Is it possible to serve in multiple branches of the military ?

yep, did it. Joined the USARMY as a medic. After basic at fort sill I was supposed to be at Ft leninwood... but the Army needed FDC more than medics so I was reassigned. After 5 yrs of that I transitioned to Tach-medical-evac in the USAF. Spent most of my time in the field. Transitioned to USSOCOM and it was like being back in the Army. Pulled a tdy on the USNS Mercy in California. So think of it...Army trained, USAF e-8 serving on a ship.

My take is that joining our Armed Forces simply to satisfy an urge to be a "jack of all trades" is a pretty selfish motive. It indicates no knowledge of, or concern for, the brotherhood/sisterhood of the American Patriot who serves his/her Country because of a feeling of gratitude and respect for Her. There is no respect or commitment to compatriots, no dedication to anything but personal satisfaction and telling people "look what I did"... This is a far cry from people, and I have known some, who entered one branch of military service and at some point after being discharged entered another branch for reasons that were for the good of the Country, and not a personal whim. I expect that some people will not agree with my opinion, and that is just fine... understand that my reply is based on the original reasoning posted for enlisting, and my personal views regarding respect and honor, to which I am entitled.

USAF and US Army (NG)

I've served in the air force, army and currently air guard. The switches were easy. Going from active duty to guard was a diffucult transition because us prior service do most of the work, know our jobs and get promoted after the people who don't know their jobs. I'm switching to the reserves next. Each branch has its good and bad.

RM1 as a retired USCG I also served in USN and USAF that's 3 upon discharge from USN I joined
USAF lost time in grade but kept grade but was REQUIRED to take and pass all training up to E-5
or be rifted to E-4 it wasn't easy and just made it. upon discharge from USAF enlisted in USCG but
the only reason I was able to do that was because of my prior job in USN. I also had to get a waiver
from Washington and also lost time in grade. So check everything out before you jump!

It is possible, but I personally wouldn't recommend it. I served 4 years and some change in the army then got out for 3 years. I then re entered the military, this time Air Force and have been in for 14 years with the AF. The benefits are all the same in every branch, but the mission and life is drastically different. I would focus on what type of lifestyle or job you really want and stick with it. It can hurt your promotion timeframes switching services. I also wouldn't go from the cushier branch (airforce) to the army or marines, just because the mission is completely different. I may be impartial being an ex recruiter, but the quality of life in the AF has been in my opinion, a lot better than other branches. Best of luck.

There is a second line to that adage jack-of-all-trades, it is master of none! Before you go and think about all the things you want to do, pass basic training in the army and mastering your own skill then and only then will you be able to go to a different branch or A different MOS.

I don't what the rules are currently, but my first 4 years were Air Force 30351 ATC radar repair tech. 8 months after honorable discharge, I joined the Army 11B7V. Airborne Infantry. Retired after 16 years, for a total of 20 years.

I have in my twenty-six years in the Marine Corps met exactly one person who served in all four branches, the Marine Corps being his fourth. I cannot recall how many totals combined years of service he had accumulated; I'll guess eighteen for argument sake. So, here's the problem, let's say you served five years in each branch a total of twenty years and obtained the paygrade of E-5; yay, you accomplished your goal, but are retire as a Marine Corps Sergeant, I am assuming because is the last branch you served in and retired. Congratulations now you draw E-5 pay over twenty years ($1,700 per Month) instead of possible E-9 pay over twenty ($3,000 per Month). Good luck! And I am not even sure it would be possible today, and even if it were, I would not recommend it. The only upside you can call yourself "Marine" Sorry, I could not restrain myself, LOL!

When I was on Recruiting tour the Army still had the Split Option Program where 17 year old High School Juniors could go to basic before their senior year. It sold like hotcakes, even my own son went to basic and was in a Reserve unit. I got six in one month. Unfortunately the powers that be, decided that these soldiers could enlist in any of the other services as an initial enlistments but the Army had to treat them as Prior Service. We were out of the market, as far as Recruiting Command was concerned I had betrayed them

I had an UNcle who was a a Boilertender in the Navy from '38 to the end of the War. He got out and reenlisted in the Army. He retired from the Armay and was an Engineer on a Tug at Ft. Eustice.

Four years USAF - autopilot/compass systems specialist, B-52's, KC-135's, B-47's. Two years USN - Aviation Electrician's Mate third class, A-4 Skyhawks. Seventeen and a half years Army, retired as a the unit Maintenance Officer of an ordnance company.

