Do military officers changing branches of service (I.e. Marine Corps to Air Force or Army to Navy) retain their rank?

Question

NOTE: I don't mean any type of release to a different branch of service. I mean in the case of an officer who has completed the terms of his contract (e.g. Army Reserves Captain ETSing after his eight years).

So the O3 decides he wants to commission into the Navy. Does he start as an O1?

USAFisnumber1 · Answer

Up to O3 it does not matter as each can have as many junior/company grade officers as they want so there is no problem with you keeping your rank.    The number from O4 and up is limited by Congress so you will be kicked down to a lower rank.   An O4 would be an O3.   If you are an O5 you are too close to retirement so you can not transfer.

Mrsjvb · Answer

the chances of that ever being viable scenario is about 0.   one, commissions DO NOT transfer.

2, no one actually takes prior service, let alone prior officers.

the above scenarios described by other answers  are literally 1 in a thousand cases.

? · Answer

I knew of one officer who changed branches. Pretty rare situation, but it's possible just not probable.

? · Answer

In the rare cases when that does happen, they normally retain their rank.

jeeper_peeper321 · Answer

officer's do not go from one branch to another branch

it has happened in the past-- in special cases

like lawyers or chaplians

or when the air force started the STO and CRO career fields-- they allowed army or marine officers to apply and change service branch's

in those cases, yes they keep their rank

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Do military officers changing branches of service (I.e. Marine Corps to Air Force or Army to Navy) retain their rank?

5 Answers