Posted on Mar 26, 2018
What advice do you have for a prior-service Marine entering the Army?
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Im new to RP, I decided to join because my research usually takes me here and I usually find good answers, advice, and info.
I am currently getting ready to go into Army, Active Duty. Either as a 42A or 68G (undecided). I have been out of the Marine Corps for about 2 1/2 years, and I am looking for any advice or tips that any Soldiers or prior service Marines can give. I am currently in school for Business Administration in Irving, Texas, hence the MOS choices, and plan on starting a couple of businesses in the next few years. As far as I know, at the moment, I will be keeping my rank (e-4) and will be eligible for promotion pretty soon after enlisting (based off of information given to my recruiter and other Soldiers). In the Marine Corps, I was a 3381 -- Cook, I've been stationed in Okinawa and 29 Palms and have done field exercises in Okinawa, Korea, Philippines, and 29 Palms (No actual deployments, unfortunately). Outside of the Marine Corps, I lived in Oceanside and played football for my school in San Diego, and recently moved to Dallas, TX.
I am just looking for any advice/tips on AIT, duty stations, life as a soldier, etc. Any information that you all can offer will be greatly appreciated.
I am currently getting ready to go into Army, Active Duty. Either as a 42A or 68G (undecided). I have been out of the Marine Corps for about 2 1/2 years, and I am looking for any advice or tips that any Soldiers or prior service Marines can give. I am currently in school for Business Administration in Irving, Texas, hence the MOS choices, and plan on starting a couple of businesses in the next few years. As far as I know, at the moment, I will be keeping my rank (e-4) and will be eligible for promotion pretty soon after enlisting (based off of information given to my recruiter and other Soldiers). In the Marine Corps, I was a 3381 -- Cook, I've been stationed in Okinawa and 29 Palms and have done field exercises in Okinawa, Korea, Philippines, and 29 Palms (No actual deployments, unfortunately). Outside of the Marine Corps, I lived in Oceanside and played football for my school in San Diego, and recently moved to Dallas, TX.
I am just looking for any advice/tips on AIT, duty stations, life as a soldier, etc. Any information that you all can offer will be greatly appreciated.
42A: Human Resources Specialist
Information
Advice
Prior Service
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 22
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Take the same approach to your duties innthe Army as you did in the Marines. Maintain your discipline and standards. Study hard to learn your duties and set yourself apart from your peers. Seek the tough duties and never be afraid to ask for guidance. That is not to question why, but how. When you arrive be mindful of who you associate with. Those who try to carry their neighborhood to the duty assignment are those to avoid. Align yourself with like minded people with goals and aspirations of success. Thank you for your service.
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In my experience with this is they think there going to be leadership right away. Army regulations are different so start reading
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Avoid using the phrase " In the Marines we did it this way" Other than that thanks for serving.
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I am also making the switch from the Marine Corps to the NG, I was going to go the WO route but have sinnce decided to go to OCS.
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Cpl Carlton Corbin
No, I was told that I'd have to do the Army equivalent in order to be eligible for promotion.
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TSgt (Join to see)
Gotcha. I was told if you completed Corporals course, resident and online, than you can join as a Corporal in the Army. If you didn't, you will join as a specialist. Just what my recruiter told me lol. I'm a prior service Marine leaving for the Army soon as well.
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Cpl Carlton Corbin
Great! My recruiter didn't really go into much detail, I was just asking about promotions and how it works and he asked about it, but I hadn't done it. I didn't really see a point in it because I picked up 9 months before my EAS and didn't plan on going back in. But maybe our paths will cross someday down the line.
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SFC (Join to see)
Not true, Corporals in the army are a rare thing to see. there has to be a CPL position or possibly a E-4 holding a E-5 position (units tend not to do that as it fills the empty slot and wont receive a E-5). Most E-4s are specialists most MOS's don't have a CPL position by MTOE. You could possibly be a CPL in one unit go to another and be told to take the hard stripes off as we don't have a CPL slot.
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Easy transition between the two branches, same rank structure and it's like transferring to a new unit or job.
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Hey!
Hard to believe (these days) but NOT everyone gets deployed.
The (1) Overseas Duties, & (2) USMC will be enough of a plus.
Sounds like you'll PROBABLY breeze through The PT. USMC Boot Camp also does much more Drill n Ceremonies than Army BCT. Whatever you "forgot" if anything, you'll catch on very quickly.
My Betie was Marine Artillery then Army Infantry. He says it was a breeze.
Hard to believe (these days) but NOT everyone gets deployed.
The (1) Overseas Duties, & (2) USMC will be enough of a plus.
Sounds like you'll PROBABLY breeze through The PT. USMC Boot Camp also does much more Drill n Ceremonies than Army BCT. Whatever you "forgot" if anything, you'll catch on very quickly.
My Betie was Marine Artillery then Army Infantry. He says it was a breeze.
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Try to go easy on the yuut-rah-kill talk from your time in the Corps. One thing I've noticed about prior Marines coming into the Army, is a lot of them won't STHU about their USMC days, therefore alienating themselves from their fellow soldiers. By all means, brother. Be proud of your service. But just remember. You're playing for a different team. And finally...WELCOME.
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I forgot to mention, work on the Army PFT. My weakness was the sit-ups. But I overcame that. Unless you're a PT stud, then you'll be good, lol
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