I have served 33yrs all reserves, Navy 8yrs Supply, Army 5 Combat Engineer and Air force 20 Crew Chief. I am Air Reserve technician civilian job. Just select what branch you may want to go into and go to recruiter. Air Force only branch that decreases your chance of getting killed in combat.

I served 4 years Army and 19 years AF. In the Army I was a jack of all trades.
Light truck driver, Heavy truck driver, mail clerk, morning report clerk, personnel clerk,
platoon leader driver, cook and last but not least an MP.
AF. I was an Air Policeman, a marksmanship instructor, a member of the AF Rifle Team,
and a Disaster Preparedness NCO.
So you see it dosent hurt to know a lot of things.

After serving in the Navy and Naval Reserves, I switched to the Army National Guard. I started in Infantry, then went to Armor, and retired out as 1st Sgt in Field Artillery. The reason for the mos changes was moving for my civilian job. I did a total of 42 years

Not at the same time. But once your Enlistment is up in one Branch, there's nothing keeping you from going and signing up with another. I originally enlisted in the Active Duty U.S. Coast Guard in July of 1972, then transferred into the USCG Reserve in July of 1976 to complete my obligation.

After my obligation was complete, I signed up to serve in the Arizona Air National Guard/U. S. Air Force in 1979, where I served for 7 years as an Crash/Rescue Firefighter/EMT & Asst. Chief of Fire Dept. Technical Services (and Fire Prevention Specialist) with the 161st AZANG Air Refueling Group at Sky Harbor International Airport.

Then in Oct 1986 I returned to the U.S. Coast Guard Select Reserve for another 20 years. I served for 10 years with over 130 other Reservists, as a Senior NCO in a Totally Reservist manned Small Boat Unit called the U.S. Colorado River Patrol, on Arizona's Colorado River.

After that I served another 10 years as a Recruiter in USCG Recruiting Office Phoenix, during about half of that tour I roamed the State of Arizona in a Rolling Recruiting Office that we built in a Large Customized UPS Style Van, I'd probably still be there if I hadn't been "required" to retire in March of 2006!

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in BOTH Services. I had the opportunity to Work shoulder to shoulder with a large number of very selfless, extremely knowledgeable, rabidly dedicated Patriots, that this Great Nations is/was very lucky to have working in their behalf.

I learned a lot from them all, whether peer or subordinate, Male or Female, Officer or Enlisted. I would never have grown into Man I am today without the experience they gave me and their dedicated association.

I miss all the troops, Both Active Duty & Reserve, that broke their butts and gave Me, their Leader their ALL, especially those who had to drive 600 miles or more one-way, just to make it to their Drill weekends every month and Active Duty for Training Periods every year, they all gave 150% and more. I truly believe, the money they were paid from the Federal Budget, was the Best Ever Spent by the U.S. Government... We did a lot of Good and saved a lot of lives, both Civilian and Military through the course of our collective efforts/careers.

Hope that answers your question Private... There's plenty of ways to be of Service... Go pick the Service where you think you can do the most good for the greatest number of our fellow Countrymen.

Oh and be sure to check out the Education opportunities available through All the Services too, some can be had while you're actually serving and then VA Education Benefits are available after you get out. Use all the opportunities to your maximum advantage, you won't regret it!

Good luck Young 'ne and God's Speed in all your Future Endeavors.

Yes - it's possible.

I have served in three. Army Reserves 1979-'82, Navy '83-'89, Marine Corps 1996-2006.

The thing I learned from doing this, which I now forward to you as a tip, is that each service cares about its own manning issues and training investment, which can work against you when trying to change career fields. When I was in the Army Reserves and wanted to go active duty, the Army didn't want to let that happen until their Reserve component could fill my billet, which would have meant an indefinite wait. The Navy, on the other hand, couldn't care less about the Army's billet requirements, and they were happy to enlist me in the active duty Navy with my choice of jobs.

Years later, after 4 years of college and some bumps in life's road, I wanted to enlist again. But this was during the Clinton drawdown, so it was tricky. The Air Force wouldn't talk to me, and both the Navy and the Army only wanted to consider it if I would come back in in my previous MOS. The Marines didn't care about any of that, and long story shorter, I was able to enlist and get the new training and new career I wanted.

If you don't join the Marines first lol

Not to sure about today but when I went to PLDC (google it I'm old) I had a SPC(P) that had more service stripes than the CSM giving the speech. He was in various other branches.