Prior Service National Guard to Active Duty Marines

[alismah]

I've looked around and I haven't found this addressed quite as specifically as I'm wondering. I'm currently an E4 in the Army National Guard, a specialist, which is not an NCO. I spoke with Marine recruiters in my area a few months ago and as far as my rank was concerned I was told I would drop down to E2 or E3 for boot* and pick up corporal soon after getting to the fleet. They told me the reasoning for this is that otherwise I would extend my TiS too far to pick up E5 in time. I have a lot of friends in the Marine Corps and only one of them actually knows anyone who has come from another branch and he told me that I shouldn't expect to pick up corporal in his opinion. He said the guy he knew was an E5 in the Navy and he got dropped down to E2 and progressed in rank at the exact same pace as everyone else. I thought I would come here to see if anyone has actually seen this happen and how it all usually plays out. What the recruiters said makes perfect sense to me, but all the Marines in my life are doubting it.

*I know that everyone is just a "recruit" regardless of pay grade. It was the same for me when I went through basic training, even the specialists were called privates. I'm just worried about what I am on paper.

Thank you in advance for your help!

[Yonkers]

You'll be put as an E-2 most likely. People rarely get E-3 out of boot. And you will pick up corporal like everybody else... NCOs in the Marine Corps, among most things, is earned, never given.

Here's a helpful archive: http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-595.html

It looks like a person did lose rank: "Its a good deal, I did lose all rank (E-3) and had to go open contract (but got the same mos.. duh), but kept my original entry for the start of my Pay Entry Base Date (PEBD) which pay is computed, also my Armed Forces Active Duty Base Date (AFADBD) was adjusted to '81 vice '82 because of the NG active duty time I already had - this means that I hit my "20" four months earlier than USMC Boot."
But then again that was 30 years ago...

Best of luck to you,

LCpl Yonkers

[alismah]

Thank you. I know I have to earn my rank, I've earned it in the Guard too. I'm just wondering if the recruiter is right that my TiS means I'll get back to E4 rather quickly, or if I have to start at square one like my friends are implying.

[SGT7477]

Thank you. I know I have to earn my rank, I've earned it in the Guard too. I'm just wondering if the recruiter is right that my TiS means I'll get back to E4 rather quickly, or if I have to start at square one like my friends are implying.
We don't recognize the army's rank you will have to earn everything, it could take you some time to pick up the rank of Cpl, what do you count quick? Semper Fidelis

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Time in SERVICE will count towards your cutting score. You'll lose ALL Time in Grade as an Sp4 (obviously) and 'start over' as an E-2 (Private First Class). With your max TIG, you'll pick up E-3 (Lance Cpl) in just what it takes for the TIS to run out the clock. After that, your TIS will count toward your cutting score (and those numbers do matter) but that will be IT.

You'll EARN those stripes but in the end, they'll be yours and not just for showing up to work.

[alismah]

We don't recognize the army's rank you will have to earn everything, it could take you some time to pick up the rank of Cpl, what do you count quick? Semper Fidelis

Thank you Sergeant. I know that you won't recognize my rank because it's the same thing when Marines come to the army, you guys lose rank too, it's just handled really differently. "Quick" would be picking up Cpl before or around the year mark of hitting the fleet. I know that it's a minimum of 8 months TiG for Cpl without meritorious promotion, so I obviously wouldn't expect anything faster than that.

I don't mind starting over, I'm just trying to make sure I understand what to expect since it's vastly different from what happens when other branches join the army. I never had any problems with my recruiters when I enlisted, but I've heard enough horror stories that I thought it would be smart to ask around.


Time in SERVICE will count towards your cutting score. You'll lose ALL Time in Grade as an Sp4 (obviously) and 'start over' as an E-2 (Private First Class). With your max TIG, you'll pick up E-3 (Lance Cpl) in just what it takes for the TIS to run out the clock. After that, your TIS will count toward your cutting score (and those numbers do matter) but that will be IT.

You'll EARN those stripes but in the end, they'll be yours and not just for showing up to work.

Thank you Sergeant, that is exactly what I was wondering.

[alismah]

I tried to edit my post and it didn't let me, so I'd like to amend my first sentence in my last reply to say "Thank you Sergeant."
- Fixed for ya - LCpl Yonkers

I'd also like to add that I don't mean to say that I do not trust the recruiters, just that sometimes recruiters can be wrong, and since they admitted they aren't entirely sure what will happen and since my Marine friends are doubtful of their claims I wanted to broaden my reach and ask some more Marines who might have more experience with this.

Thank you all for your help, it's very much appreciated.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

No worries. Keep us updated!