Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

I just signed up another 6 years with the National guard because of the bonus and good 20k school loan repayment plan. I'm thinking about joining the Marines if I don't have any luck with the corrections and police department in LA area. Is it possible for me to join the Marines after I signed up with the guard in CA? I should be asking recruiters but recruiters seem to like all the time!!!.. GRRR.

Hopefully this is ok, go: here (http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/frm/f/9071945704) - Search there. GL

Last I knew, you could get a separation from the Guard to go active. But, don't hold me to it as I retired in 2004 and things may have changed.

We had guys transfer from the Army Guard to the Air Guard, the Coast Guard Reserve, plus several went active in various services. It didn't seem to be a major hurtle to jump. I forget what they called the "release".

I know it's possible to entirely switch to another branch of service. In my Army Reserve unit we had one guy switch out to the Air National Guard before his ETS. But you seem to like the benefits you are getting from the Guard.

Just be aware if you use any of your college repayment plan, tuition assistance, MGIB, collect a re-enlistment bonus, or recieve any other monetary incentive from your re-enlistment contract, you will be required to repay the 'G' everything that you collected or used. That applies if you switch services, or even switch components (National Guard to Reserve).

Keep that in mind. Just my two cents...

Not to mention, from what I hear you'll lose some rank and re-do boot.

I distinctly remember when I tried to join the Marines being told that they require all Marines except the Marine Band to attend boot camp no matter what, even those who were previously in other branches. Whether that is a good or bad thing I guess depends on your perspective. They are not so quick to give advanced rank to people entering either as mentioned above. Their entrance age limit is also lower than the Army's, but I don't know how that works for prior-service people. All this could have changed since I last knew though, it's been a couple of years.

Um, why would the band get to skip bootcamp?

I distinctly remember when I tried to join the Marines being told that they require all Marines except the Marine Band to attend boot camp no matter what, even those who were previously in other branches.



Yep- that's true. Everybody goes thru boot camp regardless of any prior military service.



Um, why would the band get to skip bootcamp?


Most of the members of the Marine Corps band are professional musicians. They don't get mixed in with the rest the Corps as the band is basically a public relations organization. Though, I'd be careful if I was talking to one of them and suggested they weren't really Marines. Some of those flutists can be pretty tough!

If they required the band members to go thru boot, they probably wouldn't have a band. ;)

Yep- that's true. Everybody goes thru boot camp regardless of any prior military service.



Most of the members of the Marine Corps band are professional musicians. They don't get mixed in with the rest the Corps as the band is basically a public relations organization. Though, I'd be careful if I was talking to one of them and suggested they weren't really Marines. Some of those flutists can be pretty tough!

If they required the band members to go thru boot, they probably wouldn't have a band. ;)



My brother went from...

Active duty USMC

Reserve USMC

PA Army Nat'l Guard

PA Air Guard where he retired after 20 yrs.


Ahhhhhhhhhh , I get it. They are all a bunch of pansies :)

Most of the members of the Marine Corps band are professional musicians. They don't get mixed in with the rest the Corps as the band is basically a public relations organization. Though, I'd be careful if I was talking to one of them and suggested they weren't really Marines. Some of those flutists can be pretty tough!

If they required the band members to go thru boot, they probably wouldn't have a band. ;)

I've never heard that. I always thought that every Marine, regardless of occupation, had to go through boot camp. Learn something new every day I guess.

When I went through army basic we had a bunch of army band guys in reception waiting to enter basic training. But then again, finding an "Army Band" is like shooting fish in a barrel! :) It seems that just about every state National Guard or major command has it's own band!

God, I would have loved to be the guy in the War on Terror who got called to active duty to play in the band! :rolleyes:

Its just not fair. Everyone in the AF band had to go through basic !! :mad:









































:p ha ha I know , I know.

Its just not fair. Everyone in the AF band had to go through basic !! :mad:







:p ha ha I know , I know.


I came back from Army basic with an extra 20 lbs of muscle. Some friends came back from the Air Force boot with some new sunglasses and hair gel.:p:D

Since I play an instrument, I looked up the requirements for band performers when I was interested in joining. It's only THE Marine Band, as in "The President's Own," who doesn't go through basic training...the other bands go to boot. You basically have to be a virtuoso performer to have a prayer (which I never had ;)) at getting into the Marine Band, and a callous on the wrong finger can end a career for someone like that--I believe that is why they don't go to boot camp.

My brother went from...

