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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CPT Albert Cross
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Years ago, when I went through boot camp at MCRD San Diego, we had a guy in our platoon who had already done four years in the Air Force and four years in the Navy. I always wondered if he went on to serve in the Army also.
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PFC Cinnamon Hack
PFC Cinnamon Hack
8 y
I watched a video on YouTube a male did about how he became a Marine. He served army and navy before he did the USMC and he loves it.
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CWO3 Us Marine
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At the same time? Never heard of it. One at a time? Have at it. Be prepared to lose rank every time you switch and go to another Basic or Boot Camp, depending on your choice. Plenty have served in more than one and if you have time on your hand's research it and find out more. Why not dedicate yourself to doing the best you can in the Army? If that doesn't work then go from there. Your plate is going to be plenty full once you ship to Basic so that's what you should focus on for now.
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PFC Cinnamon Hack
PFC Cinnamon Hack
>1 y
I don't mind starting over :) I'm doing army but since I was 15 when I met my first Marine I swear that was my calling. I have a 3 year contract , more than enough time to finish my laser treatments to get rid of my wrist tattoo :)
(5 down . Who knows more much more to go ?)
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CWO3 Us Marine
CWO3 (Join to see)
>1 y
PFC Cinnamon Hack - I wish you well with whatever path you take. Just be the best Soldier you can be and go from there. Basically, bloom wherever you are planted. That will become an ethos for life during and after the military. I've served with prior-service from other services and they integrated well. As a young WO I worked for a Company Cmdr that was a former Army Ranger and he was wrapped tight, so you'll get out of the military what you put into it. Good luck.
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SMSgt Ang Senior Paralegal Manager For Af Professional Development/Af Jag School (Afjags)
SMSgt (Join to see)
8 y
PFC Cinnamon Hack - You will not always loss rank - it depends on the branch and MOS. I got out of the Navy (AD) in 87 as an E-4, went into the Army Guard as an E-4 and then after 13 months they released me and I went into the Air Guard as an E-4. I didn't lose rank, but I did lost time in rank - the time you wait from one grade to the next - for E-4 to E-5 it is 2 years, so when I went into the Air Guard, I had to wait 2 years to be promoted to E-5. So lessons learned is don't just take what people tell you as all you need to know - no one told me to wait the extra 11 months in the Army guard and get E-5 or you start back at 0 months in in rank again. Research the regulations and ask questions and then go back and do more research. No one believes me, when I tell them that I have 23 years of service in 3 branches of the service, but it can be done - just have to be in the right place at the right time - most of it is being in the right place and showing that you can do the MOS/job that you want to switch to - I have my paralegal degree from college and was working at the federal prosecutor's office when I applied to switch from the Army to the Air guard into a paralegal position. Good Luck
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SGT Kenneth Stelly
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Geez, only one person barely answered her question.... Problem paying attention to detail is an issue to some.... ANSWER... YES! You can go from branch to branch and you can also in the Army, train in multiple MOS's.. Plus, check this out. After you become a non commissioned officer, you can apply to become a warrant officer and get it if you meet the qualifications and I know you can. To me and most other veterans I know, a warrant officer is the best rank in the military and to become a warrant officer, you will be trained in several MOS's before graduating as a warrant officer. A warrant officer is a technical advisor.. I have friends to this day that are now retired and was marine then army then air force. And another that was Army then went air force and retired, and another dear friend buried in Arlington that was marine then army...I hope I answered your questions and I hope that anybody else that comments, answers your questions as well.... You are a go getter and you seem very motivated. I would love to have a troop like you and I would do everything I can to help you advance and achieve your goals plus I would convince you that what you are looking for is becoming a warrant officer... The Army need troops like you. Troops line you set an example to others and motivate others to be all they can be.... Drive on and good luck to your future endeavors....
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PFC Cinnamon Hack
PFC Cinnamon Hack
8 y
Thank you Sgt! Very informative, now I have to do my research on warrant officers :)
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SFC Inspector, Electronics
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The mastering of the MOS is crucial, sound advice from the prior comments. You will need to become the SME of you MOS and people will listen to you and follow your advice because you know your stuff. I transitioned from the USMC to the Army over 20 years ago and became an SME of my field, you gain the respect from all no matter the level. However just jumping because you want to learn more is different than what you can teach to increase the ability of others, you need to focus on you being absolutely proficient.
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SrA Kelly Richard
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As a jack of all trades myself, I'd stick with one branch, and if you want change MOSs or AFSCs within that branch. Every branch has every job that the others have, but how they go about it might vary slightly. You can switch jobs and still follow a path for promotions, but switching branches could make it more difficult or cause delays. Sometimes there are very valid reasons for switching, but just because you want to try a little of everything, isn't. I'm not trying to crush your dreams, it's just I understand what it is that you want, and after being in myself, and having an Air Force job who's nick name is "jack of all trades" I'd say you can go Air Force now while you still have the chance of stay your path, but once you're in, stick with it, like others have said.
