Posted on Mar 7, 2021
Sgt Marksmanship Instructor
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I’m still active in the Marines I am during the conditional release program to go over to the army without getting out and going back in I just don’t wanna be treated like some dude when I’m going through the infantry school and I want to know how long it will be for me being prior service because the recruiters don’t have much of an answer for me
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Responses: 106
SFC Retention Operations Nco
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101
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You are just some dude coming into the Army. When Pat Tillman and Elvis Presley left their blossoming careers behind and joined the Army they were just some dudes as well. No one cares that you had deployments and you'll have Drill Sergeants who have more deployment time and more schools than you so it will help you to check your ego at the door. In Army schools there are only students and instructors. All students are equal in the Army.

If you have to go to Infantry school in the Army then you're 100% just another dude. I'll leave you with one of the best pieces of advice an NCO gave a young, headstrong Ranger Boyd: "Keep your mouth shut and your ears open. If you're in a class it means you have something left to learn."
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SSG Bill McCoy
SSG Bill McCoy
>1 y
PO2 Robert Cuminale - Well, I don't think the conversation had anything to do with the 1700's with impressment. That infamy was completely unlike the draft in the later U.S. Yes, draftees had little choice other than deferrment (family, medical, college) or fleeing to Canada. Regardless, once they reported for their physicals, they took the oath the same as anyone else who volunteered. The draft, for men, was a way of life for decades and far from what the British did with impressment.
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PO2 Robert Cuminale
PO2 Robert Cuminale
>1 y
I'm not buying it. Regardless, the person is forced to report to the AFEES station under federal laws that require him to do so or face consequences. At some point the "recruit" resigns himself to the inevitability that he is going to have to take that oath and sign the papers, book a flight to Sweden or spend time in a federal prison. Nothing about this process says voluntary. It was not initiated by the individual himself but by a bureaucrat pulling his birth date from a hat.

VOLUNTARY: done, given, or acting of one's own free will:
"we are funded by voluntary contributions"
synonyms
optional, discretionary, at one's discretion, elective, noncompulsory,
Get it?
I got my Draft notice in June 1971. Rather than spend my time as a grunt with McNamara's Morons as cannon fodder I joined the Navy. The choice to be in military service was not mine. My choice was in choosing what branch of the military to serve. That I was going into the military was inevitable. Canada and Sweden are too cold, prison
is too restricting and has a lifetime consequence and I didn't feel like going to school. Given that I had a good, well paying job with career potential why would I choose to leave for a job where I would be treated like shit for 13 weeks and be told where I could live and what I would be doing? Only compulsion made all that possible.
I hate being pedantic but you just don't get it.
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SFC Jerry McLellen
SFC Jerry McLellen
2 y
I think you have been fed to many "Thank You for your service" comments, and now act like some tough guy. You are NOT a part of his intra-service transfer. He asked a simple question and gets a less than helpful answer from you. This active-duty Marine Sgt may already be twice the soldier you are SFC Boyd.
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SPC Robert Montoya
SPC Robert Montoya
2 y
SFC Jerry McLellen - Thank you for your vote SFC McLellen. I admit that I was a bit crass with my comments to Sergeant Boyd's response to SGT Brandon's question. That said, I wouldn't have been so critical of SFC Boyd's arrogance had his experience been a bit more in depth than just as a cook, medic, and recruiter with the majority of his duty assignments at Lewis-McChord. Yes, it is always wise to shut up and learn, however, that wisdom goes both ways. HOOAH!
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SFC Platoon Sergeant
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Sgt (Join to see) Since most of these people a just spouting anecdotal opinions, I’ll answer your question.

You will get slotted into a OSUT class (somewhere from day 0- partially through). The DS will pull you aside and explain their expectations for you, generally you’ll help them with keeping the new privates in line and teaching them the basics.

You will most likely get your own barracks or living space. And you may even get weekend off post passes.

Don’t expect to be in a leadership position, but be prepared to help out whoever is the position with guidance on being a leader.

Spend your time learning the “basics” of the Army (uniform wear, customs and courtesies, basic tactics [TC 3-21.8 is the infantry bible]). These will help you transition to “Army infantry”.

