Other Service Veterans (OSVET). A good or a bad move?

PO1 William Bargar — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 16:26:29 -0400

Myself having served in the Marine Corps and Navy I look back at my MILITARY CAREER and wonder......."What if....."  I believe it costed me way too much in my career switching branches even though Marine Corps Aviation and Navy Aviation are practically the same!  Two pay grades......really?  Even though I made 3rd Class Petty Officer and 2nd Class Petty Officer first time up.......I believe I LOST FOUR YEARS in my career which SEVERELY HURT my chances of making Chief Petty Officer.  I believe to this day "IF" I would have stayed in the Marine Corps for my career I would have made "Gunny"  On the other hand "IF" I would have joined the Navy and made a career I would have made Chief.  My question is:  "Are other service veterans (OSVETS) treated fairly"?  Is there a need for a change to the program?  And why are OSVETS penalized for being in another branch in the first place?  Are we NOT ALL MILITARY/VETERANS?  Thoughts and comments please..........

Response by SPC Charles Brown made Apr 5 at 2014 5:57 PM

SPC Charles Brown — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 17:57:26 -0400

While I am not an other service veteran, I did bounce around inside the Army serving in all three areas. When I went back to active duty in 1999 I was given little if any credit for the time I served in the Guard and Reserves. In some cases I was looked down on for having done just that. Did it cost me, yes. But most of the cost was in intangible things, like respect, confidence in my abilities shown by my peers. However I did eventually earn their respect it took time.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Apr 21 at 2014 8:20 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 08:20:37 -0400

I believe I made the right decision. While I still remember parts of my time in the Corps very fondly, the Army is a much better fit for me. I get to do a lot more mentoring, teaching, and outside the box thinking. Plus the Army is much easier on families than the Corps was.

Are there some things the Corps did better? Sure. But there are a lot of things that the Army does a lot better too (I'm leaving this purposefully vague). In the end, every service has it's pros and cons, it's just a question of which better fits your personality and career goals.

Response by SSG Felix Najera made Apr 21 at 2014 10:26 AM

SSG Felix Najera — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 10:26:18 -0400

I believe that some of the respective services need to re-vamp their OSVET/Prior Service programs. Some of their programs are not up-to-date as to which MOS/AFSC/Rate with convert over. I do not see the point of the reduction of rank when switching branches.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2014 1:17 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 May 2014 13:17:29 -0400

I have been in the navy for 6 years now, I enlisted after high school and havent left. But in my experience I do not think they are treated fairly. We had a Coast Guard MK switch over to the Navy as MM, from which waht i understand is pretty much the exact same job. He Lost 1 paygrade and had to wait 3 years before he went back up for e-6. Why did he lose a paygrade bc he changed branches if he stayed in the same job field? so i agree that i think he lost 3 years of his career and prolly will not get to put on anchors because of it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2014 3:21 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 May 2014 15:21:27 -0400

I think it is a disservice to demote someone just because they switched branches. They might have been a senior E6 and not they are a junior E5.

Maybe a temporary probationary period at a lower rank to get their feet wet? Say 6 months after enlistment and re-training. The service member is renstated at the former rank, barring adverse action.

Response by PO1 Charles White made May 23 at 2014 11:18 AM

PO1 Charles White — Fri, 23 May 2014 11:18:30 -0400

I believe their needs to be consistency throughout all branches of the military. If an individual wants to make a lateral change to another branch he or she should be able to do so without any change in rank, i.e. CTI Navy goes to CTI Coast Guard or Air Force essentially doing the same function. However, if an individual changes his MOS or rating to an entirely different career field, it's understandable you would come into that field at a lower rank/rating until you have proven yourself sufficient to perform.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2014 9:16 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 09:16:02 -0400

At least on the Navy side of things, I think the whole loss of rank depends on several factors, rate, time between enlistments, time in rate, in most cases I do not agree with people losing a pay grade when they come back in. For me going from the Air Force to the Navy has worked out very well for me. I do not regret it at all.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Apr 29 at 2015 3:35 AM

PO1 John Miller — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 03:35:53 -0400

I don't really have anything of substance to add here as I wasn't an OSVET. However I did serve with a few. What I always found funny were the former Marines turned Navy who thought they were still in the Corps and tried to act like it. I often had to remind them they weren't a Marine anymore but a Sailor.

Response by PO1 Jerome Newland made Aug 26 at 2019 11:26 PM

PO1 Jerome Newland — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 23:26:07 -0400

I switched from Navy to Coast Guard mid career. Rate for rate and rank for rank. Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class. They were short one med lab tech and I jumped just in time. I had to start over on my Good Conduct Medal. But when I took my E6 exam and passed #1 in my group. #2 in the Coast Guard. They made 7 that year I was #2. Switching services is never easy until you settle in. New expectations new jargon new clothes new type of service. But, if you are tired of OR get out. That is the beginning of burnout and the precursor to PTSD. So whatever you do, change the stress level you operate at. Be aware trauma management is a precision adrenaline pumping job. You may not be able to transition to a desk job. Please consider counseling should this become a problem. Best wishes and thank you for your service. Senior Chaplain Jerome Newland Philippines HS1/USCG/Ret