Expert: Rod Powers - 5/29/2007

Question
I am an E-6 with 10 years in the Navy and have been considering an Interservice Transfer to the Coast Guard, but haven't been able to find too much information on it.  Is it possible for me to "slide" over to the Coast Guard and how would I go about transfering over if it is possible?

Answer
Hi Regina,

I'm afraid that Interservice Transfers for enlisted members are extremely limited. There are only three such programs for enlisted members, that I'm aware of:

(1) Transfer of enlisted members from a Reserve branch to an active duty branch.

(2) Transfer of enlisted members (from any branch) to the Army in order to become an Army helicopter pilot, under the Warrant Officer Flight Training Program (WOFT).

(3) Transfer of enlisted members in overmanned specialties in the Navy and Air Force to serve in the active duty Army under a special program called "Operation Blue to Green." (See article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/armyjoin/a/artransfer.htm

In order to join the Coast Guard, you would have to complete your current enlistment obligation in the Navy (or convince the Navy to discharge you early), then -- after separation, you could apply to enlist in the Coast Guard as a "prior service" enlistee (see my article about prior service enlistments at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/priorservice.htm

Before making this decision, you should meet with a Coast Guard recruiter to see what your chances are of being accepted into the Coast Guard as a prior-service enlistee.

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