If you have any questions, ask the DS, and they will help you out. Best of luck on your transition.
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1SG John Ayala
1SG John Ayala
>1 y
The question I have is what rank are you coming in as? It makes a difference of your role and expectations. You could find yourself with other NCOs that are reclassifying, and a lot of training will be familiar, unfortunately the Army does not have the ethos as the Marines have; 0300 – Basic Rifleman. Your experience and bearing does make a difference. As said above you will be in a position to use your knowledge, and influence those young soldiers to be better faster, the DS's will expect that. I admit I am an old soldier, but I spent 31 of my 34 years as an NCO, I would always use those with experience to reenforce the training with those around them. There is also the brotherhood of veterans being respectful of one another, you been through the fire and came out tempered. Be the mentor when you can, and student all the other times. Semper Fi Devil Dog
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SSG Bill McCoy
SSG Bill McCoy
>1 y
SFC (Join to see) - "Old outdated stories," can and do provide some insight for many questions asked. Anyone should realize however, that old stories MAY not be relevant to more recent times. Ther's nothing wrong with anecdotal "stories."
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SFC Land Operations Nco
SFC (Join to see)
>1 y
Better than my reply and I was a drill who had priors as well. Great explanation.
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SGT Christopher Hayden
SGT Christopher Hayden
>1 y
This place turned into Military Boomer Facebook years ago. SFC (Join to see)
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SSgt Owner/Operator
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You are going to the Army. This means you need to learn how the Army does things - which is different to how we do things in the Marine Corps. Hell, if the Marine Corps would take me back I would have to 100% recycle most of my basic training as it is almost 40 years out of date while my MOS training is 25+ years out of date. Does not matter that I am a SSgt or not. Does not matter if I went to Desert Shield/Storm or not.

The Army does things differently. You need to learn it, embrace it and never utter the words "but in the Marines we did it this way". What you do take with you is that inner training, that mental attitude of a Marine to improvise, adapt and overcome. Combine Army training and ways of doing things with Marine COrps toughness and grit and you will be a great Sgt in the Army.
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MAJ Karen Wall
MAJ Karen Wall
2 y
Well said, my ODS brother!
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MAJ Karen Wall
MAJ Karen Wall
2 y
SGT Judy Swift Johnson - Hey ODS family! I knew there were more of us out there!
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SGT Judy Swift Johnson
SGT Judy Swift Johnson
2 y
MAJ Karen Wall send me a link to add you.
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CPT Richard Fematt
CPT Richard Fematt
2 y
LTC(P) Christina Moore how about G.I Jane did you like that movie Mam?
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What will infantry school be like as a prior service SGT from the marines that already has a combat deployment under their belt goin army ?
SSG Intelligence Analyst
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13
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Don’t be that guy. Nobody cares if you have a combat deployment “under your belt”. If you weren’t infantry in the marines, you are going to be treated like any other infantry recruit.
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SSG Rick Miller
SSG Rick Miller
3 y
LCpl Benji Smith - I bet your eyes are brown, you're so full of shit. Take a swing at this 11B Staff Sergeant, and you'll be left a drooling idiot, drinking his meals through a straw.
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SSG Rick Miller
SSG Rick Miller
3 y
LCpl Benji Smith - Except for the Jarhead I already knocked the living shit out of in Korea. You do you and keep on dreaming.
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SSG Gregg Mourizen
SSG Gregg Mourizen
3 y
Cocky guys are usually the one that have the most to learn. I don't care if you are Army, Marine, Navy, I'll even allow Air Force and Coast Guard, There is always someone out there bigger and better than you are.
I don't care if you are a PJ, Path Finder, Seal, Ranger, Green Beret, Delta Force...whatever.
Master of all that is combat.
Master of All that is Military.

There is always someone out there that can take you down.
Even that scrawny lazy, nearsighted, Fata$$ over there could get a lucky shot that takes you out.
There is a reason there are so many KIA's.

With that said, there is always something to learn. I have taught classes, I have taken endless classes on the same subjects. There are always those who come to me with questions on the subjects that I am considered a Subject Matter Expert. With every class I take, I try to learn something. Find something different to put in the tool box, for later.

