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

My son switched from the Marines to the Army over a cigarette butt controversy. He ended up with the 3rd Secial Forces and screwed up his bck jumping out of a C-130 over Iraq. He loved all of it. I, on the other hand, was a 100% doggie during the draft era and ran into a ton of assholes who did not accept RA's in their US society. I fought company pissants a lot more than I got to fight the enemy. I shoulda went Marine but ended up rmy because the Navy wouldn't let me join up for SEAL training even though I had a WSI scuba diver training card. I did learn one thing: the uniform might batter at the football game. It doesn't mean squat on the battlefield.

I switched from the AF to Army as an E5. There were several prior Marines in my Combat Medic school. They seemed to like the Army better, but maintained their Marine brotherhood. As for me, I hated the AF and all the politics. The Army was the best move that I could have made. It also allowed me to pursuit different MOS and rank structures, that would not have been afforded to me in the AF.

It comes down to opportunities and lifestyle in my opinion. So many more jobs in the Army, Army Reserve, National Guard and in more lication. Like the old receuiting billboards in Jacksonville, NC said, "Sometimes the best Soldier is a Marine."

I served 20 years in the Marines. While had duty as a recruiter at Lakewood Ohio I served with the other branches of service. I appreciate the Marine Corps more.

The pros and cons in this matter are as individual as fingerprints. The system is built to make you blend in, not stand out, not to be all you can be but to be the piece the system needs to perpetuate itself for the gratification of those who benefit from the catastrophe of armed conflict. Individuals would be better able to develop and contribute to our country if we had one military entity instead of competing branches with over-lapping goals and obstacles.

Depends on your own personal circumstances. I spent 11.5 years in the Corps and left as a Gunnery Sergeant. I won't go into details, but the reason for my exit was a personal choice. After attending college and getting a job, I thought for a while about the years I had invested and decided to join the Army National Guard. I missed military life. I had been born on a military base and grew up as a dependent. Just a few days after graduating I was back as a service member. The Guard let me in as an SgtE5. After another 10 years, I was discharged as a SSgt but retired as a SFC. The weekend duty and the 2 weeks in the summer along with other extended times for schools and special assignments satisfied my need for military life plus I now had a nice retirement check coming my way when I turned 60. Then 10 years later I requested to be transferred out of the Ready Reserve to the Active Reserve. I kept my eyes open and found a group going to Iraq. I requested a transfer and after an interview with the CO, I was accepted. This added another 18 months to my active duty. When I finally retired at 59, I had 13 active and 13 reserve years and while I had to return to the Guard as an E5 once again, I still retired as a SFC.

Rank wise, I should have stayed in the Corps. I could have retired as a MGySgt around the 20 years mark. If I had transferred to the Army, which I almost did, I was going to go Warrant. I had the paperwork all but turned in. At the time I was on Joint Service Duty. I was guaranteed to stay on the same post for 3 years. I would have been pinned on my date of entry, and WO school would come with the next opening. I almost did it and probably should have. Going Reserve side was not good for promotion. My timing was off. At the time I finished college, I was not eligible for OCS because the age limit at that time was 29.5 years and I was that age when I started college. Rank just didn't work in the Guard. That's OK since I still retired as an E7 for pay. Could have been better, but that's OK.

I loved the Corps, but quite frankly, life in the Army can be just as good, and better in many cases since your family has more opportunities and there are a lot more choices in duty stations.

No matter the pros or cons, don’t go to the army and brag about being a former Marine, especially if you’re a leg in the 82nd. All the formers would do it and nobody cared.

No pros just cons Sgt. You would be lost in the Army just another grunt. Once a Marine always a marine, never anything else. Side note I have found there are a few more conns in the Army.

SARGE, THERE IS NO "PAT" ANSWERS. WE ALL HAVE "GOALS / DESIRES", FIGURE OUT YOURS AND THAT IS THE ANSWER.

it depends on what you are pursuing in Life, Prestige?, Honor?, Pride?, you have also shown all of those mentioned, and more .. follow your dream , and stay in a vocation, job, M.O.S., that will last and help you out, an live life to the fullest. .. welcome to OOORAH land and semper fidelis also.