Posted on Apr 4, 2020
SSgt Tiltrotor Airframe Mechanic, MV-22
12.8K
31
18
8
8
0
I recently signed up to transition from the Marine Corps into the Army. I’m gonna be a 14E and report to Fort Sill in May (if this DoD ban is lifted). I’m trying to figure out what to expect. I lat moved in the Marine Corps and as a Sgt in the school house you were treated better and given more liberties than E1/E2s. Is it grown man rules? Are you housed with the general population or separate? How is Fort Sill? Overall what to expect. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Avatar feed
Responses: 7
LTC Jason Mackay
6
6
0
I'm not in the Mix at Sill, but let me welcome you to the Army.

Historically NCOs reclassifying are housed differently (so you don't fraternize, and be treated as an NCO. and you'll have different relationships with the instructors. It varies MOs to MOS.
(6)
Comment
(0)
SSgt Tiltrotor Airframe Mechanic, MV-22
SSgt (Join to see)
>1 y
Thank you for the info sir.
(2)
Reply
(0)
LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
>1 y
SSgt (Join to see) good luck and welcome
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
CSM Kevin Enoch
5
5
0
You will be treated as a transition student. You will still attend classes and conduct PRT with the Initial Entry Training AIT students, but you will not be housed with them. Yes, big boy rules, but you will be expected to be an example of what right looks like. Ft. Sill isn’t bad. It’s pretty small, but my family and I enjoyed it overall.
Now, coming from the Marine Corps to 14E...practice some patience. I am a retiring Army Air Defender, but the segment you are going into is more cerebral than what I did. Woosaaaa. By the way, you will see the MARDET on Sill. They train FA and ADA, but not in the same area where you will be. Their ADA is only SHORAD, which is my experience.
Last note - I was the CSM of 2-6 ADA from June 2014 to October 2016, you will be in 3-6 ADA, both are in 30th ADA Brigade. I don’t think much has changed since my time there, so I hope all of this is accurate for you.
(5)
Comment
(0)
SSgt Tiltrotor Airframe Mechanic, MV-22
SSgt (Join to see)
>1 y
So, the first paragraph, thank you. Clears up a lot of questions I had. I’ve been told to practice patience when I transition as the Marine Corps is a little more high strung. As for the second paragraph, would you mind elaborating on the acronyms used? I’m not up to par on with the Army side of things as of yet. One more question, if you don’t mind. How is it getting duty station preference in the Army? Up to this point it’s been “needs of the Corps” and you basically have no say. I’ve been told that the Army is a lot better about hearing you out. Thank you for the response.
(2)
Reply
(0)
SFC Platoon Sergeant
SFC (Join to see)
>1 y
SSgt (Join to see) definitely needs of the Army....I tried my damndest to avoid Korea as a first duty station.....guess where I went for a year after.....I did get to pick where I went afterwards.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Platoon Sergeant
2
2
0
14E here.
I am prior service Marine that transitioned to the Army as well. However, I did 4 years in the Army reserves before going active (into 14E). I went to fort sill for AIT in May of 2018. The barracks we stayed in were garbage. Bottom floor is transitions, other floors are new students. The floors were coming up, cant lock your doors when you leave and the AC was crap. Probably the worst housing I've stayed in during my almost 18 years in. You PT together with the students, sometimes they pull the transitions aside and let them pt on their own (maybe once a week). In class, you'll just sit in the back and do your own thing. Dont pay attention to the students, you're not supposed to get on their ass about things they do wrong. I was the only transition in my class, it was a long 5 months. Other classes had a few more transitions too. Bring your car for sure, Lawton is typical military town, kinda run down, has all the major stores. If I can give you one place to go and unwind its Mike's sports bar. I spent a lot of days there. Staff is friendly, food is great and is a good place to just go relax at. Feel free to ask any other questions you may have. Oh. Be ready for a culture shock coming straight from the Corps....you'll see...
(2)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
Avatar feed
SSgt transitioning to 14E from Marine Corps. What to expect?
Sgt Rifleman
1
1
0
When you say transition to Army did you complete your enlistment, get out & join or did they allow you to inter-service transfer??
Currently a grunt E-5 with 6 of 8 years complete on this contract but trying to get out of the Marines & over to ODA due to HSST... Im being told the Marine Corps doesnt participate in inter-service transfers but i also know that most of what your told in the Marines is just what they want us to believe....
(1)
Comment
(0)
SSgt Tiltrotor Airframe Mechanic, MV-22
SSgt (Join to see)
>1 y
So I got told the same thing, I don’t know if it’s true or not. I’m going to the end of my current contract and transferring which is considered an “inter-service.” I have sleeves on both arms and as you know that makes me an unsat Marine with zero career progression opportunities. So yes, inter-service, but at the end of my contract. If you’d like, I can find you on global and share the paperwork I had to push up to HQMC.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Sgt Rifleman
Sgt (Join to see)
>1 y
I emailed the Army SF recruiter & got a response that from what they know the Marines will only let you do an inter-service transfer 180 days from your EAS, the DD form 0368 is what i found. Is that what you submitted?
Thanks for the info!
(0)
Reply
(0)
SSG Darrell Peters
SSG Darrell Peters
>1 y
First off don't believe anything unless you see it in a regulation or law. All branches participate in inner-service transfers. However, they are rare these days except for a few exceptions. they are several references online. It is more common to see an inner service transfer from USMC to Navy and from Army to USAF. Despite these commonalities it boils down to the one phrase we have all heard it depends on the Need of the service. I have seen and met a Doctor who went from the Airforce to the Army through inner service transfer. If you graduate from the Naval Academy with the approval of the Secretary of Defense you can transfer to the Army or the Airforce. From what I understand the most common occurrence for this is Pilot training. The Army has the most Helicopter Pilots for example. However in my expirence it has always been based on that famous sentence. "The needs of the service." More often a marine will simply enlist into another branch. I once met an Airborne Submariner. LOL He was Army Airborne then joined the Navy and served on a Submarine.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SGT Tactical Director Assistant
1
1
0
Fort sill isn’t bad, I’ve been here for three years. But in all honesty it’s going to be a shock on how differently air defense works from other branches in the army. It’s definitely a more relaxed lifestyle but there is often a lot of unnecessary things being pushed down from the BN level. Since you are going to be an NCO you won’t be put in the ECS because the battery trainer will want to put privates in there so they can learn or if there’s an experienced NCO they’ll be in the ECS. You’ll be put on some PM&E crew and do drills. Also forget everything you learn in AIT because we don’t apply any of what was taught to our day to day operations. You’ll learn how to use IADS. That’s a system maintenance app on the computer. If you have any questions about ADA send me a message.
(1)
Comment
(0)
SSgt Tiltrotor Airframe Mechanic, MV-22
SSgt (Join to see)
>1 y
So, I’m new on this site and have no clue how to message someone. Lol. Thank you for the information. Would you mind elaborating on ECS, PM&E, IADS? I’m coming over from a pretty relaxed community myself. I was honestly thinking 14E would be a little more structured than what I’m used to. Aviation in the Marine Corps is pretty lax. But I think most complex MOS’ are and from the small intro I’ve had to 14E (YouTube videos, web browsing, and word of mouth) it seems to be a complex MOS. I’ve got experience with in depth fly by wire systems so I’m hoping that experience will translate, even If just a little, into learning 14E.

