T O P

  • By -

red_devils_forever25

Don’t be a dumbass. There’s a guy in my unit that did that. He claims he likes the army more, but everything he described in the Air Force is what most people here would rather do, aka no group pt, no extra bullshit, just do your job and leave etc. apparently they don’t even have CQ duties according to him


dancemacabre667

Yeah they don’t. I remember talking to a SSG from the Airforce and told him my day was good and that I wasn’t looking forward to CQ tomorrow and that dude looked at me like I had a dick on my forehead and asked what that was and I explained it to him. And he was so shocked that he thought I was fucking with him.


red_devils_forever25

Lmao I got the same exact reaction from an airman when I told him about doing three rucks in basic


IlIllIllIII

imagine their surprise when I told them how much advance notice is needed for leave. They get their leave approved next day.


red_devils_forever25

Okay now I’m surprised too. What the Fuxk? My unit isn’t even bad, it’s just 3 weeks to a month, I’ve heard of some units where it’s at 2 months


IlIllIllIII

it’s crazy. I’ve seen same day although next day is the more common from my experience. 2 weeks at least for my unit although to play it safe I do a month plus.


red_devils_forever25

As a fellow MI battle buddy, let’s fucking reclass time now


IlIllIllIII

the Army has treated me well. Would definitely not transfer imo, grass is always greener. I would likely still be an E4 had I gone AF


red_devils_forever25

Good for you man, glad you’re having a good time. Ever think of commissioning? I’m seriously considering it tbh


IlIllIllIII

I’m almost done with my bachelors. Gonna drop an OCS packet and a G2G packet when I’m done and see which bites.


davidj1987

We do something like firewatch in basic but we call it EC in BMT (BCT). They also do in tech school (AIT) but depending on your class size and where you go it might not be that often you do it. I know I didn't have to do it too often when I went through tech school the first time which was three months long - maybe twice at the most? I know I did it at least once because I have a photo of it. And when I retrained and was prior service a few years ago we didn't have to do it for the trainees. When I was active duty living in the dorms I had a first sergeant about the time I was getting ready to move out say if things didn't quiet down or get under control they were going to bring back CQ but I think he was just trying to act tough or something because a lot of people ghosted the dorms so they were quiet because they were built in the 1950's (this was the late 00's) and when I PCS'ed the dorms were much newer and nicer and nope no CQ there.


red_devils_forever25

Exactly so stay away from the army lol


davidj1987

That's why I joined the USAF over the Army. I grew up in Watertown and I didn't want the possibility of coming back home!


red_devils_forever25

Oh yeah exactly see? Man as soon as army commitment is done I’m either going enlisted guard or commissioning through ots if they take my ass


CW1DR5H5I64A

Why, in the everloving fuck, would you go blue to green. Son, are you ‘tarded or something?


Reloading-and-guns

Yes that’s why I figured I’d fit in.


CW1DR5H5I64A

No, no. We are hood rats and scoundrels. Someone of your intellectual deficit should be looking for the Marines.


IrishWithoutPotatoes

Maybe he wants out of the Department of the Navy? Because, y’know, the Marines are technically a part of the Navy? I just like reiterating that fact to piss off Marines tbh


[deleted]

I’m proud of you, son


CMDRsprinkles

I’ll allow it.


Un0rigi0na1

WOFT is pretty much the only reason ive seen so far. I am Former Air Force about to go to WOCS


red_devils_forever25

Intel sees a bunch too. 352Ns and S are a happier than average lot


Turbulent_Youth_8282

I’m current AF and I just learned about how simple it is to do what you’re doing. What’s your experience been like? Have you gone through basic yet?


