Expert: Rod Powers - 12/3/2007

Question
Hello, My name is James and I'm 18 years old

I recently joined the Army and am scheduled to ship out for basic at Fort
Jackson on January 16th.  January 9 I am scheduled to report to MEPS to sign
some more paperwork, which I was told would "officially" (The "no turning
back now officially") put me in the Army.

Before I say more, I have to say that when I became interested in joining the
military I was 16 and had my heart set on being a Marine.  I planned on
joining as soon as I graduated, but had some problems due to my private
high school diploma that was not accredited by the state of Texas.  So I went
to college to gain my 15 college credit hours needed to join, and enrolled in
Army ROTC.  The class was fun and had many students that were apart of
Army Reserve.  I decided that I would join the Army Reserve and continue the
ROTC classes to gain my commission.  Now that my ship date is approaching,
I'm realizing that I made a mistake.  It is my dream to be a United States
Marine and I constatnly kick myself for Marine Corps is the branch for me.

I've talked to the Army XO of the Reserve unit I'd be attached to and he told
me it was possible to switch.  I've also talked to two Marine Recruiters that
Have told me it was possible as long as I could get the Army to discharge me.  
However, as expected, my Army recruiter and her CO are giving me the red
light, saying I'm in already.  They've tried to make it easier for me by telling
me I could switch jobs and other things like that, but I told them it wasn't the
job, it was the branch.

Is there any possible way to make this switch?  Or just not join the Army and
wait a while to join USMC?  Please help with any information you have.  Thank
you.

James

Answer
Hi James,

I'm afraid that one can't simply "switch" from one branch of service to another. In order to join the Marine Corps, you would first have to be discharged from the Army Reserves, and then -- after the discharge is complete, you would then apply to join either the Marine Corps active duty, or Marine Corps Reserves.

Now, you'll want to read my article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/joiningup/a/dep.htm especially pages 4, and 5 which talk about the Reserves and National Guard. As it mentions in the article, once you join a Reserve or National Guard branch you are *IN* that branch, and the recruiting command no longer has the authority to discharge you. Only your Reserve unit commander has that authority.

So, you're asking the wrong people. Your Army Reserve Recruiter and her CO are correct. Once you sign the contract for the Reserves, you are *IN* the Reserves, and only your Reserve Unit can discharge you. The Recruiting command doesn't have the authority.

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my U.S. Military Information Site at: http://usmilitary.about.com Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com