Expert: Rod Powers - 11/22/2007

Question
I'm currently in the Marines on a five year contract. I have two years left and I was wondering if I could switch services and join the Navy. I have two NJP's and man currently an E2. I should have E4 by the end of my contract. I really want to do something in the medical field and I know the Navy can offer that to me. Please let me know if you have any information that could help me. Thank you.

Answer
Hi Michelle,

I'm afraid not. One cannot simply "switch" from one active duty service to another (with the exception of a certain program, which I'll explain below).

In most cases, in order to "switch" from one active duty service to another, one must first (honorably) separate from their current service, and then apply (through a recruiter) as a "prior service" enlistee, to the service they want to join. This is not all that easy, especially if one is trying to join the Air Force or Navy. For details, see my article about prior service enlistments at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/priorservice.htm

The other program I mentioned allows a certain number of Air Force and Navy personnel, currently serving in jobs that the Navy or Air Force considered to be "overmanned," to terminate their enlistment early and go into the active duty Army. The program is called "Blue to Green," and you can read about it at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/armyjoin/a/artransfer.htm The program initially allowed a hand-ful of Marines to transfer to the Army under the program, but I don't know of any who have been allowed to transfer since the Marine Corps increased their recruiting goals two years ago.

I don't want to wear my "lecture hat" here, but you currently have two NJPs in a two year period. That's not good, and it may negatively effect any future chances of re-enlistment into any branch. If you get a third NJP during this same enlistment period, it will very likely result in an administrative discharge, and then you can kiss any chance of reenlisting in any other branch "goodbye." My advice is to spend the next two years "walking the line," making your supervisors and commander happy, and separating with the best type of characterization possible. Otherwise, none of the other services are going to want to take a chance on someone who can't stay out of trouble.

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