If you serve in the US Army, after you are discharged, can you join the Navy without going to navy bootcamp?

Question

im in highschool and interested in joining the military. i really want to join the army, but i would also like to go to sea as well. i have considered the marine corps, but the benifits and the armys split option have me wanting to go army. so if after i join the army, can i go to the navy without going to there boot camp?

Answer 1

Well, I was in the Navy for four years and seperated when my enlistment was up in 2004. I didn't decide to re-up and go into the Army until early 2007. That was for the Reserves after I found out the Navy had nothing to offer me.

It is correct that the Army sends all prior-service people, as well as Marines and Soldiers who have about 3 years of break in service, to the Warrior Transition Course. While, at the MEPs doing the same crap when I first joined again I met a prior-service Army guy who was joining the Navy as an ABF. He said that he did not have to go to 'bootcamp' again but some kind of refresher course. So, don't get all panicky about it .... yes, in the Navy its called RTC, aka Recruit Training Command, but unlike that misinformed knucklehead who told you that is not called 'bootcamp' it is called that unofficially. Thats what I CALL IT TO THIS DAY and I'm still an old inky squid at heart. In the Army they call it BASIC TRAINING aka Basic Combat Training (BCT).

I don't know if they'll continue to have WTC when you get out of the Navy but I can pretty much tell you that TRAINING, which WTC is, its not Basic, that SCHOOLING in the Army is 10X different than what it is in the NAVY and CHAIR FORCE. I'm not saying that training is hard because I thought it was pretty easy but I'm a hardcore kind of guy ..... The Navy had people watching over you but it wasn't Drill Sargeants like it is here in the US Army. DS were pretty tough but they were pretty much the same as an RDC from the Navy way back when I joined, maybe a little softer because the Army is going kind of 'kinder and gentler'. But hey I was at Fort Sill doing this **** not Fort Benning! The Army is trying to do away with the whole DS thing at AIT (which is your school. In the NAV its A-School) but several MOSes are OSUT which means it is One Site Unit Training, aka Basic and AIT all in one so I imagine you'll still have a DS getting in your face yelling at you. As a Prior Service you will be treated as such, which means you get more privileges and you can't talk to recruits. If you do an OSUT MOS you'll only attend the second half, which is weird but you'll still be an insert, aka PRIOR SERVICE and have privileges just like you would at AIT. That is if you don't get stuck with the recruits or someone goofs up your paperwork.

Your best bet is to start off in the Army, pick a job that will transfer easy into the Navy like MP, Cook, Chaplain's Assassitant, Logistics, any job that works in Admin, or Pay, maybe some Artillery jobs, or anything in Avaition. Avaition is pretty big in the NAVY and they have their own HELO aka helicopters in the NAV too just like in the Army. I wouldn't advise the Navy route first because you might have to end up doing BCT anyway because from what I understood during my time at WTC is that is still up in the air as a program... Plus you'll be better trained than 99% of the fleet when you, You'll be a hardcore sailor and you can help square away those fat boys who like to whine all the time without ever seeing combat.

I know this was long but its your call and I figured you should have the facts. I always do my best to help others out and keep them informed. Thats why I took my time to write this out to you. Best of luck, knock 'em dead, stay motivated, and roger up when someone tells you to do something!

Answer 2

You can, but there would be an orientation "school" that would last for a couple of weeks. Once through basic training is about all that anyone is going to have to endure. So, go be a soldier, and then see if the Navy will have you, If so, after some orientation, you should be sent to your first base unless they feel a need to send you to a school of some kind for the job you'll be doing. Remember, if you keep your Army rank, or are maybe stepped down one grade, that is going to make a big difference in how you are treated. Very few who change from one branch of service are demoted to an E-1. If you leave the Army as an E-4, at worst you would only be stepped down to an E-3. That still gives you a head start on any new recruit.

Answer 3

All depends on a lot of factors. First there is no guarantee the Navy will take you after you get out of the Army. Most services are shunning prior service people. It also depends on what the policy is when you decide you want to try this. Sometimes you need to go sometimes you don't. The Army and Navy are night and day different so you would benefit by going and if you can make it through the Army training the Navy is no big deal. How about making the right choice for your the first time and doing your time in one service. The Navy has outstanding jobs and benefits the Army cannot offer, plus you are a lot safer in the Navy. It is up to you, but if you really want to serve in the Navy I would look very closely before enlisting in any branch, this could be your last choice.

Answer 4

You do what you feel is best for you. Maybe your dad will worry but that's okay because this is about what you want for yourself not what your dad wants for you. Don't let others hold you back like that and more importantly don't let your own mind hold you back like that. He's far too worried about you so you chose not to go? What's up with that? Wine is right. It isn't necessarily a summer camp although I hear it is fun to stay at the YMCA. Where can you find pleasure search the world for treasure learn science technology Where can you begin to make your dreams all come true on the land or on the sea where can you learn to fly play in sports and skin dive study oceanography sign up for the big band or sit in the grand stand when your team and others meet In the navy yes you can sail the seven seas in the navy yes you can put your mind at ease in the navy, in the navy, in the navy.

Answer 5

Yes, you can do this. I'm actually there in Great Lakes, IL right now. I'm prior Navy (NAVET) getting back in, but there are lots of prior Army here. They're all E-2 or E-3 now, but almost all of them will get automatic E-4 upon completion of "A" school. Any non-prior Navy (OSVET) will have to do some extra classes here, like the swim qual., seamanship, marlinspike, etc., but they're all really easy.

The Marine Corps is the only one that makes you do their bootcamp if you're coming in from another branch.

Answer 6

Yes you can. I went from the Marines, to the Navy, to the Air Force and only went to boot camp once. Of course it was the longest one of all the branches of service. My friend did the same but he started in the Army.

Answer 7

I've known plenty of guys who have "crossed over", from the marines and army to the navy. They did not have to go to boot camp again. Just join the Navy and get training that you can use in civilian world. The army or marines will not do this for you.

Answer 8

I joined the Army in the early 60's than got out and switched to the AF. I didn't have to go to basic training. The fact is that if a war was going on (like Viet-Nam) prior service were being welcomed. It also depends on your Army job. Mine was open to prior service when I re-joined.

Join! Even if you get out there are all kinds of benefits like VA home loans, Educational benefits, etc.

Answer 9

I don't think so. There was one guy in my company that did prior service in the Army but he had to through Navy bootcamp like the rest of us.

Answer 10

If this is what you want then i suggest looking up the blue to green program. It allows active duty sailors to renlist into the army at the end of their tours. THey offered me a ridiculous amount of money to transition to the Army. I was not interested as I love my job in the navy. But it may be worth looking into for you.