If I’m doing an inter-service transfer (USMC to Army) and I’m a Corporal, will I keep my rank or become a Specialist?

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 15:11:25 -0500

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Mar 8 at 2018 3:22 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 15:22:57 -0500

Either is possible. You should discuss with the transition specialist. Thank you for your service.

Response by SPC David Willis made Mar 8 at 2018 3:28 PM

SPC David Willis — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 15:28:01 -0500

If CPL is E-4 in the Marines which I think it is, chances are you'll be a specialist unless you're going directly into a TL position. I knew one Marine CPL who transd and he got SPC.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2018 3:31 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 15:31:13 -0500

I would echo what the others have said, it would depend on the slot you get. Plus not all Army Units have that many corporal slots, allot more specialist slots.

Response by SGT Eric Davis made Mar 8 at 2018 3:36 PM

SGT Eric Davis — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 15:36:53 -0500

If you are an E4 in the Marines then you will be one in why Army as long as you got documents to show and prove your current rank!

Response by SGT Randall Smith made Mar 8 at 2018 5:33 PM

SGT Randall Smith — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 17:33:45 -0500

I believe it would depend upon your MOS

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2018 6:11 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 18:11:26 -0500

I would think it would depend on your MOS. But this is a different military than the one I was in, 40 years ago! Good luck to you, Warrior!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2018 9:36 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 21:36:00 -0500

You will enlist as a SPC. your unit after evaluating you will determine if they want to laterally promote you to the rank of CPL

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2018 5:50 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 05:50:40 -0500

I went from usmc to Army as a Cpl and they made me a specialist.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 9 at 2018 1:15 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 13:15:12 -0500

If there is no leadership position ( we see damn few CPL's) then it would be SPC, since it's the same pay grade. Better ask up front, before signing.

Response by SMSgt Jeff Kyle made Mar 10 at 2018 1:05 AM

SMSgt Jeff Kyle — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 01:05:52 -0500

When I left the Marine Corps, I was a Cpl. I enlisted in the Air Force 2 1/2 months after leaving the Corps. I was made a Buck Sgt , E-4. I lost 23 months time in grade but kept my NCO rank. No AF basic training, no training of any kind. Just a direct duty assignment to an AF squadron doing the same job I did in the Corps.

Response by Samantha Bailey made Mar 10 at 2018 3:05 PM

Samantha Bailey — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 15:05:18 -0500

I believe you would keep it

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2018 10:18 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 22:18:08 -0500

There aren't many MOSs that have DA recognized CPLs. As such, you'll probably be a SPC, which is the same pay. If you want to be a CPL, volunteer for additional duties it positions that requires an NCO, you can then be laterally promoted to CPL.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2018 10:09 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 22:09:56 -0400

The Army has a Corporal Rank

Response by SGT Louise Hawthorne made May 20 at 2018 11:12 PM

SGT Louise Hawthorne — Sun, 20 May 2018 23:12:27 -0400

Corporals are hard stripe E4s, that usually means they've been to a promotion board and passed. You should be able to keep your status as Corporal, but don't be surprised if you're sent to the promotion board anyway.

Response by LTC Gene Moser made Oct 10 at 2019 7:15 PM

LTC Gene Moser — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 19:15:42 -0400

This may be out of date, but it depended on your position. For instance, in the field artillery the assistant gunner is a corporal as that is a leadership position, but the S-3 clerk is a SPC.

Response by SCPO Charles Webster made Apr 14 at 2020 3:59 PM

SCPO Charles Webster — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 15:59:44 -0400

From years on Recruiting duty. I don’t think you mean inter-service transfer. That means the Marines would have to move you from the USMC to the Army before the contract you signed up for. What I did, and what you are asking I think: would have to ETS first. Then go to an Army recruiter. (Actually better to check in with Army recruiter, first maybe three months before ETS. So they know what you’re trying to do. At least in the Coast Guard, I was a USCG recruiter. Coming in after another service, with a good DD-214, depends on the job field if that military service needs that. In my case after Army to USCG, I had to drop down to E-3, go to USCG boot camp. Lost about 2 1/2 years of rank to do this! But I retired as an E-8, Senior Chief, so it worked out ok! My info may be dated! I retired In 96’

Response by Cpl Bernard Bates made Feb 22 at 2021 6:04 PM

Cpl Bernard Bates — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 18:04:55 -0500

in 1963 I was a Cpl. in the Marine Corp I joined the Army 2 wks. after leaving the Marines. I had to go in the army as a PFC. I could handle any job the army gave me from Co Armorer to Supply Clerk to supply Sgt. It was always next man up for me 15 months later I was a SP/5 Sometimes treated like a Sgt sometimes treated as a Peon. I never worked in my MOS 2311 Ammo Tech. In Vietnam I had about 3 months left in the Army. I was offered a 2nd LT. commission if I stayed in Vietnam another year. Their was a shortage of regular troops because of the draft. After I wasn't needed anymore I would Revert back to my old rank. I had only been married 8 months so I turned it down and came home .Biggest thing I didn't like about the Army they didn't have the discipline the Marine Corp had. Semper Fi.