Being a Marine, you should know there are things the Army and Marine CORPS. do differently. Do it wrong, it doesn't matter where you come from, you are wrong.
Take the time to learn the right way. Their way. If you think you know how to do it better, then you can introduce your ideas, and see how it rolls.
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Sgt Infantryman
Sgt (Join to see)
3 y
SSG (Join to see) yes he is a Marine
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SSgt Christophe Murphy
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For all intent and purpose you are some dude. They don't know you. Remember your roots and be proud of them but you need to jump in and walk/talk/bark/squat like the Army. Be humble and hold your tongue because you need to focus on learning.
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LT Brad McInnis
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8
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I was like a ping png ball between Marines and Navy training and assignments. My advice, remember where you are at the time, and do the job they tell you. Each service does things differently. Learn their TTP and rock on.
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SFC Ralph E Kelley
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I have only two rules: Don't Quit and Keep Your Sense of Humor.
For you I would add: Check Your Ego At The Door.
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MSG Greg Kelly
MSG Greg Kelly
2 y
You forgot to tell him to his mouth shut. And NEVER EVER say well we did it this way or that in the Corps. Those Drills will eat you alive.
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SGT Infantryman
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Honestly there’s a few possibilities and only some of them are half decent. You’ll get to 30th AG, they’ll do a determination of how long it’s been since you’ve been out of the service to see if you need to do basic all over again. If you’re Navy or Air Force it won’t matter because you’ll be a Day 0 trainee. Marines and Army are good (sort of). If you were infantry in either branch then you won’t have to do any portion of OSUT/Basic. If you weren’t then you’ll be told you’ll only do the AIT portion. The issue I saw guys run into was that there were few classes accepting inserts for whatever reason and there’s no choice between Rifleman or Mortars. You could spend months at 30th AG waiting for a class to take you in or accept a Day 0 restart and go much sooner. Also you may wait all that time to be told you’ll be starting week 10 but actually be inserted week 3 or whenever basic rifle marksmanship starts.

Assuming you’ve made it into a class under any of the circumstances above. You have a few new possibilities. They may hate prior service guys and treat you just like everyone else. They might like you and house you separately. They might only like NCOs and everyone else will be separated. They might like you, be housed separately and be basically treated as a secondary instructor if that makes sense. It’ll be a mess, good luck.

TL;DR No one is sure, there’s too many variables and luck involved. Just expect to be a Day 0 private.
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Sgt Marksmanship Instructor
Sgt (Join to see)
3 y
See you know that was helpful thank you I appreciate it the only curious thing I am about still is I’m going active to active I’m not getting out I’m just doing an inter-service transfer since I don’t want to reenlist in the core and only have five months time in service left
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SGT Infantryman
SGT (Join to see)
3 y
You’ll still have to get your initial issue at and leave for OSUT out of 30th AG.

There was a whole big thing while I was there with a guy in your shoes. He was Marine E5 who had no break in service, I guess he made a strongly worded Facebook post about how he felt he was treated and the mix of issues I stated before.
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SPC Erich Guenther
SPC Erich Guenther
>1 y
If he is a conditional release from the Active Duty Marines he is not going to do basic over again because he should be carded recent on Rifle Qualification, PT and all the rest in his file. Though the new Infantry training program is 22 weeks. So I have no clue what week they will insert him. It won't be week 0 or week 1 at least.
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PFC Shawn West
PFC Shawn West
2 y
30th AG..... Ugg...
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CW3 Joseph Lawrence
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5
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In my career I have seen way to many disagreements between the Army and the Marine Corp. So much so that I had to stop a Marine Sergeant during a friendly basketball game and remind him that we belong to the same country. Experience, no matter how much, is there for an individual to draw on and not have shoved down his throat. A drill sergeant's deployment may not be the same as the Marine's deployment and comparing notes, instead of egos, will make any soldier, whether Marine or Army that much better.
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SGT Glenn E Moody
SGT Glenn E Moody
>1 y
I agree 110% I have friends & family that are MARINES. I have been to the island twice. the CORP drills in their heads that they are the best ever. no one is even close to them. just like LCPL Benji Smith's comment ( pitter patter of little feet ) it sounds like he was useless as A military person better at nursery rymes than being A Marine. like one of them that calls out some old WW 1 or WW 11 MILITARY man/woman that has something on his uniform that he don't think he or she should have on or forgot ware it goes on the uniform due to age . yelling at them calling them stolen vallor or even me that wore the uniform before he was even borne. I have other friends that I went to School with that became MARINES that have never spoke bad about any other branch of MILITARY we speak as we are all FAMILY BROTHERS IN ARMS we would give up our lifes for any of them the ARMY dose not turn and run we pull out under orders to regroup & take our dead & wounded with us. to the MARINE that is transfuring to the ARMY INFANTRY welcome to the BROTHERS of the BLUE CORD US ARMY INFANTRY FT BENNING ARMY INFANTRY SCHOOL CLASS OF 26 JUNE 1982 C-6-1
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Cpl David Hamilton
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5
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The big thing you will notice is the discipline and Esprit de Corps varies in the Army. While the Corps has it throughout, the Army has levels. Starting with SF, Rangers, Airborne, 10th Mountain Div., to other bases. You will find as an NCO in some of the other bases this to frustrating in appearance, attitude and work ethic.
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