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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SFC Alan Payne
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You can do different nations if you really want to get froggy. I started in the British Army, then USMC, then NC Guard. Serving in different nations isn’t uncommon in the British Commonwealth and i met lots of folk in the Guard that had been in. The other services including coasties. Quite common for Army and Marines to switch also.
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CW3 Kevin Storm
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Keep in mind not every service is eager to accept prior service members, often it can come with a voluntary reduction, which if you make a career out of this can affect you in income and retirement.
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Sgt Graeme Payne
Sgt Graeme Payne
>1 y
When I went into the AF Reserve after 6 years as a Marine, they wanted to take a stripe (E5) away from me. I said in effect "no you're not" and made it stick. Another six years in the AF.
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SPC Panzerdeal Deal
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Enjoy it while you got it..there's nowhere to go from "UP".. I actually had 4 schools under my belt, if they REALLY wanted to count em up in 90 when I ETS'd totally..basic [1] AIT for Chapparal [ 2 OSUT at Bilss] a 54E, Divisional NBC school, Camp Casey, Korea, prior to service in the NBC room for D 2 -61 ADA, [3]. and 11 B relcass at McCoy 89..[4]. Didn't help the rank points or pay, but I knew i did it well..that's all that really counts. Wether the Military recognises it with hard stripe or not..
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SPC Panzerdeal Deal
SPC Panzerdeal Deal
>1 y
TYhen again , what does a "Full Bird Private" over 7 know..? BEFORE any CSM takes offense..
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SSgt Daniel d'Errico
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While stationed in Thailand in 1972, a Chief Master Sergent, who was our first sergentwas assigned to our squadron. He had over 30 years in both the ARMY and Air Force. Didn't know what his original AFSC (MOS) was, but he finished 24 years in the ARMY as CSM. He knew a lot about aircraft maintence, so he was most likely in aircraft maintence.
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SSG Ray Elliott
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It is possible to serve in two branches of the Armed forces. I did it 6 years active duty in the Navy in a Weapons rating, and after being out for a little over a year I went into the Army as a Bandsmen. I would say concentrate on your first enlistment, and see how it goes, you may like it in the Branch of service you've selected. There are some disadvantages to changing services, most likely it will include a reduction in Rank, and you may or may not have to go through Basic training again depending on which Branch you are going from, and which you are going to. Going from Navy to Army I didn't have to do Basic training again, but it might be different the other way around.
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PO2 Steven Hardy
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About half of my company at USCG boot camp were prior service; from all branches. After that, there was always at least one prior service guy at each unit I was assigned to. Even one unit that was only 24 people strong had one prior Navy guy.
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MAJ Infantry Officer
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Serve out your first term. If you still want to, go see a navy recruiter and fill out a dd form 368 and submit through your chain of command. Try to get that 368 around mid august as new job slots open generally on 1 october.
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LTC Jason Mackay
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Edited 8 y ago
Is it possible ? Sure. I have met people who have been two or three branches. met a USAF COL that was enlisted in he Army and Marines, also fought in Korea....maybe no longer relevant. A buddy from college went AD enlisted Navy, ETSed, went to college, joined the ARNG, then transferred to the ANG, retired as a MSGT. Probable? Unlikely. Considerations
- the USMC doesn't recognize anyone else's basic training. You will do it again for them. Recommend you start there if this is your goal.
- you will likely lose rank each time you hop.
- your MOS in one is a consideration for another.
- it will likely take you four enlistments to do this. Renetry is tricky. That is 12-16 years. Do you want to be a 40+ year old PFC? Also consider that you may rack up injuries along the way.
- if commissioning is in there anywhere, that is something that varies widely over time based on needs of the service. It will likely be the terminus of this junket. Officers branch transferring is difficult. I have seen two succeed (Army Infantryman to Navy Helo Pilot the other was an Army Warrant Attack Pilot to USCG Helo pilot).
- reclassifying inside a service happens, but it is always to an understrength MOS, vice "hey! That's cool I wanna do that!". Used to be the BEAR program in the Army. If your MOS is thin, you won't be able to leave. If the gaining MOS is overstrength, you won't be able to leave.

Would recommend you focus on the one at hand and see what happens. Positive performance opens doors.
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SSG Chris Gursky
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Yes, I joined the Navy at 17, in boot camp we had a soldier and a marine going thru with us. After I came off active duty I went into the army with my younger brother. Served 3 active Navy and 8.5 yrs active Army.
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SSG Chris Gursky
SSG Chris Gursky
8 y
FYI, for more travel and better pay switch over to the Navy and pick a job that goes onboard ship. Sea pay is a good thing.
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TSgt Prescott Pranke
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Absolutely YES - I served 10 + USMC, 8 + Nati0nal Guard, 7 mos Active AF, 3 1/2 Air Force Reserves - total just over 22 years
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