What are the Pros and cons of switching from the Marine Corps to the Army?

I agree with CPT Scott Everett. I spent 11.5 years in the Corps. After receiving my training and going on to Comm School, my options were slim to none. I finally was given a "special assignment" as the Corps called it. I was assigned to the Defense Communications Agency - Europe in Stuttgart Germany. This assignment was taking be beyond my ETS so I had to extend my service to accept the assignment. I had already decided that I needed a change and the Corps was not going to provide it. It is very rare for an enlisted Marine to get an overseas assignment with dependents. I decided to extend to be able to give my family the experience of Europe. While in Germany, I saw what the Army and Air Force were doing for their members. While the Corps does have the highest level of esprit de corps, it did not give the opportunity for growth like the other services. Until I went on special assignment, I had to learn to get along with less on my assignments. When I was with DCA, I saw the advanced equipment both ground and satellite and got a much better understanding of global communications.

I then left the Corps and attended college. Once I was stable in my new job, I looked into joining the reserve side to salvage my military career. Right off the bat I hit a snag. If I joined the Marine Corps reserve, the nearest unit was 130 miles from my home, but they were willing to take me in as an E7. After experiencing a car breakdown on my visit and being stuck over a hundred miles from the house, I began looking elsewhere. The Army Reserve was willing to take me in as an E6 and they were located 45 miles from the house. The Army National Guard was local, but they only offered E5. I tried the Reserves because they were offering a "Try One" program. I was only obligated for one year. I was assigned to a platoon of tank drill instructors and began my training. I did not like the experience and left at the end of the year. I moved on the to Army National Guard. I went ahead and took the reduction to E5 and took a billet 45 miles away because it was in communications. I was not very pleased, but fortunately the Deputy Commander noticed. He was the husband of one of my co-workers which helped since I knew him as a civilian. He asked me if I wanted to change to intelligence. I said yes and was sent off to school the following summer. I was then sent to PLDC and promoted to E6. I was much more satisfied in the new MOS. I spent about half of my drill weekends at Ft. Campbell training with the regular Army at their simulation site. I was sent to Germany on training missions with the regular Army during Reforger Exercises about the time Germany reunited. I was sent to schools at Ft. Bragg. Life in the military became much more interesting. I was a school teacher and the Army National Guard often used up my summer time sending me to places for training 2 or more months a year.

I retired but was able to come back to the active reserve side and do a tour in Iraq. I once again had to take a reduction to E5. This time around I worked as the Operation Sergeant for a gun truck security company. I retired in 2008 at 59 and was promoted back to E7 on my last day for retirement purposes.

I missed the "attitude" of the Corps as a whole, but the opportunities in the Army NG kept the spirit alive,

When my enlistment was up and I headed home I started to think about what I would do in civilian life. I enjoyed the Marine Corps but in the end I didn't have an MOS that would convert to a civilian job. Looking around at home I considered rejoining but when I started talking to other services I found they had an interest in me and would retrain me. I ended up joining the Air National Guard and they sent me to a Class A school in radio electronics. It was one of the best moves I ever made. I had a great career for several decades, earned a very good living, even made myself very well off and now I'm retired. One thing. I still think of myself as a Marine. Always will I guess. Semper Fi.

I have served with several Marines who came over to the Army. Just make sure that what you want can be obtained and that it is in your contract. I would ask about a Ranger Contract from the Army Recruiter.

Your. Leaving My Beloved Corps. Old School 1968. University Of Vietnam. Class of. 69

this comes up every few yrs when people are looking to save money won't and cant happen

A lot of my current friends are former Marines. Many of them now Officers, which I have to saulte and they laugh, and they were forwarded that opprotunity witht he Army. They expressed the same issues when it came to career movement. They just were not getting the movement at the pace they expected. They do miss the Marines and I hear them doing a lot of comparisons but at the end of the day do what makes you happy. I tell this to my Soldiers all the time " no one controls your career but you". They have taken the best part of being a Marine and and made what it is to be a Soldier just that much better.

very interesting discussion I had friends branches of service one I can think of went from Army Cavalry unit to the Navy and made highest rank warrant officer ! Good luck with your choice !

I'm retired army field artillery. Ft. Sill trains both Army and MC artillery so I went to OBC and AOC with MC officers. My opinion is the MC has no "average" officers. They are all either very good or veery poor.

Do what you feel comfortable with. You are the only one who will have to live with that decision.

Nothing against the Army, but I can't see how that would be a career advancement move, especially if you are in MARSOC. If you are working on degree why not complete and go for something like ONI?