SSgt transitioning to 14E from Marine Corps. What to expect?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 17:15:21 -0400

I recently signed up to transition from the Marine Corps into the Army. I’m gonna be a 14E and report to Fort Sill in May (if this DoD ban is lifted). I’m trying to figure out what to expect. I lat moved in the Marine Corps and as a Sgt in the school house you were treated better and given more liberties than E1/E2s. Is it grown man rules? Are you housed with the general population or separate? How is Fort Sill? Overall what to expect. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Apr 4 at 2020 5:30 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 17:30:18 -0400

I'm not in the Mix at Sill, but let me welcome you to the Army.

Historically NCOs reclassifying are housed differently (so you don't fraternize, and be treated as an NCO. and you'll have different relationships with the instructors. It varies MOs to MOS.

Response by CSM Kevin Enoch made Apr 4 at 2020 5:31 PM

CSM Kevin Enoch — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 17:31:18 -0400

You will be treated as a transition student. You will still attend classes and conduct PRT with the Initial Entry Training AIT students, but you will not be housed with them. Yes, big boy rules, but you will be expected to be an example of what right looks like. Ft. Sill isn’t bad. It’s pretty small, but my family and I enjoyed it overall.
Now, coming from the Marine Corps to 14E...practice some patience. I am a retiring Army Air Defender, but the segment you are going into is more cerebral than what I did. Woosaaaa. By the way, you will see the MARDET on Sill. They train FA and ADA, but not in the same area where you will be. Their ADA is only SHORAD, which is my experience.
Last note - I was the CSM of 2-6 ADA from June 2014 to October 2016, you will be in 3-6 ADA, both are in 30th ADA Brigade. I don’t think much has changed since my time there, so I hope all of this is accurate for you.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2020 6:44 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 18:44:57 -0400

Fort sill isn’t bad, I’ve been here for three years. But in all honesty it’s going to be a shock on how differently air defense works from other branches in the army. It’s definitely a more relaxed lifestyle but there is often a lot of unnecessary things being pushed down from the BN level. Since you are going to be an NCO you won’t be put in the ECS because the battery trainer will want to put privates in there so they can learn or if there’s an experienced NCO they’ll be in the ECS. You’ll be put on some PM&E crew and do drills. Also forget everything you learn in AIT because we don’t apply any of what was taught to our day to day operations. You’ll learn how to use IADS. That’s a system maintenance app on the computer. If you have any questions about ADA send me a message.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2020 4:34 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 16:34:44 -0400

When you say transition to Army did you complete your enlistment, get out & join or did they allow you to inter-service transfer??
Currently a grunt E-5 with 6 of 8 years complete on this contract but trying to get out of the Marines & over to ODA due to HSST... Im being told the Marine Corps doesnt participate in inter-service transfers but i also know that most of what your told in the Marines is just what they want us to believe....

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2020 8:19 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 08:19:04 -0400

I’m at Ft Sill now, but for a different MOS. All prior service goes through reception to get uniforms, medpros, inprocessing etc dome, you can expect to be there from 1-3 weeks, depending on how fast they get your orders to go to AIT. You will be stuck there with brand new trainees, but in a your own barracks. I can’t speak specifically for 14e, but a couple of guys I speak to are 14 series and they do PT on there own and just show up for class with cal the primates. Other than that there is almost no accountability across the board for all the non IET soldiers (prior service). Basically it’s big boy rules but don’t mess with the privates.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2020 12:38 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 12:38:45 -0400

14E here.
I am prior service Marine that transitioned to the Army as well. However, I did 4 years in the Army reserves before going active (into 14E). I went to fort sill for AIT in May of 2018. The barracks we stayed in were garbage. Bottom floor is transitions, other floors are new students. The floors were coming up, cant lock your doors when you leave and the AC was crap. Probably the worst housing I've stayed in during my almost 18 years in. You PT together with the students, sometimes they pull the transitions aside and let them pt on their own (maybe once a week). In class, you'll just sit in the back and do your own thing. Dont pay attention to the students, you're not supposed to get on their ass about things they do wrong. I was the only transition in my class, it was a long 5 months. Other classes had a few more transitions too. Bring your car for sure, Lawton is typical military town, kinda run down, has all the major stores. If I can give you one place to go and unwind its Mike's sports bar. I spent a lot of days there. Staff is friendly, food is great and is a good place to just go relax at. Feel free to ask any other questions you may have. Oh. Be ready for a culture shock coming straight from the Corps....you'll see...

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2020 10:08 PM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 May 2020 22:08:46 -0400

Is 14E a PCS move if you are married?