Posted on Mar 31, 2017
PFC Cinnamon Hack
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I have this weird fascination of being the "jack of all trades" as a civilian i did things from cosmetology, to truck driving and allot in between. I recently just swore into into DEP (army) and already making plans to see if I can cross train into other MOS fields and eventually after my contract to other branches (USMC? Navy? Air Force)

Anyone here serve in 2 or more branches? Any tips?
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PO3 Donald Murphy
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Go submarines. Stay submarines. You'll get to do tons of different jobs, get paid killer money, eat like a queen and get all the recognition you need. Your East Coast duty stations are pretty cool too:

Groton, CT
Norfolk, VA
King's Bay, GA

West coast? The choices are:

Bangor, WA
San Diego, CA
Pearl Harbor, HI
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CSM Thomas McGarry
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I guess it's possible-I once served with a guy who was in the Marines, them Air Force and was now in the Army.
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SFC Dave Beran
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Wow. Nice question. When I was in I encouraged my troops to pick up a second MOS. Most Senior NCOs have more than one. I knew many people who changed branches of service. Don't remember any of them having problems.

Your first priority should be to become the best you can at whatever you have chosen. Don't get distracted by the slow times. They happen to everyone and busy work can be tedious and boring. But use this opportunitys to educate yourself. Most bases offer college courses.

Give it your best and you will flourish.
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PFC Cinnamon Hack
PFC Cinnamon Hack
>1 y
That's awesome! Thank you for answering. I'm interested in continuing my education, I had no idea they had college courses on base. I thought I'd have to find a local college to take them at. I'm going to look into that asap :)
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TSgt Unit Training Manager (Utm)
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my middle school teacher served in all 5 branches in one form or another, he suggested air force and here I am. best way to do it is to start in the marines, so you don't go down in rank when transferring. other than that, it's totally possible, be it difficult.
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SrA Kelly Richard
SrA Kelly Richard
>1 y
Idk, I saw the exact opposite, but maybe you're right about the appeal process, and possibly AFSC dependent? Especially if they're critically manned? The prior USMC in my tech school was an E5, but came in the AF as a SrA. The Army guys I knew went USAF Reserves, so they came in a rank lower, but promoted right away.
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TSgt Unit Training Manager (Utm)
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CWO2 S R - this hasn't been the case so far in my experience, however that could be due to the fact that i'm in a critically manned career field. i've never met anyone who's crossed into the air force and accepted a lower rank. the air force has had tons of prior service programs that place much needed NCOs into critically manned career fields. i've known two NCOs who crossed over from the corps as Corporals and were given the rank of SSgt after attending ALS due to the difference in rank structure.
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TSgt Unit Training Manager (Utm)
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CWO2 S R - 1W0X1, Weather. In these cases, E-5 was given due to the difference in rank structure between the corps and the air force (which can vary based upon the current needs of the air force). Typically speaking though, it's not really in the Air Force's culture to make NCOs into junior enlisted under normal circumstances. I also currently work with an E-6 who was an E-5 at the time of transfer and came into the air force as an E-5, so it really does depend on a case to case basis what rank you'll be allowed to carry. It also depends on how long you've been in said ranks whether you'll maintain them or not. Also, all the people I've seen transfer prior rank have been on at least 4 years of consecutive active duty service. I can't imagine a junior enlisted member would maintain rank going from any branch into the air force though, nor have I ever heard of one doing so. Hell I've seen Airmen lose rank going from AF reserve into AD. To add one final layer to that, it is also highly circumstantial how you carried yourself during your time in another branch and how the approving official (typically a recruiting commander) views your record of service.
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TSgt Unit Training Manager (Utm)
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CWO2 S R - here's a brief article on the topic from 2015: http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/05/19/air-force-boosting-numbers-through-extensions-prior-service.html

I would also expect these programs to increase in scope over the next few years with the republicans running the show in washington. I personally can wait to be working with more NCO's from other branches. They've provided some unique insight to how we do business in Air Force Weather.
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SGT Audie Blackwell
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A friend of mine did 4 years in the Navy then retired as a Major in the Marine Corps.
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Sgt Ed Beal
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You should have started as a marine then army would be easier and air force and navy would be summer camp physically speaking.
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SSG Samuel Kermon
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Started in the Marines, went to the Army Reserve, and finally landed in the National Guard. I switched MOS's twice but ended up doing many things. Think about what you are really looking for; adventure, change, challenge, whatever. You may find that changing your perspective in your current position may be what you are really desiring.
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1SG Charles Hunter
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In response to your headline question, "Is it possible to serve in multiple branches . . ." Yes, many have, but not at the same time.
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CW4 Robert Mixon
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Yes
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CW4 Robert Mixon
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Yes
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CPO Arthur Weinberger
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It is possible to serve in more than one branch. With a name like Cinnamon food service would be your best option.
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MSG Mamerto Perez
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I took Basic Training with a ex-Marine, Navy, Air Force and told us young recruits that the last enlistment in the Army was going to be his last and Retired.
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SFC Healthcare Nco/Hazmat Paramedic
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I did 22 yrs in the AF reserve component came back to active duty as an AF guy in an Army unit and was switched to the Army..... Go figure
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Sgt Leo Herod
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I think you have a GREAT idea. Having direct experiences from all the different branches makes you more well rounded.
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CH (CPT) Adjunct History Professor
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I did. USMC, U.S. Army, Ohio Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve. Retired.
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SFC Ralph E Kelley
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6b81a870
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SCPO Stephen Brown
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Served in US Army (1965-1971) and US Navy (1973-1994).
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SGT James Call
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It was. I have been told that now you can't. I served in the Army (Vietnam vet) as a combat engineer, artillery man, automatic weapons, Medic, & Clinical Specialist & am airborne qualified. Active Army, CA. Army Guard, Utah Army Guard, Naval Reserve (Corpsman) and Airforce Reserve (Crash & Rescue Firefighter). What a ride !
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SSG Norbert Johnson
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Respectfully, PFC Hack, I served in both the Army and Air Force. The Army for the Rank advancement potential and the Air Force for the Technical Skill as well as the University of the Air Force credit transfer, or Degree. You progress slowly in the Air Force compared to other services but you can't match the Food, Shelter, the flight time with any other service... the Navy tell you different... They have good food but the quarters.. I will stick to the Air Force for that. Just like the Army, I held 3 AFSC at the same time and in the Army 3 MOS/s at the same time. Makes you valuable to the team concept because you can fill in with competence.
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SPC Jeff Hogan, M.S., M.P.S.
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since this was written quite some time ago i'm curious what your experience has been.
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