If being a Marine is so awesome, why is it that there are so many Marines that join the Army and Air Force?

Many times it's because the Marine Corps have an overall strength requirement that fluctuates by thousands of personnel... if your MOS is getting downsized you may not have the option of reenlisting. This means your only choices to continue a Military career are the other branches.

Because they want to be living walking God's! Damn near impossible in the Corps. Yet a highly attainable goal for a hard-charging Devil Dog in the army full of Manning's and Bergdahls! :D

I started out in the ANG then I grew up and decided it was time to be a man and joined the Marine Corps.

Several reasons. Promotions are faster. Possibly more fields that apply towards civilian work when one gets out. But I'm a purerist, did I spell that right? I love the Corps. Its history, its uniform, the level of respect I get from the people who know me. What I believe in. And though I'm no expert on the discipline in the other branches, I just feel taller, prouder and feel unstoppable.

I've been out of active service for almost 30 yrs now, but I am sure things have not changed that much. When I was active service, I saw several Marines jump over to another branch of service because promotions were frozen at several MOS and the only way they could advance was by moving to another service. It was hard to get promoted in the 80's, especially when they came up with the "Contract Corporal" concept, where if you signed up for a 6 yr enlistment, you were automatically guaranteed to pick up E-4 at a certain time. This concept took up the vacant positions within certain MOS's and made it almost impossible for guys like me to get promoted. I was an E-3 for almost 28 months with the cutting scores for E-4 for almost 12 months before I got lucky and promoted.

They make it insanely difficult to go back into the Marines when you get out. If they do let you rejoin, you often lose rank (at least for a time). Generally speaking, going to the other services, you won't lose rank, or TIG. Add in the "perks" of just being in the USAF or Army...

When I was on recruiting duty, we were not allowed to re-enlist prior Marines. I walked several down the hall to the Army. That was painful.

I tried to get back into the Corps after I ETS in 1996. The Recruiters started dogging me about how I should have never gotten out, and they really liked the excuse of I wanted to use my MGIB. They continued to try to treat me like a PVT and basically wanted me to beg them to let me back in. Finally I told them to fuck off, I ain't beggin for shit, and went across the hall to the Army Recruiters. Normal everyday Marines, I am proud to call brothers but Marine Recruiters, those guys for some reason think they can treat Prior Service like shit. Hell, I was combat Marines and these knuckleheads were a bunch POGs.

When I was on active duty and a young buck, I always played the sibling branch rivalry. I was in the Army and found that I had the same drive, could shoot the same and could out PT any worthy challenger. I have always had a respect for the Marine Corps but the reality is the only thing I saw was a very sharp uniform and some very cocky people who thought they were the bomb and couldn’t even tell you about basic marksmanship. I was a paratrooper, and very proud to be one, one day while at a Piggly Wiggly in North Carolina (Sanford, near Ft. Bragg), the cashier told me I had joined the Army because I was afraid of the Corps. She went on to telling me her boyfriend was shipping out soon, I asked her what his MOS was thinking he’d be an 0311 or something badass. Her answer was supply. I laughed, grabbed my stuff and left politely as I was in uniform. No disrespect to quartermasters. Truth is this, you have pogues in all branches and true warriors as well. Each branch represents with distinction. I’m older now, obviously out of the service and the pride I have for all services is immense. The branch rivalry is fine and dandy but remember we all serve the same cause. God bless you all, thank you for your service and Happy New Year!!!

My dad was USMC 0300 1959-1964. Wouldn't let him change MOS. Army said "Pick MOS". He went Telecommunications and retired as an Army CW2. NEVER would have happened in the Corps. Plus we got duty stations in Taiwan and Germany. Again, not happening in the Corps. I liked travel so I did Army, picked MOS, tour in Germany and tour in Korea. - Being able to pick your MOS is pretty important in my book.