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

The Corps is so awesome, staff and senior NCOs (even officers) from other branches keep asking these questions. As for the answers:. The Corps is small, meaning there are fewer opportunities to broaden your career. Likewise, training opportunities can be harder to come by, which is also true for promotions. The other services, particularly the army and air force have more comfortable lives. I have known several people go from the Corps to other services. Their reasons usually fall somewhere in the ones I listed

They want a cushier life.

I think there are a few different reasons:

Some are forced out due to limited spaces. but want to continue to serve. The other branches seem to need them so it is a win-win.
Some get out voluntarily but miss being in. Only a few can get back into the Marines due to our structure, so they join other branches.
Some want all of the benefits of military service but would prefer for it to be easier, so they join a branch with lower expectations.
I realize this is an old post but I have been busy trying to create a better flavor crayon.

Air Force Chow Halls

Once you get out of the Marines and try to assimilate back into society they won’t always take you back. Marines get out and miss it and want to get back in but can’t get into what they want. A buddy of mine wanted to get into Recon and couldn’t so he tried the Army. They accepted him and 3 others who are all now Green Berets. Also if you don’t promote in the Marines because you get passed over twice you are forced out. So Marines talk to Army recruiters and transfer to the Army once their orders are finalized!

Excellent question! I would venture to say it probably had to do with possibly a reenlistment bonus, an opportunity to change MOS, choice of Duty Station, possibly a promotion upon reenlistment, special educational opportunities, offer for being commissioned as an Officer, or many other reasons for re-enlisting! Just a few of my ‘educated’ guesses!

I'll tell you this.i was a marine for 8 years my reason for moving to the army was a matter of rank and promotions.i was 0311 infantry.during the time I was in it was harder being infantry to get promoted after you make cpl. So I made a deal with the army for rank and joined.long story short it didn't work out as planned.they sent me to ft Dix and since I was a marine I didn't have to do army boot camp so that alone made my transition very hard I knew absolutely nothing about the army I spent around 6 months at Dix as a troop handler since they had no idea where to to send me.then I got orders to Germany and up in Frankfurt and guess what?again about 4 months receiving troop handler lol.finaly they sent me to an infantry unit so almost a year in the army before they sent me to an actual unit.2/4 infantry upon arrival I find out my unit is attached to an morning battalion who is attached to a Pershing missle battalion.a friggin mess my whole time in the army.

Promotions are better.

I never served in the Corp. I served in the Army and Air Force. Both were great.

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.