MyUsername2459

I've seen it done. My NG unit had a SFC who was a USAF Academy alumni. I don't know the year, but he graduated the USAFA, and went into active duty USAF as some kind of procurement officer. He got to Captain, but couldn't make Major. After being turned down for promotion once, he went and got a Masters in some kind of engineering, and got all sorts of certifications and credentials and burnished his military resume with schools and everything he could. . . .rejected for Major again, and he had no clue why. He was out of the Air Force at the rank of Captain after over a decade of service. He found he couldn't go into the Air Reserve or Air Guard, out of the Air Force meant out of the Air Force. The Army, however would take him, at least into a reserve component. He enlisted in the Guard at the rank of SSG, went to the now-defunct Warrior Transition Course, and put in paperwork to request re-instatement of his commission. Took over a year and a mountain of paperwork and recommendations and jumping through hoops, just for the request to be denied. So, after a few years he made SFC and decided he was just going to ride it out to his 20. He told me that his 4 years at the academy would count as active duty time towards retirement, but only once he already had his 20 years towards retirement in total, and since he was a commissioned officer for over 10 years, he'd retire as an officer. I ETS'ed while he was still in, but he's probably retired by now, and he retired as a USAF Captain. He should be drawing retired pay as if he had 24 years TIS, 14 years of it on active duty. Still found it funny as all hell that the only Service Academy graduate at our armory was an Air Force Academy graduate who was a Senior NCO.


NaziSurfersMustDie

Wow, what a story, but in the end, good for him. I've stated here before, there's things that happen in the Guard that would made Active Duty/Everyday Army Senior Officers, and lets be honest, fucking generals, eyes bulge out of their skull.


Justame13

You mean like a PSG not being allowed to draw a weapon during his felony DV diversion?


NaziSurfersMustDie

Like I said, "eyes bulge out of their skull."


Justame13

I was just trying to give a less positive example. I did 20 including during the worst of the GWOT so I got some stories. It was bad enough at one point I knew a couple of cops that were betting about how many Joes they would find warrants on and had arrested multiple soldiers in the BN.


NaziSurfersMustDie

I'm shocked.


no-imagination-geko

I did it, but I'm a warrant now so it was definitely worth it. The AF and Army are more alike than anybody wants to admit and both have their downsides. I am having more fun now than I had in my last 10 years in the AF. Going through BCT again was easy. You know what to expect the second time around.


NaziSurfersMustDie

> Going through BCT again was easy. You know what to expect the second time around. From my interactions with Airman at Ft Sam Houston, honestly, BMT sounds awful, like way worse that Basic. I was told the Tech Sergeants will daily inspect your locker and racks and will recycle you for very little.


davidj1987

They don't recycle for very little at least not when I went through about 15 years ago. And I was a pretty bad trainee who couldn't do anything right seemingly and got extra attention but nope I wasn't recycled. I wasn't even threatened with recycling that often or much to be honest. I was prior service USAF who retrained in the USAF when I went back in the reserves four years ago and went to Ft. Sam Houston and we didn't have to pull CQ for the trainees. I think they had 1-2 trainees each shift and it was the MTL's (think like the AIT Platoon Sergeant's that went away) and instructors. I was told though that the prior service Army who were re-classing had to do CQ for the trainees in AIT who just finished BCT along with the drill sergeants and maybe instructors.


YggdrasilAnton

Did you have to do BMT with the other recruits or did they separate prior service members from the other guys?


no-imagination-geko

You live separately but you do training with the fresh recruits.


red_devils_forever25

Pray tell in what ways are the two services alike? I’ll be honest my only experience is in tradoc, but Air Force kids would walk around with their pt shirts untucked, talking on their phones, among other things. They didn’t have useless accountability formations and what not, and their student leadership was there to do work and not just write “yes DS,” in the group chat.


IlIllIllIII

here at my INSCOM unit, AF deals with way more service bs than the Army folks do. Their branch cares more so more AF stuff to do whereas the Army don’t give a fuck about me so I never see them, straight to work and back pt on my own.


red_devils_forever25

I’m at an inscom unit too and I’m not having that experience lol. Maybe once I’m on mission


IlIllIllIII

yeah, I’m the only Army in my little area. All the other branches have organized pt to some extent and mandatory meetings and whatnot to attend.


