Switching from the Marine Corps to the Air Force after first enlistment?

Question

If I switch from the Marine Corps after my 4 year enlistment to the Air Force will I only have to do 16 years in the airforce to retire at 20 years of service or will i have to do all 20 years with the same branch?

Answer 1

No, 20 is 20 and I thank you sir for your service to our country more than I can convey here.

Answer 2

Your time transfers within the military.  You can do all twenty in one branch or split it up between several if you choose to do so.

I don't think the Air Force is accepting any prior service people right now, due to they fact they are letting people leave. (force shapping)

Answer 3

As the others have already answered, your time in service is carried over. HOWEVER, your branch of choice is troubling. Because last I heard, they will not enlist ANY prior service, which includes boat jumpers/train hoppers. Actually, last I heard they're accepting 30ish Prior Service members per YEAR.

Please, before you get excited (like I had to go through), call the AF recruiting office and make sure. As weird as it sounds, they don't want anyone with military experience and would rather train from the bottom up.

Answer 4

Your time in service is carried over. 20 years in the military is 20 years in the military regardless of what branch.  So therefor your 4 years will carry over. The air force only takes a limited number of prior enlisted folks each year though. So it may hard to switch to that branch depending on your mos. Each recruiter is only allowed a certain number of prior enlisted each fiscal year.