SMP?

I've recently become interested in the SMP offered through my battalion at school. So I'm wondering from any other cadet's out there who have been it, what their experience has been with SMP?

Personally I've heard mix reviews about it, with some cadets in my battalion loving it and some hating it.

Myself I'm certainly more then intrigued by the professional development and financial incentives of SMP. Especially the former, since I'd be drilling with a reserve/guard unit as a cadet, although basically functioning as a de facto officer from what I've read.

So I'm curious to hear about any SMP experiences out there?

i'll be doing it in the summer, so i guess i'll find out than

Kevin23 said:

I've recently become interested in the SMP offered through my battalion at school. So I'm wondering from any other cadet's out there who have been it, what their experience has been with SMP?

Personally I've heard mix reviews about it, with some cadets in my battalion loving it and some hating it.

Myself I'm certainly more then intrigued by the professional development and financial incentives of SMP. Especially the former, since I'd be drilling with a reserve/guard unit as a cadet, although basically functioning as a de facto officer from what I've read.

So I'm curious to hear about any SMP experiences out there?

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My daughter has decided to go the SMP program even though she has not heard back from NROTC yet. I am amazed that more high school students do not look into this program. My daughter will do bootcamp in July followed by AIT for Military Police, then begin college in Jan 2012. She is excited.

Make sure you know everything you're getting into. Read your contract. With SMP, you do not immediately contract into ROTC. You must obtain a certain number of college credit before the Guard will contract you. This means you are still able to deploy if your unit is deploying. I say be careful because a friend of mine is stuck in this situation. He is just a few credits away from contracting and making him ineligible to deploy, but his unit is deploying within the next few months, so he is being forced to leave with them. It can screw alot of your plans up. Great program, as long as you understand all parts of the agreement.

Edit: Additionally, it can limit your oppurtunities when you become a senior and are deciding on branching. The National Guard just got done paying 4 years of your college and paying you a nice paycheck during the entire thing, most of the time, they want you to become a Guard officer in return.

I have no experience with the SMP program, but would just like to provide one more piece of information. The SMP program at North Georgia College and State University is unique, I believe. Cadets participate with the Corps of Cadets, ROTC, and in SMP with the National Guard if they chose the SMP route. However, they are non-deployable for their four years at school and when the graduate college, the are discharged from the National Guard and go active duty. North Georgia is a Senior Military College, so active duty is guaranteed, unlike doing ROTC at a liberal arts school.

From the North Georgia website:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVB6om3E_N4

-Bull- said:

This means you are still able to deploy if your unit is deploying.

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This situation is avoided if you do the split option, Basic training after HS,
AIT after 1st yr of college.

Having not completed AIT means no MOS, and thus undeployable. If the student completes 1st yr college, returns to unit, enrolled into ROTC, (undeployable) and is not required to complete AIT, although completing AIT is an option still available.

I have looked into this very hard and spent a lot of time with the recruiter. When they complete AIT then the get into the SMP program and become a cadet with ROTC. Cannot contract with ROTC without 26 or more college credits. SMP program puts you in a non-deployable status. Once you contract with ROTC you then commit to 4-6 years as either Active or Reserve Officer after you graduate. If you choose not to contract you become deployable and complete your initial enlisted contract.

http://rspnc.com/Documents/SMP Benefits March 2009.pdf

http://arotc.uncc.edu/ARNG-USAR/simultaneous-membership-program-smp-benefits.html


"Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) Benefits

Note: ROTC Cadets can participate in this program once contracted-at the beginning of the sophomore year. If someone wants to take advantage of these benefits and even more, they can join the NG/Reserves before/during the freshman year – inquire about the College 1st Program

* Gain additional experience - SMPs are non deployable! SMP is better than ROTC scholarships even if you want active
* Basic Training and/or AIT is not required but many Cadets attend one or both schools before becoming an SMP
* Monthly drill pay = Sergeant (E5) pay (roughly $255 per weekend drill = $3,060 per yr)"...

gojack said:

This situation is avoided if you do the split option, Basic training after HS,
AIT after 1st yr of college.

Having not completed AIT means no MOS, and thus undeployable. If the student completes 1st yr college, returns to unit, enrolled into ROTC, (undeployable) and is not required to complete AIT, although completing AIT is an option still available.

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Exactly, one just has to make sure they know what they're doing. Everybody can't and won't do split option.

Navyvetarmydad said:

I have looked into this very hard and spent a lot of time with the recruiter. When they complete AIT then the get into the SMP program and become a cadet with ROTC. Cannot contract with ROTC without 26 or more college credits. SMP program puts you in a non-deployable status. Once you contract with ROTC you then commit to 4-6 years as either Active or Reserve Officer after you graduate. If you choose not to contract you become deployable and complete your initial enlisted contract.

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This has me worried navyvetarmydad.
I suggest you and your daughter sit down with the Guard and a ROTC officer and have a very frank discussion.

Once your daughter COMPLETES AIT she is deployable - unless she is CONTRACTED with ROTC. I don't *think* being an MS I or MS II is enough to be put in non-deployable status - you actually have to be contracted. Non-scholarship cadets do not contract until their MS III year.
Please, please get this clarified.

SMP - there are a variety of ways to do this program. You can enlist prior to college or while in college. Some SMP'ers will attend boot camp and/or AIT and others will not. It all depends on the timing.
It's possible - at least in some states - to do SMP and not miss any semesters of college. You can defer boot camp and AIT until the summer.
In some states - Virginia - once you are contracted with ROTC they will not allow you to attend AIT. So if you enlist during your sophomore year - you can get in boot camp the following summer but after that you will be contracted.

There is Federal Tuition Assistance available to Guard soldiers - receiving this still allows you to shoot for AD after commissioning. If you accept STATE money - that may stipulate that you commission into the Guard after commissioning.

The point is - there is not a one-size-fits-all here. It's important to ask questions, read what you are signing and know what questions to ask.