Posted on Mar 31, 2017
PFC Cinnamon Hack
106K
462
364
58
58
0
72ab16c3
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?
Avatar feed
Responses: 250
Votes
  • Newest
  • Oldest
  • Votes
SSG Billy Mcgill jr
0
0
0
Yes I has several friend that has served in two branch. I also had one that served in three in the pass
(0)
Comment
(0)
SSgt Mark Paige
SSgt Mark Paige
7 y
Billy you wouldn't be talking about me would yah......Lol
(0)
Reply
(0)
SSgt Mark Paige
SSgt Mark Paige
7 y
Yes I am a prime example. I severed active duty Marine corps reserve Marine corps Active Army Reserve Army
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
PO1 Security Officer
0
0
0
You are I've served in the Marine Corps as an Infantryman, and currently in the Navy as a Master at Arms. Not all MOS's cross over. I have an Army MP in my unit who had to go through Navy A School even though it's the same basic job. I have also another in my unit who was Marine Corps Infantry, Air Force Security Forces, and now Navy Master At Arms. He did not have to attend A school transitioning from the Air Force. We also had a member go Air Force PJ from Navy and another go over to the Corps.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
PO1 Retired Usn Fleet Reserve
0
0
0
yes I served in navy, then the army and then retired from the navy. Here are the issues if you did marines first you never have to do boot camp again. When I went to army I had 40 plus mos that I was qualified for due to electronic background from navy, so going other way will require school. I find the army is more restrictive for promotion. Air force while it will take rank will not take quals and you will have to do all schools and quals equal to rank in 2 years which can be hard for higher ranks. most branches will not accept leadership courses and all will have to be done up to rank you are at before promotion. time in rate is lost. and if you have a break in service more then 2 years you will be demoted to e3 and below. navy has prior life conversion which can get you up to e6 but no time in service/rate. also there is high year tenure which can force you out before retirement. thus changing services makes promotions harder and retirement questionable. I find navy has best jack of all trades in schools where army teaches you to run or test or fix a single piece of equipment and another mos required for another job and when you get to staff sgt and above you are just admin with no hands on where navy you are admin but still subject matter expert for a large amount of equipment in your div.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
Matt Redmond
0
0
0
Yes, I have a friend that retired out of the air force after his 20. His first seven years was in the Navy and he was RIF (Reduction in Forces) out. He then applied to the AF and completed his twenty...
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
PO1 Jim Kerick
0
0
0
I served 8 years in the Navy, Active, then did 9 years in the National Guard including a tour in Iraq. My job was basically the same, computers. I know people that have done active in both. There are programs run by the services where they recruit from one service to another, sometimes called "Blue to Green" Navy to Army, or "Green to Blue" Army to Navy.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
LTC Jim Chapman
0
0
0
Well, let's define served. I was in the US Navy, 1969 to 1973. Did two tours in Vietnam and came home at the end of my 4 year enlistment. I then joined the Army National Guard on a "Try One" program which allowed me to join at my active duty grade, E-5. After a year I could separate if I didn't like it. I stayed and went to the Oklahoma Military Academy for one year and was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in 1975. I retired as a LTC, Field Artillery, in 2000, 24 years later.

In 1974, I got a job via the Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Act with the US Air Force at Vance AFB, OK. I then served with the Air Force as a civilian for the next 34 years. My speciality was Financial Management and I served right along side Air Force personnel doing the same exact job.

So, I believe that I served for the Navy, Army and the Air Force in some capacity. I had different jobs in each branch of service, but I did my best and had a very rewarding career.

I can't really comment on whether you can go directly from one branch to another without some compelling skill. I was able to go from a Navy Radarman (Ops Specialist) to a Field Artillery Officer because I had the time to go to the Army schools and learn my new trade.

Still, you can serve different services if you're motivated to find out how to get it done. Please notice, I never served in the Marine Corps, although I certainly wish I had done so.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SSgt Joe Kerr
0
0
0
navy then air force so yes you can but its getting harder with the budget constraints etc
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
TSgt James Carson
0
0
0
YES. People who joined, say the Army would join the Air Force once their Army hitch was done. When one service branch was short of people there was inter service transfers done. During Viet nam it happened at times. I knew X Navy and Army people, and one Marine that joined the Air Force.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
PO1 Steven Bonnell
0
0
0
Coast Guard as Active, then several years later, NAVY as Reserve .. Electronic Technician for BOTH.
Pick a field you are GOOD AT .. and that is NEEDED.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
Maj Dale Smith
0
0
0
I started out in high school in Junior Army ROTC for 3 years, then 3 years of AFROTC in college as well as one semester of NROTC because I was fascinated with celestial navigation. I was comissioned in the Air Force and flew for 18 years, and then spent the next 20 years as a Navy defense contractor designing GPS systems. Experience in three services can give you a great appreciation for how to manage differing assets at the HQ and NAF level. It also gives you some insight when in an AOR, as to what other foreces capabilities are, and how to task them to work in consonence. I found myself once creating a tactical deception for the Navy to implement and my primary job was air asset tasking for the AF. Knowledge is power, but as others have stated here, don't cross train to another service before you know your current MOS. Your knowledge becomes useful to other services in the E-5 and above range.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

How are you connected to the military?
  • Active Duty
  • Active Reserve / National Guard
  • Pre-Commission
  • Veteran / Retired
  • Civilian Supporter