Is it possible to switch from Army National Guard to Active Duty Marine?

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 01:02:44 -0500

I want to join the Marines. I am a split op and went to basic during my junior year summer. During my time there I realized how much I really liked the military. But during my time in Fort Leonard Wood I realized that I joined the wrong branch. I saw that in the Army there was a lot of sloppiness. Basic was not what I expected, I didn’t feel accomplished, the Drill Sargents were lazy and we didn’t even do all the training we were supposed to do. All the things I looked forward to we didn’t do. The ceremony where we got the US Army patches didn’t feel special because I felt like I was cheated of a true military experience. Now It could just be my MOS, but everywhere I looked in Fort Leonard wood, there was sloppy soldiers, but there was also Marines. Every marine I ran into was in shape, squared away, and looked like what a true member of the military should look like, and according to my Drill Sergeant, they were support MOS. I was sold on the idea of being a Marine when I talked to one when I was at sick call. When I graduated I knew I had found my place. The more I researched the Marines, the more I wanted to become one. They have traditions, brotherhood, and most of all they all are unapologetically Marines. Now before you come at my neck, I joined the National Guard because I wanted to go to college, but I am too poor to afford it. In high school I am a fuck up, but when I was at basic, I felt like I belonged, and all my needs were met. I wasn’t sure about college, but I am sure about the military. When I enlisted I did not know anything about the US Military, I just saw an opportunity to make something better of myself and took it. I am in my senior year of high school, and I want nothing else than to serve as a marine. I talked to a few people about this and they say it’s possible, but haven’t given me clear instructions on what to do and how to go about doing this. If I am going to serve active duty, I want to do it in the branch that I feel best suits me and the branch that I believe is the best in the entire US Military. I still haven’t gone to AIT and I hope that it makes it easier. I also don’t mind losing my sign on bonus. I’d rather have a career. I also don’t mind doing Marine Boot Camp. Thank you!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 9 at 2024 1:10 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 01:10:53 -0500

You have to finish your ARNG service obligation first. When I went into the National Guard in the 1990s, It was 6 years plus 2 years in the I. R. R. I went through California Army National Guard OCS. My discharge paper said that I still have to finish my original obligation even though I was going from E4 to O1.

Others here will probably know more than me. But I am not convinced you can do this. I also don't know how the Marine Corps would react If you wanted to join them after you finished your initial obligation. You know you'd have to go through a complete new boot camp, Their cadence calls, Definitions and some commands will be different than what you've already learned.

Let's see what others have to say here. Your goals are noble but you are stuck with what you signed and swore an oath and enlistment obligation.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 9 at 2024 1:31 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 01:31:08 -0500

Colonel, Do you have any advice for this young man?

Response by SPC James Neidig made Jan 9 at 2024 2:50 AM

SPC James Neidig — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 02:50:58 -0500

I Served In The Marines Then Went Army, You Can Make Your Army Experience Better By Being Squared Away! Do Your Job And Volunteer For Everything You Can , Show You Want To Better Yourself, You Make Your Career Successful,Not The Branch You Serve In,
The Marines Don’t Usually Take Prior Service And You Will Be Prior Service Having Served In The Guard .

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Jan 9 at 2024 5:03 AM

LTC Trent Klug — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 05:03:32 -0500

Yes, you can but it requires work on your part and the willingness of your command to let you go. It's harder if you enlisted with a bonus paid to you.

Talk with your chain of command about your desire. If you're a good Soldier, they'll hate to lose you but more than likely the command will let you go. But don't be surprised if your Battalion Commander and CSM want to discuss it with you as well. You'll need to talk with a Marine recruiter and have that all lined up to. The process may take several months.

Response by COL Randall C. made Jan 9 at 2024 7:30 AM

COL Randall C. — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 07:30:40 -0500

Short answer: Yes, it is possible .. but is likely? No.

When you first enter any component/service of the military, you incur an eight-year mandatory service obligation (MSO). The MSO is how long you've agreed to serve in any component/service of the military. Your enlistment contract with the ARNG is likely between three and six years though.

You would have to serve a minimum of nine months after completion of your Initial Entry Training (IET .. BCT + AIT). At that point you could request a conditional release (DD Form 368) through your leadership up to your state's AG (most likely delegated down to the G1 for the state).

If the conditional release is approved, you would have one year to work with a recruiter to arrange for your enlistment in the Marines. Discharge from the ARNG would be coordinated to occur the day before your enlistment in the USMC.

All bonuses, incentives, etc. that are service specific (Army bonuses, any from your state, etc.) would be recouped. DoD bonuses if still applicable would transfer.

But, as I said - possible, but not likely. Your state's ARNG may release you after your complete of nine months of service after your IET (actually, your TAG could waive that as well), but it's very unlikely unless there was some extenuating circumstance.

The Army will have made a hefty resource (time an money) investment in making you a qualified Soldier by the time you complete your IET and "I don't like the Army and want to join the Marines" isn't enough of an incentive for them to release you from your contract.

I do understand and can empathize with your view. Truth be told, I was very put off by the Army when I was becoming an officer (I was commissioned through ROTC) and didn't see any of the esprit de corps that my father talked about from his Army career. Long story short is that your IET experience is not representative of the rest of your career.

Like everything, there are good units, bad units, and everything in-between. Since you'll have to stick it out until nine months after you finish AIT, you'll have at least a better sense of the "Big Army", Army National Guard, and your unit by then. If you still are feeling that way, then by all means, submit for the conditional release - the worst case is that it is denied.

