Expert: Rod Powers - 4/20/2007

Question
Hello, I'm an Medic is the Army and E-4(P) and I'm looking at reenlisting. However, I'd like to look at my other options in the Armed Forces, in particular the Navy. I'm about 18 months from my ETS date and currently in Iraq on deployment. Is it possible to enlist from the Army to the Navy and are they looking for medics and who do I need to talk to? I'm considering talking to my Retention NCO but he'd rather me stay Army of course. What's a good COA for me?

SPC Hamilton

Answer
Hi Cass,

You cannot simply transfer or re-enlist directly into a different military service.

Note: This is an exception to this rule, which allows members of the Air Force and Navy who are in jobs that the services considered "overmanned" to "transfer" to the Army. This is because the Air Force and the Navy are currently "overmanned," in many jobs, and the Army is "undermanned." The program is called "Operation Blue to Green," and details can be read in my article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/armyjoin/a/artransfer.htm

Other than this special program, you cannot "transfer," or directly re-enlist from one service to another. You will have to completely separate from Army active duty, then -- once you've separated from active duty -- apply to enlist in the Navy as a "prior service applicant."

This is not as simple as it sounds. For details, see my article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/priorservice.htm

In short, you'll have to first get out of the Army, then see an Active Duty Navy Recruiter, and apply as a previous service applicant. The process can take several months, and can't even begin until you are discharged from the Army.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com