Can an officer in the US military either active/reserve/national guard switch branches?

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pixelpie9744

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If for example I became a reserve officer in the army as a 17A would I be able to switch branches to the Navy or Airforce reserve while in service? If not could I switch after I am done with my term? Would I be able to retain my rank as officer if I switch branches? Thank you.
 
Yes it’s possible. Once DH service commitment was over in USAF he transferred to USAFR and later did an inter service transfer to USNR. The gaining service has to request the transfer and the losing service has to accept the loss. It requires paperwork but is not unusual
 
SurferGirl said:
Yes it’s possible. Once DH service commitment was over in USAF he transferred to USAFR and later did an inter service transfer to USNR. The gaining service has to request the transfer and the losing service has to accept the loss. It requires paperwork but is not unusual
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So for example I am a army officer in the reserve and then finish my term would I be able to be a reserve officer in the navy or airforce? Would retain officer status or would I have to start from the bottom?
 
pixelpie9744 said:
So for example I am a army officer in the reserve and then finish my term would I be able to be a reserve officer in the navy or airforce? Would retain officer status or would I have to start from the bottom?
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An Army Officer trained in what? Some branches might be easier to cross over but others more difficult.
 
SurferGirl said:
Yes it’s possible. Once DH service commitment was over in USAF he transferred to USAFR and later did an inter service transfer to USNR. The gaining service has to request the transfer and the losing service has to accept the loss. It requires paperwork but is not unusual
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Was he an officer in the USAF? and did he/she become an officer to USNR?
 
pixelpie9744 said:
For example army 17A in reserve to Navy Cryptologic Warfare Officer in reserve after finishing the army 17A term.
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Yes, it is possible to switch branches, but each service and each program has its own set of requirements and catches. For the most part, you will come in at the rank you left the original service in. The only program I can think of where you took a rank/pay cut was Coast Guard Direct Commission Aviator where you went from O-3 to O-2 for promotability reasons (they reset your career so you are at the same place as your new peers). They axed that, though and it is now O-3 to O-3.

Also, services have different needs at different times. If you want to go USNR from USAR, that might be possible, but it might not be easy with Cyber. There will be times where the Navy is full of cyber officers and they need a bunch of supply officers. Other times, the opposite is true.

Long story short, it is possible. However, there are a lot of variables.
 
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