What should I expect as I transition from the Marines to Army Cav Scouts? What are some do's and don'ts?

After being both enlisted and commissioned in the Marine Corps, I transferred to the Army National Guard as a CWO-2. I never really told anybody about my Marine background, but the word seemed to spread throughout the unit. When asked why I transferred from the Marines my standard answer was "To be the best Army Warrant Officer, I can be" I eventually was turned back into a Captain, then promoted to Major, and the same mindset held true. When you make the decision to switch from one service to another, never loose your pride for your former service, but realize that your new service deserves the same respect, pride, and 100% effort, that you put into your original branch. The job you do and the people you lead deserve nothing less, and your professionalism as military member will naturally show through.

You'll have to start using silverware in the chow hall.
Grunting, farting and yelling ooorah will no longer pass for intelligent conversation.
Your equipment will no longer be older than you are.
PT will still suck, just in a different way.

Prior service Marines have been some of the best soldiers I have served with. If you can get over the fact that the Army isn't the Marine Corps, you'll do just fine. In my experience Marines get a little extra respect. The only thing I saw once was a guy who just couldnt shut up about how much better the Marine Corps was. It didn't bother me (my mindset was, "yeah and so are Rangers; but we are what we are,") but some guys got tired of it. I think that was what some of the other comments about not trying to bring the Marine Corps in were angling at.

The single most outstanding soldier I have ever served with was a prior service Marine rifleman who came in the Army to be a combat medic. We were both support soldiers in a CAV unit and I trusted my medical care to him long before the useless PA we had. He was the absolute epitome of professionalism in every way. He would do anything for HIS troops. I PCS'd and didn't see him for 7 years. Low and behold I get assigned to a SFG(A) Group and am in the office one day when I hear a familiar voice yell "Born?" Holy shit!! He had gone to SFAS, the Q course (18D) and was getting ready to do Team Sergeant time as a SFC(P). Now he is a SGM select and I am more than proud to call him a friend.

For starters, you will need to learn a new lingo as we have a different set of terminology for everything than what you are used to. The only NCO's that you address differently than just "Sergeant" are CPL's, 1SG's, and Sergeant Majors. For the most part though, you will find a lot of things are just the same. You will be welcomed into your unit, and nobody is going to think of you any different for being a prior Marine. In the Army, everybody's shit stinks so there are no superiority complexes (for the most part).

Don't bring the hardcore mentality that Marines have to the Army. Bring your professionalism.

I spent five years in the Marine Corps infantry, two appointments with them, was a contractor in Afghanistan for sometime, and then switched over to Army infantry because I got a wild hair in my ass. What I found is that we are more similar than most Marines would like to admit.

Here are the cons:
The lack of discipline will make your eyeball twitch, hearing people call a staff Sergeant a Sgt will make your head want to explode, and the fratinization problem is enough to make every vein in your neck pop. Couple that with the overwhelming political correctness that plagues the army and you'd think it a recipe for disaster. The esprit de corps varies from unit to unit as opposed to being the same across the board. Some units will have as much ferocity as what you're used to in the Corps Infantry, others will make you want to throw up.

The pros:
Most of them are more curious than anything as to our way of doing things. They want to compare and contrast, figure out what works best, and actually implement it. From my experience, the whole "this is the way we've always done it" doesn't really apply. If something can be done better or more effectively then they're all about it. They also have quite a few tricks of their own that will surprise you. Sure, you'll get a lot of crayon eating jokes etc., but it's all in good fun. I don't think I have ever had anybody talk crap and actually mean it. Their equipment is good to go, and the first time you pull a 240L out of grease you'll know what heaven feels like. They really seem to appreciate the specialized infantry MOS expertise that we bring over, and will pick your brain for knowledge.

One interesting side effect that I had, was that I developed a profound respect for squared away soldier. In the Marine Corps, you don't really have a choice but to be squared away. The ramifications for not being squared away are usually very drastic. That being said, it's not the same in the army. You can be a complete turd And still manage to have a career that ends after 20 years and a rocker or two. That being said, when you see it squared away soldier know this: he squared away because he chose to be. He's made a conscious effort to hold the standard even though he could get by without doing so. To me, this garners a whole new level of respect. It's by their own sheer dedication of will that they're squared away, and speaks volumes about their character.

You will find that Spc's are just Lances with a better paycheck, but are up to their usual shenanigans. And just like lances, they are the backbone of the unit. The mafia (the underground) will know what's shaking and moving, and will make or break a squad.

It's going to take you a minute to break the habits that the Marine Corps has instilled in you. After all, you were indoctrinated. Not all of it will fade, try to make sure that it's the good parts that don't. Most likely, you'll find another prior Marine in your unit, and he'll help you through your transition. Also, you're awards will all transfer over, but the order of them may vary slightly.

All in all, it will likely be a positive experience. I was by no means a motard in he Corps, but to the army I certainly was at first. It's that different. You just have to tone it down to right about where you feel like you'd get lifed out in the Corps. That seems to be where the army is comfortable.

Your professionalism (proper greeting of the day, Marine Customs and courtesies) will be a bit foreign to them, but they will appreciate it. I still call Ssgt By his full rank. They'll tell you not to, but once I explained that being a Staff NCO is a big deal, and that I feel disrespectful when calling them just Sgt, they understood and actually liked it. I think they liked the fact that it was recognized And respected as an accomplishment worth differentiating. Also, don't freak out when you see Staff NCOs that are squad leaders. This is normal in the Army. Freaked me out to see a Ssgt holding a billet that was typically held by Lcpls and Cpls.

A few last notes: they call their poncho liner a "Woobie". It's the dumbest damn thing. I've been converting them as steadily as I can though.

That's all I've got. Good luck.

Was good to go for me... Got dinged at BNCOC (Staff NCO school) for having a Marine "twang" when I called cadance, but my soldiers loved it.

Minor stuff, yes terminology. Greeting of the day isn't Good morning sir, but the units motto, Hooah, etc... Going Cav scout means you'll need to make sure your purse matches your shoes... Or you could be a FiSTer... LMAO. Good luck brother.

Don't!

First, get commissioned as fast as you can, your Marine background will definitely make you an asset to any unit. Be ready for the comments " You know better than that" every time you make a mistake so you dont get to use the excuse of LT didn't know. Other than that, what appears to be really easy to take the initiative and get it done becomes a bureaucracy in some units or people look at you like they never thought of it. Get used the to the whining about how tough things are and soldiers get upset when you yell at them or get the hand going. Also, things have to be fair and everyone gets put on work detail instead of the lowest ranking soldiers. On the bright side you will be sought after for tactics and ability to look at a map and provide an accurate assessment of what the enemy is going to do. Oh one other thing it took me 3 years to get the attitude toned down. You are either going to love it or hate it. Good luck.