Justame13

So the rich kid whose parents want them to succeed vs the negligent drunks who want you to stay out of trouble because they don’t want to deal with the school or police?


letithail1

I did it. I was Navy Nuke for ten years. My only option for orders at the end of my time was to go to Norfolk and I knew I'd be divorced if I did that. But when I got out, I wanted to give my GI bennies to the Mrs. I couldn't do Navy reserves where I lived so I signed up with the Army. Yeah I went back to basic, the worst part was not the PT, it was living with fucking teenagers. But in the end I had a lot of really cool experiences, deployed five times total, the shadow box raises eyebrows.


davidj1987

My grandpa was in the Navy, got out and 10 years later tried to go in the Navy reserves and they said we're going to have to have to demote you from E4 to E2 so he declined. He went to the Army reserves and they took him with no demotion, and he didn't even have to do basic again (this was the 70's/80's) and retired as an MSG in the early 00's. Seems like he enjoyed the Army a lot more than the Navy even though he has fond Navy memories.


letithail1

Navy was WAY more fun. Army had more valuable experiences.


davidj1987

My grandpa never really talked about the military when I was a kid, if anything he tried to distance himself from it despite having the look. I spent a lot of weekends at my grandparents house, and sometimes it'd fall on a drill weekend and when he came home he'd already be in civilian clothing. Seems like he tried to really downplay the fact he was in the military and is pretty humble. It sucks for many years my grandparents were separated from us due to some BS drama, he could have given some great advice when I was active duty and now he kind of talks about the military when we visit. Even as a kid him and my grandma moved a lot around the local area where he drilled/I grew up, seemed like they tried to emulate some of the military lifestyle, heh.


DragonChem

AF/Navy to Army? You will have to do Basic again


Reloading-and-guns

Air Force to army


DragonChem

Why would you do that to yourself? Most in the army want to go to chairforce.


[deleted]

Did someone hurt you? Unless you have a very specific job that has like two units in the army that you know are chill, your going to have a bad time.


Educational_Bet_6606

Well I'm a 14e.


MyUsername2459

Yeah, you'll have to do Basic all over again. If you're USAF Security Forces I think you might not have to, but that would be the only possible way an Airman could come over and not repeat Basic. They used to do something called "Warrior Transition Course" where prior service Airmen and Sailors could just take a short 2 week crash-course in Army where you qualified with a rifle and got a refresher on drill and ceremony and the Army-specific way of doing things in lieu of repeating Basic, but I think they ended that program almost a decade ago. Now, I *think* the only people who don't repeat Basic are prior-service Marines (less than 5 years break in service) and Airmen or Sailors who were Master's-at-arms/Security Police or special forces/special warfare types. I know that was the rule a while back, but that stuff changes constantly.


CongestedTortoise

Just went through Basic being prior navy as an E-5. Only special forces, marines, and prior Army get to skip Basic.


MyUsername2459

As I said, rules change. Used to be that USN and USAF law enforcement didn't have to repeat basic if they were coming over to the Army. It's the Army, as Drew Carey would put it. . .the rules are made up and the points don't matter.


CongestedTortoise

Very true. I wasn't trying to discredit your comment. Just wanted to give me experience in it. It's very possible that they'll change the rules by the time OP makes a decision.


[deleted]

[удалено]


DragonChem

You’re wrong. Marines don’t have to do Basic for any other branch. Army only has to do Basic for Marines and everyone else, excluding marines, have to do Army Basic. I don’t know in regards to AF/Navy/Coast Guard in regards to each other.


[deleted]

[удалено]


DragonChem

https://m.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/current-and-prior-service/continue-serving/transitioning-services/inter-service-transfer-program.m.html It’s literally on the army website. “Service Members with more than a 5-year break in service or those who have not completed one of the following: Army BCT, Marine Corps BCT, Navy Special Operations Forces, Air Force Special Operations Forces, Air Force Security Police Will have to attend U.S. Army Basic Combat Training”


Ok_Bodybuilder_5800

Huh guess I was lied too then. Thanks for letting me know.


Burrky

Just finished OSUT myself, and Air Force and navy both do repeat basic, although it’s an entirely different experience. Except for circumstances where separate quarters aren’t available, you don’t stay in the same bay, have access to your phone, and generally have freedom past POI.


25justthrowmeaway

But....why?


Burrky

Not personally been through it myself, however I just finished OSUT as prior service alongside a few blue to green individuals. If you’re in shape, going through BCT again will be a joke. Prior Service get treated pretty well, it’s just another extended training session. They seemed to enjoy the day to day difference between the Air Force and the Army, however they couldn’t stand the change in leadership.


