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Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/industry vs. military
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What I meant was that most big companies route execs all over the company before they get to be CEO. GE--for instance, the new CEO worked in finance, production, and sales in plastics, medical instruments, and aircraft engines. Now that military operations involve such close coordination of all the services, it seems to me that once an officer gets 2 or 3 stars he should have some command experience in all the services before he gets a 4th star.
David:
What you speak of is known as "jointness" doctrine, and the military has been practicing it for about 10 years now. It's not much talked about or well known, but officers do serve in other branches from time to time. At the higher levels, they pretty much all work together. However, you'll never see a Navy Admiral in command of a Marine Corps division, or an Air Force General Commanding an Army Ranger Battalion.
Interestingly, in WWII, in the Pacific, Marines and Army did in fact interchange commands. USMC General Holland M "Howlin Mad" Smith at one time commanded the US Tenth Corps, if I remember right.
And, there is talk that a Marine General may be tapped to command "Pacom", Pacific Command, and an Army General may get US Strategic Command. The former is traditionally an Admiral, the latter, an Air Force General.
So, hope that helps!
Best Regards,
Jason
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Jason Grabill
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Questions relating to US Marine Corps; rank, awards, uniforms, career choices. I can also help people spot and expose fakes (people pretending to be Marines or have awards they didn`t earn). Considering the Marines as a career? Or another branch, like the Air National Guard? Drop me a line. HOWever..know that I am NOT a recruiter. I can offer my expert opinion and advice, but can't (and won't) over rule what a recruiter says, they are the 'on duty' expert.
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Infantry Rifleman, MOS 0311: 3 years. Marine Barracks Security (Marine Barracks, Annapolis, Maryland(not Embassy Duty): 3 years. Parachutist: MOS 9962: Got my wings in August of 1984.
Intelligence Specialist: MOS 0231 10 years working as an Intelligence Analyst with a Fixed Wing Fighter Squadron, Force Service Support Group, and at Headquarters, Marine Corps. Field Radio Operator: MOS 2531. Served as a Platoon Sergeant in a Communications Platoon assigned to MEU Service Support Group 24 (Special Operations Capable). Did a hitch in the Army reserves as an 11B (Infantryman), 3 years. Finished out my career in the Air National Guard as a BioEnvironmental Engineer MOS 4B3X1, did that for a few years.
I"ve been collecting and selling Marine Corps and other military uniforms, medals, and field gear since I was 8 years old.
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