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Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/switching branches
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QUESTION: Hello, I've got a question regarding the potential to switch branches after the first term. I have the option to participate in army rotc at my college; I've wanted to join the military for 10 years and this would be an excellent opportunity for me. What I want to know is if joining the navy after my initial term is an option (while maintaining the commission)? There is no nrotc at my school, otherwise I would do that, but I have a desire to join the army too. If I had to choose just 1 branch it would be navy, but if I can do both as an officer I would start in the army. Any feedback on this issue will be greatly appreciated!
ANSWER: Hi Zachary,
I'm sorry, but -- unless your a medical doctor -- the chances of "switching" is rare.
Because, in the last couple of years, the Army has be undermanned (both enlisted and officer) and the Air Force and Navy have been overmanned, there is a program which allows enlisted and officers in overmanned jobs in the Air Force and Navy to transfer to the Army, but not the other way around.
Who knows what the situation will be four (or so) years from now, but -- right now, your chances of getting into the Navy with an Army commission are slim. Right now, you chances of getting into the Army with a Navy commission are pretty good.
Hope this helps!
Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you for the prompt reply. What about applying to naval ocs after the army without trying to use the army history as a means of getting in? Would I be able to use just college credentials to get in? I realize I'd start from scratch again if that's the case, but I have no issue with that. If it's unlikely to switch, how likely am I to get a naval ocs appointment if I enlist with an excellent college gpa? Again, thank you for listening.
Hi Zachary,
I'm afraid that probably won't work. As part of the application process, you are required to provide information about any previous military service.
If you fail to provide this required information, you could be prosecuted for fradulent accession (for details, see my article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/joiningup/a/falsestatements.htm. While this article was written primarily about enlistments, it applies just as much for officer accessions.
Hope this helps!
Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com
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Rod Powers
Expertise
Rod Powers is considered one of the premire experts about U.S. Military career information on the planet. He has more than 30,000 articles about U.S. Military career information on the About.com U.S. Military Careers Information website at: http://usmilitary.about.com. Additionally, he is the author of "ASVAB for Dummies," "ASVAB AFQT for Dummies," (available in Dec 2009), and "Veteran Benefits for Dummies," all published by Wiley Publishing. He is also the author of "Barrons' Guide to Officer Candidate School Tests," published by Barron's Educational Series.
Experience
Rod Powers is a retired Air Force first sergeant, with 23 years of active duty service, 11 of those years as an Air Force First Sergeant. He has helped thousands of military members, recruits, and military applicants since he took over the About.com U.S Military Careers Information site in 1999. He has a reputation for "telling it like it is," so questions may not be answered based on "what you want to hear," but will be answered based of the bast available information, concerning the service/situation.
Education/Credentials
Rod is a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Noncommissioned Officers Academy, the Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, and the Air Force First Sergeant Academy. He also holds an Associates Degree in Personnel Administration from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF).
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