Question about going Active Duty

Hello everyone! A little about me, I'm a junior in high school and want to commission as an officer in the Army. Alongside that, my hope is that I'll get an active duty slot (if I don't win the AROTC scholarship). So my question is, if for instance I enlist when I turn 17, then I go to college right upon graduation of high school and join AROTC, if/when I commission will you be guaranteed an active duty slot? Would enlisting before joining AROTC/before college come with any perks for the future in my Army career, with OML rankings, etc.? And lastly would enlisting help with my chances of getting an AROTC scholarship and getting into competitive colleges? Thank you very much. Sorry if my wording is unclear, I currently have a concussion. If you need clarification on anything or any questions for me please don't hesitate. Greatly appreciate all hawsers and advice, thank you and have a great day!

I'm confused. You will enlist at 17 but go to college after high school graduation?

So my goal in mind is to become an army officer . I will be trying to win the AROTC scholarship and will be applying to USMA . I have heard that you can enlist then go to college and commission and that that route might be a good option. Their is someone at my school who enlisted and is going to college in ROTC now and I believe I've heard recruiters talking about enlisting before hand too, to be able to use the GI bill before becoming an officer . So just looking for clarification and advice upon all of this .

If serving as an enlisted soldier is not part of your future goals, don't enlist. You're not going to be guaranteed anything, scholarship or not. If you want to be an officer, find a way into ROTC then fight for what you want. You won't be handed anything, in ROTC or if you commission.

GoArmy,
It appears you are talking about two different things. "Enlisting" as you say before college is thru National Guard or Usarmy Reserves. Rotc and Service academies right out of high school are not done thru a "recruiter" they are based on applications that you submit and are awarded based on boards. The recruiter option requires you to enlist as a regular soldier then go to basic training and AIT training then you do college, however is you don't meet a requirement or fail a school you might lose your scholarship. There are alot of people on here with more knowledge on the subject than me. I will say if you truly want "active" duty commission, you cannot enlist prior to college.
Good luck!

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My 17 year old son is currently enlisted in ANG and planning to go to college/ROTC. We've been visiting ROTC programs over the past few weeks, and have spoken to Recruiters from both the NG and ROTC, as well as officers in ROTC. So, fwiw, this is what I've been told...

No, you would not be guaranteed an active duty slot by enlisting in the National Guard or Reserves, then going to college/ROTC. You would have to compete for active slots along with all the other ROTC cadets. And active slots are highly competitive.

Also, it is my understanding that if you enlist, then receive and accept a ROTC scholarship, you are released from your NG commitment. If you do not get a ROTC scholarship, you can contract into ROTC as a SMP cadet (Simultaneous Membership Program). A SMP cadet, once contracted, continues with NG duties (drills, etc) as well as ROTC requirements. But once contracted, the SMP cadet is not-deployable. Upon graduation/commissioning, the SMP cadet is then discharged from NG, and restarts new 8 year commitment as an officer.

If SMP cadet fails to successfully complete requirements for graduation/commissioning, they then fulfill the balance of their commitment as an enlisted soldier.

-Bull- said:

If serving as an enlisted soldier is not part of your future goals, don't enlist. You're not going to be guaranteed anything, scholarship or not. If you want to be an officer, find a way into ROTC then fight for what you want. You won't be handed anything, in ROTC or if you commission.

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Agree with Bull.

Do not enlist unless you want to be an enlisted soldier or NCO. I suggest you enroll in ROTC and compete against your peers. Even if you get a scholarship, you are not guaranteed active duty or a commission for that matter. You must meet the requirements and stand out among your peers.

Remember also that you can't contract before your sophomore year in ROTC unless you are on scholarship, so if for some reason you don't contract you are still obligated to the Guard/Reserves.

clarksonarmy - have you heard anything about the Minuteman Scholarship?

I heard recipients can contract freshman year and it is dedicated guard/reserve service, no chance of active.