AF Officer to Marine? Interservice Transfer

[spectre56]

Don't eff with the OSOs. They're trainied to do their thing, and they're good at it, but you're not their thing. Don't waste their time.

Here is the link to the horses mouth. If the AF doesn't speak USMTF then consider this your first test in it. The good stuff starts in paragraph 3. Points of Contact are at the bottom. Those are the people you ask your questions to. Don't ask OSOs, don't ask AF guys at your command (because you're about to make some enemies no matter what), and don't ask strangers on the internet.

Dawgpoundfa just did a successful USA to USN IST. He also looked into the Marine Corps. He'll be able to tell to you the good, bad, and ugly if you PM him. Be careful though, he's an angry drunk.

Thanks for the info. I wasn't trying to imply that the OSO was jacking me around, he was just my first contact with this and the info I was presented didn't make much sense.

 

[HH-60H]

To echo the earlier advice, resigning your commission to go to OCS is an awful idea for several reasons. First, you would have to do OCS again (vs whatever program you went through). Second, you would likely lose any/all seniority and time in grade, which means losing $.

 

[phrogpilot73]

To echo the earlier advice, resigning your commission to go to OCS is an awful idea for several reasons. First, you would have to do OCS again (vs whatever program you went through). Second, you would likely lose any/all seniority and time in grade, which means losing $.

I agree. However, look at the man's avatar... I think there's more than money being considered here...

 

[spectre56]

I agree. However, look at the man's avatar... I think there's more than money being considered here...

True statement, but I think it would be very difficult for me to start back in square one: not only monetarily, but because of the process of getting to where I am today (not that it was all that difficult, just took a while).

I'm hoping that an interservice transfer would be an available option with the opportunity to get a flight contract.

 

[olso2102]

I'm in the AF and will be transferring to USMC in a couple of months. The process takes forever. By the time I'll switch over it will be 1.5 years since I started the process and the Corps is making the process harder now. They used to have the interservice transfer boards every quarter, but since they've had no trouble meeting manning requirements, they're going to change back to annual boards.
First you'd have to convince the AF to let you go. I got my release right before they stopped Force Shaping and I'm 62E, which is way overmanned, so mine was fairly easy. The paperwork still took 3 months to go through without any hiccups. You, being a pilot trainee applying after they've stopped Force Shaping, will have a lot harder time, unless you know someone.
If you get your release, you'll submit your package to the board and wait 6 months to find out if you've been selected (it's not automatic either). After that you'll wait 6 months for TBS if you're a Lt or EWS if you're a Capt.

 

[phrogdriver]

... After that you'll wait 6 months for TBS if you're a Lt or EWS if you're a Capt.

EWS? Really? It kind of makes sense as an introduction to the Corps since you'd ostensibly be too senior to go to TBS, but it really doesn't have the same "everybody's done it" vibe of TBS or OCS.

 

[phrogpilot73]

EWS? Really? It kind of makes sense as an introduction to the Corps since you'd ostensibly be too senior to go to TBS, but it really doesn't have the same "everybody's done it" vibe of TBS or OCS.

I don't think that Capt's skip TBS. I know a former submariner that went through TBS as a Capt.

 

[FENIAN]

I want to say that if JAG's go to TBS as Captains, then rank has no bearing in this equation. My old unit's Co XO was an Army JAG O3 and made the interservice transfer and was downgraded to O2, keeping his TIS. He did not have to go to OCS, but did anyway to prove himself. He actually got paid as an O2 while at OCS...this of course was 10 years ago so this story is obviously dated.

 

[Clux4]

If you are a senior Captain looking at Major's board then it would make sense to send you to EWS vice TBS. TBS is kinda late at that point. The JAG's that go through are fairly junior Captains.

 

[FENIAN]

If you are a senior Captain looking at Major's board then it would make sense to send you to EWS vice TBS. TBS is kinda late at that point. The JAG's that go through are fairly junior Captains.

You have a valid point, but if you are a senior Captain looking at Major, I would question one's decision at the time it came to re-up. My old XO was in his 6th year in the Army when he decided to switch, but was about 8 years in upon recommissioning as a Marine. In the case of the current AF Officer, neither he nor the one before him are in a situation where they are on the brink of a Field Grade promotion. You may very well be correct, but it is easy to say that it is not applicable.

 

[HueyCobra8151]

Unless you are talking about augmenting, I don't think he has to worry about "re-upping."

 

[FENIAN]

Re-upping = Augmenting (Officers) or Re-enlisting (Enlisted). I'm not sure if you are disagreeing, agreeing, or just confused. Maybe it is me that is confused.

 

[Harrier Dude]

Augmenting is a one shot deal. It is not the same as re-enlisting, which the enlisted side does several times in their careers.

Once you are augmented as a regular officer, then you can simply stay in until you resign, retire, or are passed over for promotion twice below Major. As a Major you are assured 20 years of service, so you can be passed over multiple times.

 

[FENIAN]

We are in agreement. See previous posts. Given the information, all is correct and in accordance. After the Officer was at the end of his commitment, he had the opportunity to augment. He also had the opportunity to enter a different service, which he did. In the case of the recent AF poster, he is not anywhere near the end of his original obligation. I understand the one time deal. All Marines face that decision in their first 4-10 years (based on MOS) regardless of Officer or enlisted. Unless they score that unheard of 2 or 3 year contract. Shhhhh...don't tell anyone. What?

 

[olso2102]

http://usmc.mil/news/publications/Documents/MCO 1001.45J.pdf
top of page of 17.

MMOA-3 usually recommends junior Captains to go to TBS, but otherwise they'll go to EWS. That's what I was told by a guy at USMC HQ a few months ago.