Active duty USMC

Reserve USMC

PA Army Nat'l Guard

PA Air Guard where he retired after 20 yrs.



I did about the same.

USMC- active

CT Army Guard

Went to the CT Air Guard for about a week (funny story involved in that whole attempt :p )

Back to the Army Guard

Signed the papers for the CG Reserve, but had an issue getting the release from the Army Guard, and withdrew from the process.

Released from the Army Guard on a medical with 22 yrs as a retiree.

I did about the same.

USMC- active

CT Army Guard

Went to the CT Air Guard for about a week (funny story involved in that whole attempt :p )

Back to the Army Guard

Signed the papers for the CG Reserve, but had an issue getting the release from the Army Guard, and withdrew from the process.

Released from the Army Guard on a medical with 22 yrs as a retiree.

What CTARNG unit were you with?

2/102 Inf Scout Plt Naugatuck- Waterbury
1/102 Inf Scout Plt, then TOW Plt, then back to Scouts- Ansonia- New Haven
1/169 Inf Scout Plt for a very short time during one of the re-orgs - New Haven- then we got the 1/102 Inf back if I remember correctly. The re-orgs screwed things up quite a bit.
CTSTARC for two years or so- Camp Weicker- Camp Rowland
169th Leadership Brigade- Camp Rowland- Camp Rell

No kidding. My old man retired from the Guard a year ago. He worked out of New Haven, Ansonia, Naugatuck, and finally Waterbury. He was in supply during his entire duration, except for the time he spent in Iraq in charge of the commo. You may know him, or might recognize his name. :)

I'll PM you. If he was a grunt or in an infantry unit, I probably do. The Guard used to be a rather small family.

Out of curiosity, would it not be much simpler to submit a DA 4187 and go to the Regular Army? Nothing against the Marines, just curious.

I did all my time MD Army Guard.

Anhow in answer to your question. If you go active you will lose rank and possibly your bonus, depending on how long you wait.

Yep- that's true. Everybody goes thru boot camp regardless of any prior military service.



Most of the members of the Marine Corps band are professional musicians. They don't get mixed in with the rest the Corps as the band is basically a public relations organization. Though, I'd be careful if I was talking to one of them and suggested they weren't really Marines. Some of those flutists can be pretty tough!

If they required the band members to go thru boot, they probably wouldn't have a band. ;)

Wow I guess you learn something new everyday. If thats true, im pissed. I would be the first one to say they arnt real Marines. Didnt go through boot? You arnt a Marine.

I've seen guys switch from Army to Marines, and Air Force that I was close with. It was tough for one, simple for the other? Go figure. Expect to lose a stripe though.

Um, why would the band get to skip bootcamp?

Um WHOA PEOPLE!! As a former Marine CORPS band member (one of those flute players mentioned), I can tell you that ALL Marine CORPS band members go through every bit of the 3 month long Marine Corps bootcamp, right alongside recruits of all MOSs (jobs). There is NO difference. They also do all the normal annual qualifications (physicals, rifle range etc) that every other Marine performs. You are confusing us (as happens often) with the red uniform wearing, one and only MARINE BAND (not Marine CORPS field bands). You know, the ones in red that live in Washington DC. They are also called the President's Own Marine Band, and they and the Drum and Bugle Corps (also in DC) are the only "stand-alone" musical units that do not go to bootcamp (unless they are prior service from the Marine Corps Band field) and they also do not wear the honored "cross rifles" in their rank chevrons because they have not earned that uniform via Marine bootcamp. All the rest of us in the 12 Marine CORPS field band units wear the regular "blues", complete with regular chevrons and we serve in wars as perimeter guards for Generals. Sometimes instruments are not even taken to places like Iraq and I have many bandmates who came back with just as many war medals as other non-musicians. We have a secondary mission. And we are full-fledged, rifle shooting, enemy huntin Marines. Ooo-rah. :D
The President's Own's musicians are "commisioned" E-6s and are of a more "symphony-level" playing ability, often with Masters degrees and the like. It is my understanding from the XO of the unit that the system is this way to avoid injury (in bootcamp or in war) of this advanced level of player, just as you would protect the 1st chair violinist of say, the London Philharmonic. So spread the word. There is a difference. Both are honorable, but they are distinct.-Former Sgt Gravely, Flute/Picc, Marine Corps Band (III MEF Okinawa and 4th MAW New Orleans)

You can chane, but you will have to do boot still. If you were moving from the marines to another you would be able to skip it, just in case you ever go back again.Work with a recruiter, in some cases they can retain your rank fully.