However, until then I would recommend that you approach your enlistment with an attitude of getting the absolute most you possible could out of it. Aggressively pursue training opportunities, expand your military education, and seek out those NCOs that you would like to emulate and talk to them (there are plenty of 'in shape, squared away Soldiers who look like what a member of the military should look like').

You might be very surprised to find out you have a different attitude when you do this, but if not, then there is a process you can try - just remember, it's a request to be released from your contract early, something that does not have to be approved.
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* NGR 600-200 (Enlisted Personnel Management) - https://www.ngbpmc.ng.mil/Portals/27/Publications/NGR/NGR%20600-200_20210325_v2.pdf
* AR 601-210 (Regular Army and Reserve Components Enlistment Program) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN30575-AR_601-210-000-WEB-1.pdf
* DD Form 368 (Request for Conditional Release) - https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/forms/dd/dd0368.pdf

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Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 9 at 2024 7:49 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 07:49:25 -0500

Normally I do my best to provide great guidance and advice, but every now and then something comes across my desk that I have to address in a different manner:

Did I just read that a PV2, with only 2 months experience in the Army, is stating they basically know more than the Drill Sergeants? You know for a fact that the Drill Sergeants did not instruct you on everything they were supposed to? You had eyes on their training schedules? You saw the light at sick call? While talking to a Marine that has been in all of maybe 6 months and was probably a PFC or maybe Lance Corporal. And yet, you stated you felt like you belonged while in Army Basic but now you're essentially sh*tting on the Army by saying that Soldiers are dressed sloppy, that the patching ceremony didn't meet your standards, slapping every single Soldier in the Army based on the only ones you saw at Fort Leonard Wood.....which are more than likely just like you, an IET. You certainly have NOT seen every Soldier on that base.

To answer your question: is there a possibility that you can switch to Marines? Yes, the possibility is there. What you're not realizing, and need to ask, is "what is the likelihood I could switch to the Marines?" The answer to that is slim to none, leading more towards none. Marines rarely, if ever, take persons from other branches. Hell, they rarely take back their own after they get out.

Response by SSG Laurie Mullen made Jan 9 at 2024 6:56 PM

SSG Laurie Mullen — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 18:56:30 -0500

What MOS did you sign up for?

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Jan 9 at 2024 11:46 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 23:46:35 -0500

If you want to be squared away then do it. You aren't limited by your branch by that.

There are those who transition to another branch during their contract but it is extremely rare. You will have a very hard uphill battle.

The more likely of situations is that someone switches branches at the end of their current contract. There is a catch when switching to the Marine Corps because you will not get credit for basic training and will be required to attend Boot Camp. You will be able to wear to wear your Army awards as well but there is a criteria to follow which will prohibit you from wearing every Army ribbon/badge you earn during your time.

You will also see that you won't be able to get higher than guaranteed E2 going to Boot Camp. I have known plenty of Soldiers/Sailors that crossed over and came to the Marines after first serving in another branch.

My suggestion to you is to use the great tuition assistance that the National Guard provides and get college done while you serve your commitment to the National Guard. You can try the inter branch transfer but I wouldn't put all of your eggs in that basket. There is a enlistment shortage and you may not get the approval during a recruiting drought. Serve your time, soak up an education and some good training and go Marine if you still feel the same way down the road.

Response by LTC Jeff Wilkinson made Jan 10 at 2024 5:39 PM

LTC Jeff Wilkinson — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 17:39:19 -0500

You need to talk with a Marine recruiter.
And you will have to do basic again.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2024 10:50 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 10:50:27 -0500

Everything you are looking for can be found in the Marine Corps; and it all comes from one place, Marines. It does not come from the institution; it comes from the people. You could try and switch your branch of service, or you can find everything you're looking for in yourself and embody those characteristics. Be the example you want others to be.

Response by SMSgt Michael Gleason made Jan 11 at 2024 6:37 PM

SMSgt Michael Gleason — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 18:37:58 -0500

If you still have/had a Military Service Obligation (MSO), your current unit would have to be willing to sign a Conditional Release to allow the "new" branch to enlist you. You would most likely have to retake the ASVAB to be scored for your "new" branch (once you enlisted, the raw scores from your original ASVAB were deleted, so there's no way to go back and "translate" Army scores to Marine scores, for instance), you'd probably have to take a new enlistment physical, and you'd most likely have to attend Marine Corps Boot Camp to "learn to be a Marine"! You'd retain your military seniority (Pay Entry Base Date or PEBD), but you'd probably lose whatever rank you have and go back to being an E1. It's all very "case specific".

Response by GySgt Jack Wallace made Jan 12 at 2024 7:45 AM

GySgt Jack Wallace — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 07:45:33 -0500

OOrah, not sure what one has to do besides go to MC Boot Camp. But, check with your local Marine Corps Recruiter. Just remember it ain't easy. The Corps is hard on it's enlisted ranks until one makes SSgt. But, There ain't anything harder or challenging than Marine Corps BootCamp. You make it, there isn't anything you can't do. Note; Hope you like to PT, march and do a little hiking:)))

Response by SPC David C. made Mar 15 at 2024 7:15 PM

SPC David C. — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 19:15:34 -0400

So despite what's been said, I've learned damn near anything is "possible" in the military. Now how "probable" it is...that's a different story. My suggestion, do a little more time in the army first. I say this because the army has money, schools, and opportunities the Corps can only dream of. Learn your MOS, and then talk to a Marine recruiter. It's a good thing you won't mind going back to bootcamp because unlike going from Marines to Army, you won't have a choice. Whatever your run time is now, do it faster and farther. If you can't swim, learn. Good luck to you.