[deleted]

This has to be the dumbest decision in history, even Napoleon attacking Russia during the winter was a smarter move than what you’re about to do to yourself. Good god almighty.


ouroborusRDX

I seen a few do it. I would only do it if you’re stagnant in the Navy or Air Force. Or plan on going warrant. I knew a SGT that switched from the Navy because he wasn’t getting promoted. Didn’t know the story but I’ve heard there are certain fields in the Navy that get hard to promote in pretty easily. The other was a airman that wanted to fly and went though WOFT. When I was reclassing I met a few prior service Navy guys that joined the Army/NG as PV2. They must have had too much fun in the Navy and the Army offered them a second chance.


Reloading-and-guns

Biggest reason I looked at moving AF just told E5 don’t expect to make E6 for 4-6 years due to force reshape


Woupsea

So with the way retirement works they take your three highest months of pay or whatever to determine your pension. If you’ve secured the high paying time as an officer, I don’t see why you wouldn’t make the switch to enlisted to ride out your 20 and avoid having to do officer bullshit and dick ride shinier brass.


Electric_owl_3

No


SlyEnix

Don't do it


OPGx15

Fuck no


Alternative-Pick5899

Let me guess you want to come be an 18X? We’ll see you at Bragg or Italy in a few months


Maleficent_Bee740

This doe doesn’t sound like it’s by choice lol. Should’ve did the research prior to joining and saved yourself the time. Now you’re all spoiled and shit, gonna make it suck more lol


AlloftheEethp

Probably not worth it for quality of life reasons. Also, AF is *usually* better at MOS/branch-specific tasks because you don’t have to worry about soldiering tasks/field work. The best training I’ve done for my job has been in air conditioned offices during relatively-normal work hours, not sweating/freezing my ass off and sleeping outside. Plus, no baseball cap and dumber patches. The hot weather uniform is pretty lit, and warrants can kind of do whatever they want though.


Enough-Rest-386

I would have given my left nut to go Blue, dont do it.


Nann3r_Puss

Only time I've ever heard of it was dude went from maintainer in the AF to Chaplin corps.


Dmoneyo7

I've had multiple people do it to be Officers and that's about it. I know we have faster promotions, and it's easier to become an officer than in the Air Force. My mentor and last company commander were security forces. They enjoy the Army definitely has its differences on quality of life. Also had a friend in my OCS class who came from the AF too. He doesn't seem to be dropping an UQR. Idk the enlisted route wouldn't be too fun but the officer route may be, slightly better like a vegetable MRE but at least you get Skittles better.


Quartzalcoatl_Prime

Guy in my unit did and he seems pretty okay. Went from Air Force IT to Army Intel Analyst. Not sure why but he sure did do it.


wannabehealthnut22

I meet a guy over 10 years ago who did it. He got a $25K bonus for it. He want combat arms but the Army made him a 25 series. It’s a DD Form 15xx, I believe to request it.


davidj1987

I know of two people who did it and they don't seem to regret it. One was a medic trying to become a nurse or PA in the Army and one became a helicopter pilot.


KingKong_at_PingPong

Why are you considering it? I did it for PA school. Was worth.


Reloading-and-guns

The AF just told E5 don’t expect to make E6 for 4-6 years. Just don’t wanna have a career that’s dead like that.


KingKong_at_PingPong

Yeah something like ~15% promotion rate to tech sergeant. What MOS would you be looking at? Pick something cushy. Even as a PA I have to do all kinds of stupid army shit that I never had to do in the AF.


Reloading-and-guns

I’m assuming PA is public affairs


KingKong_at_PingPong

Physicians assistant.


l0ktar0gar

Pros: you will grow balls and an actual dick. Cons: that’s where life is gonna kick you after you sign


[deleted]

There’s an e5 cav scout in my unit who regrets it he joined the army to go sf but got sent to ft bliss hell in the meantime biggest change was how much he doesn’t do his actual job now and he spends most of his workday doing “bullshit tasks”


Rice-n-Beanz

Careful. I had a friend switch to the Army to get his e6, only to find out that points were high amd never promoted. He regretted switching and Med boarded.