Another couple of questions, and you can tell me to kick rocks at any time, lol. How is the deployment cycle and training cycle? I’m used to be gone ALOT right now. I just got back from my 3rd deployment in 4 years. How is the Army with duty stations? The Marine Corps doesn’t care what you want, you’ll go where you’re put. Again, thanks for the info brother.
(0)
Reply
(0)
SGT Tactical Director Assistant
SGT (Join to see)
>1 y
The ECS is the Engagement Control Station where you control launchers and the Radar. PM&E is Prepare for Movement and Emplacement. IADS has everything from troubleshooting equipment to NSN’s. We don’t shoot down helicopters. It’s not that complex if you are on a radar, EPP, AMG crew. In the ECS you gotta know kinematics of different aircraft, how to engage them, and how to posture your system to best defend an asset. We do Gunnery certification every 6 months but that up to the Battalion. Army doctrine says you have to certify once a year. We got back from our last deployment November 2018 and we’re about to leave again on another one. SSgt (Join to see)
(0)
Reply
(0)
SGT Tactical Director Assistant
SGT (Join to see)
>1 y
The army with duty stations isn’t bad, you can call your branch manager and request a duty station or just ask what options you have. 14E can only go to Ft Bragg, Hood,Bliss,Sill,Germany,Japan, and Korea.SSgt (Join to see)
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
CPL Armor Crew Member
0
0
0
Is 14E a PCS move if you are married?
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SGT Fire Support Specialist
0
0
0
I’m at Ft Sill now, but for a different MOS. All prior service goes through reception to get uniforms, medpros, inprocessing etc dome, you can expect to be there from 1-3 weeks, depending on how fast they get your orders to go to AIT. You will be stuck there with brand new trainees, but in a your own barracks. I can’t speak specifically for 14e, but a couple of guys I speak to are 14 series and they do PT on there own and just show up for class with cal the primates. Other than that there is almost no accountability across the board for all the non IET soldiers (prior service). Basically it’s big boy rules but don’t mess with the privates.
(0)
Comment
(0)
SGT Fire Support Specialist
SGT (Join to see)
>1 y
And as for Sill, there’s a px, a Popeyes/ BK, 3 shoppettes, and a bowling alley, not much else. Lawton is a drug infested broken down tiny town, but at least they have a few decent restaurants. OKC is about 2 hrs north or DFW 3 hrs south. I recommend getting out of the city when you can lol
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

close