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MAJ Infantry Officer
MAJ (Join to see)
8 y
All branches don't have the same mos. No tankers in the navy, no nuke ship reactors in the army, no f22 in the army to repair.
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SrA Kelly Richard
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SrA Kelly Richard
SrA Kelly Richard
8 y
MAJ (Join to see) - That is correct, but those are very specialized... However, just about every branch has the generalized jobs where you can more easily move from one to another like MX is in every branch (whether that's on F22s or F18s, I mean yes, very different, but it's still MX on the flight line), or engineers (what they are engineering whether it's on a nuke ship or reverse engineering a new missile system, though very different, both require very similar degrees and basic knowledge before becoming the expert), and also the Navy has LOTS of tanks.
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SrA Kelly Richard
SrA Kelly Richard
8 y
PFC Cinnamon Hack - That is correct! The Coast Guard is a military service under the DHS except when operating as a service in the Navy (usually deployments and specific operations) kinda like the USMC is department of the Navy.
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SPC William Weedman
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Considering the Army has so many career fields, switching services might not be the best answer. If you talk to any of your senior NCOs at your first unit, you might find several are on their second or even third MOS. The reasons I heard were because in some MOSs it is very hard to gain the rank you need to stay in. I've been out for over 20 years but it used to be if you were E-4 you were forced out after 10 years, E-5 was 15 then forced out, E-6 though, you were forced to retire at 20. There were a few who like you either disliked the duties or got bored with their MOS and wanted something different. Every MOS is different, and every assignment is different. The thing about the Army is generally if you don't like your situation you can change it!
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
8 y
PFC Cinnamon Hack - you really need to get in and see how this all applies to you personally before you start making plans. I admire your ambition, but you need to see what this is all about first. Your promotions up to E4 will be decided at unit level and be automatic along time in service (TIS) and Time in Grade (TIG). E5 and E6 will be via a local board process and centrally managed points process dictated by big Army. E7-E9 are all centralized selection boards at DA level. There are TIS and TIG requirements to be eligible for a board. You can't work on ranks like merit badges. There are retention control points by rank and year's of service that if you fail to progress you will be separated. I think E4 is 8 years. That's a long time.
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SPC Kelly Grindstaff
SPC Kelly Grindstaff
>1 y
SPC William Weedman - Correct I made E-3 8 Months at 14 months I made E-4 at 24 Months I went to the Promotion Board for E-5 every thing was maxed out my Promotion Score was 975 with all my points. The problem was that there were no slots and you needed 995 points to make E-5 this was 1983. Spent years as a E-5 Promotable as an 11C Infantry at that time was very difficult to get promoted because their had to be slots Army wide for you to get it. Someone had to leave/retire or die to get promoted. During that Time I was wore the Stripes of Acting Sgt. E-5, E-6, and E-7 wore the stripes but not the pay all the responsibility ect
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SPC William Weedman
SPC William Weedman
>1 y
SPC Kelly Grindstaff - I totally understand, a friend was airborne infantry but would need to murder his squad leader to get promoted so he ended up leaving the Army, I’ve heard many in combat arms say very similar things. I filled an E-5 slot for 3 years but our training NCO never could find me a PLDC slot until she looked up at my last Drill and magically found me a PLDC course but I would need to re-enlist to accept the orders. My entire CoC enlisted and officer called me for a month after I got out trying to convince me to come back.
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SPC Kelly Grindstaff
SPC Kelly Grindstaff
>1 y
SPC William Weedman - I went to PNOC while in and was still at E-4 after the promotion board and still was waiting..
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SGT Steve Fryer
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I served as a Marine 0351/8151/0321 from 1984-1988. I had a 13 month break 88-89 and joined the Army National Guard, then transferred to the Army Reserve and became a drill Sergeant in 90'. I served till August 1995. On January 27 2007, I reenlisted in the Army National Guard and did a tour in Iraq 07-08 and Afghanistan 10-11.
If you go Marine 1st, you will not have to repeat basic training. If you enlist in the Army and want to go Marine you will have to complete USMC Boot Camp.
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PO3 William Carrien
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I have served with people with more than one branch affiliation. Whether it be Army/ Navy, Marine/Army. I myself was Navy/ Coast Guard.
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Maj Robert Dudley
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Yes. I spent 3 years in the army and 17 in the Air Force.
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SSG Norbert Johnson
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YES. Yes you can serve in multiple branches. I served in both Army and Air Force, My Brother-in-Law served in Marines and Air Force. I had a good friend who served in Marines and Army. Both my brother in law served in the Marines during Vietnam and their remainder service was their "Retirement" Branch. I on the other hand, Served Army during Vietnam War and a 3 year stint with the Air force only to return to the Army for my final departure in 93. One thing prevalent that I did not like was the loss of one Rank on each change of service. While you acquire more skills, your advancement is retarded during the process.
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