Hi everyone, I was wondering if applying to a SMC is even a viable option for me. The school I'm currently look at is Norwich.
I'm currently in the reserves and set to deploy sometime in the future. When I'm done with my deployment, I will be age 30. I have over 60 college credits and would like to transfer to a SMC. I know most regular ROTC programs would give me a waiver for my age. I was wonder if SMCs would do the same.
I currently have a 2.9 average at my university. Will my service records such as NCOERs, awards, and number of deployments hold any weight for my application? Would I have to start out as a freshmen again to enter the Corps of Cadets? Would my qualification for the yellow ribbon program (full 100% 9/11 Gi Bill) be a determining factor as well? Thanks!
TF Light- I can't speak specifically to Norwich. The short answer to your question about VMI is :"no- this is not an option for you". VMI - like the Service Academies has an age limit for new cadets (23). There are a number of prior service or currently serving enlisted reservists at VMI, but they all started as 23 year olds or less. That's perhaps not what you wanted to hear, but the rule actually makes a fair bit of sense and even though the rule is not necessarily applicable at the other SMCs, the logic has some merit IMO for all of them. Why? At VMI - at the Service Academies, and I think at all of the other SMCs, you are going to start off as a Rat or equivalent- regardless of your transfer credits or prior service. you will be a peer with mostly 18 year olds straight out of HS, and you will be getting drilled by 19 year old Cadet corporals, led by 21 year old First Class Cadets, all overseen by Active, Retired and Reserve officers in a system that is geared to those life experiences. It's a great system for instilling honor, discipline, the ability to function under pressure, devotion to duty and teamwork.
But- at age 30 with multiple deployments and stripes under your belt you are going to have already been molded and formed and undergone those experiences in a hard crucible yourself. How willing will you likely be to follow a 19 year old, to live 24-7 in a thoroughly uniformed military environment, to be cloistered to a large extent from the outside world? In general, what will you gain? Personally- I think the answer is little and offsetting that would be your frustration at being >30 years old surrounded by such an all encompassing system.
The Army would I believe like to have you as an Officer and will benefit from your experience, but IMHO the way to take advantage of that is going to be either thru an ROTC program at a civilian University, or else - go to a Civilian college on your GI Bill and then commission thru OCS.
Other than the age limits, all of the above is just my opinion, but I've given it some thought since you posted the other day, and based on my experience and those of my son, tried to imagine myself in the scenario you've described. My honest advice would be to look at some other options than an SMC. Again- maybe someone with some experience as an Alum or currently serving at an SMC can chime in with their opinion.
Good luck
and thank you for your service soldier
Hooah
