing.
2. I'm sick and tired of my current unit. I hate to talk bad about a unit, but I just can't avoid it and still be able to give you an honest answer. I switched from the round-out to the 11th ACR to this unit in Colorado when I moved and it's a night and day difference. It is full of toxic leadership, I'm overruled when I try to enforce the standard, and I've been railroaded three times since coming here. Plus they will not let me switch units, even though the unit I'd like to go to has a slot for me. I'm simply stuck in a place I hate.
3. I am a Deputy Sheriff in Colorado and a lot of my fellow deputies are current or prior military. All the marines were celebrating the USMC birthday, which I didn't give a second thought to. Then, one of them came up to me during my shift and asked me what the Army birthday is. I was embarrassed to say that I didn't know. That's when it hit me. The corps puts so much pride in their history, traditions, sense for honor and family. While an argument can be made that the Army has those too, we are never taught that. Sure, you are taught the army values and soldier's creed in BCT, but that's as far as it goes. We were never taught our branches history, never had lessons to instill that undying love and pride in our branch and I feel like that's part of the problem the Army has today. It is a factor in our ever eroding discipline and professionalism that I see everyday online and every time I'm on duty. I know that the corps isn't perfect and they have their share of jack holes too, but every time I tell one of my marines buddies about the things I see or am putting up with, they are dumbfounded. I feel like the corps may have what I've always wanted out of the Army. Granted, any one of us can learn these things about the Army on our own time, but I feel it is essential to have this taught in training.
I guess the bottom line is that I'm not happy where I am at right now and want something more out of the military.
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MSG (Join to see)
when I switched navy to army as a corpsman with the marines I did not have to go to basic again, why marine corps training is stricter, I don't agree that your 10 years should put you back to ground zero, but being a marine is a totally different mind set not like anything you've seen in the army, history, pride, these are what makes the marines the ends justify the means
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GySgt Todd Diers
We had a prior Army Sgt (4 years) in my boot camp platoon. He washed out in the 3rd phase (last phase). He was sitting on his rack meeping to himself. The sent him off for a psych eval and we never saw him again.
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SSgt Gordon Olayvar
IRT a WO package in the Marine Corps.....Generally about 90% of Marine Corps Warrant Officers were former SNCO's very few NCO's are accecpted into the program, at least thats how it was when I served.
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Capt (Join to see)
An additional comment from my previously posted...sounds like you also have an issue of pride. Moving to the Marines isn't going to make you care any more than you already do. If you are ashamed and want to learn the Army birthday and make it a big holiday, you can do that. If you hate your unit, the Marine Corps isn't going to fix that for you either.
You are in for a rude awakening on all fronts if you try to make this change. Everything is what you make of it, and the Marine Corps is not the place to go if you want the organization to make it for you. If you were one of my recruits and I had to counsel you because your head is in the wrong place (I assess that it already is), I am going to say you have some serious soul searching about why you want to do this and whether those justifications are worth the risk and pain you are subjecting yourself to. If you go into it with some weak thought processes like you are throwing out right now, not only will the Marine Corps not tolerate it but you are most likely going to fail.
You are in for a rude awakening on all fronts if you try to make this change. Everything is what you make of it, and the Marine Corps is not the place to go if you want the organization to make it for you. If you were one of my recruits and I had to counsel you because your head is in the wrong place (I assess that it already is), I am going to say you have some serious soul searching about why you want to do this and whether those justifications are worth the risk and pain you are subjecting yourself to. If you go into it with some weak thought processes like you are throwing out right now, not only will the Marine Corps not tolerate it but you are most likely going to fail.
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SSG (Join to see) The Marine Corps is always looking for good men and women. What is your reason for wanting to switch branches?
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If it is for pride do it, or than that you need to look at your future, career. Most of all your priorities.
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Brother I have one thing to say and you take it for what it's worth... ARMY, because even Marines need a hero....
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Enjoy boot camp PFC. Went through Parris Island with an 8 year navy man that was an e6. PFC USMC.
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I'm not aware of any special dispensation for prior service into the Marine Corps, that's not to say there isn't. Pro&Con's, criticalMOS, etc, etc. otherwise it's boot camp. In '71 we had a VN combat E-5 Army who had to go through with us. We could tell the DI's cut him some slack on the harassment part but that was about all.
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