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

Being a Marine is not easy. The day to day, and week to week requirements are more intense than the other services on average, and it can certainly be brutal at times. For the most part there is quite a price to pay to be an active duty Marine. Many, after paying their dues and leaving the Corps, still miss the military, but don't want quite the intensity so they choose a lower intense occupation that still has a military structure.

The Marines rarely enlist prior service candidates even from the Marines. Hence, Only options usually are the other branches. Now this may have changed but definitely the case up to 1996.

I understand, but I choose to stay Marine only!!!

For R&R

In my case I was stationed on Okinawa I met an Okinawan girl. The Corp said if we wanted you to have a wife we would issue you one. I got discharged when I got back to the states Joined the army and went from Pfc to SP/5 in 13 months. My time in the Corp plus leadership academy in the Army paid off. I went to Vietnam in 65-66. 3 Months before my time was up, I was offered a commission as a 2nd. Lt. I turned it down because I had only been married for 8 months and I would have had to spend another year in Vietnam. When a Marine joins the army You make Rank a lot faster. Being the Corp is a lot smaller it takes a lot longer to get promoted. My wife and I have been married 54 yrs. Semper fi.

First of all, not everyone is cut out to be a Marine. Second, not every Marine is suited to such a life. Some of them wish to remain in the military, yet live a much softer life. Third, most times a Marine will EAS and discover that civilian life is not for them. The Army will generally give a Marine a large bonus as well as increased rank, to join. Remember this. We will NEVER have to go through Boot Camp ever again. No matter which branch of service we choose. Also, there are quite a few prior Army "retreads" in the Corps. I was in boot camp with one. Yes. He had to go through Marine Corps Recruit Training. I will also be willing to wager that those Marines who joined the Army are the most squared away and motivated soldiers in there respective units. I'll put money on that.

Being a Marine is awesome. Being in the Marines suck!!!

Cause we are awesome

As a former Marine 0311(and l loved the Marine Corps), I have always said this. The Marine Corps is the best place to learn to be a soldier, but worst place to soldier due to lack of opportunity and the limited nature of the Marine Corps. The training I received in the Army was so better in many ways. More resources, a more robust footprint etc. Now, if the Army would do something about discipline and adopt the Pinks and Greens it would be an awesome place.

For me, the Army kept their end of the contract. The Marines did not. On the other hand, the camaraderie in the Marines is a lot better amongst all Marines. For the Army, you didn't get that until you got into a combat MOS, especially rangers or special forces.