Getting an Active Commission through Split Ops

1stGenROTC

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I'm 17 and I have been talking to a recruiter about the National Guard's Split Option program. I'm also trying to get into VMI on a ROTC scholarship(I'm a junior in high school). Assuming all goes well, what are the chances of getting an active duty commission(not AGR) doing both the National Guard and ROTC? I haven't signed any papers yet and that is why I am here asking this question before my dad and I sign anything. Any help will be much appreciated.
 
You should get in touch with the Recruiting Officer (ROO) at VMI and have this discussion with them about all your options before you sign anything with the National Guard. The local recruiters do not know the in's and out's of ROTC, their main objective is to get you to sign and enlist.
 
You should get in touch with the Recruiting Officer (ROO) at VMI and have this discussion with them about all your options before you sign anything with the National Guard. The local recruiters do not know the in's and out's of ROTC, their main objective is to get you to sign and enlist.
+1 Jcleppe - be very careful signing anything, and I could not agree more that you need to have a discussion with VMI's ROO as soon as possible. It is always good to have a few other schools in the mix too when applying for ROTC, so if you don't get a hold of the ROO at VMI right away, then contact an ROO at another school you have some interest in. Always know all your options with 2nd and 3rd opinions (of people that know, not me!) before signing anything that is contractually binding!
 
You are wise to do your research before signing anything.
A ROTC scholarship is not easy to get, so do everything you can physically and academically to best position yourself if this is what you want. It's good you have an idea you'd like to go with VMI, but you will need plan B,C,D as you will hear often on this forum. You have to list 5 schools for your ROTC app anyway and they will pick from your list if you get the scholarship.
Good luck.
 
Agree with Jcleppe and DCKC88, by all means consult with the ROO at VMI before you do anything else!

If active duty is your main motivation for NG, you should be aware that as a Senior Military College, all AROTC graduates are assured of active duty so long as they meet all the standards and are approved by the Army ROTC PMS. (This code only pertains to the Army).

From the Code:


10 U.S. Code § 2111a
(e)Assignment to Active Duty.—
(1)
The Secretary of the Army shall ensure that a graduate of a senior military college who desires to serve as a commissioned officer on active duty upon graduation from the college, who is medically and physically qualified for active duty, and who is recommended for such duty by the professor of military science at the college, shall be assigned to active duty.
(2)
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the Secretary of the Army from requiring a member of the program who graduates from a senior military college to serve on active duty.
(f)Senior Military Colleges.—The senior military colleges are the following:
(1)
Texas A&M University.
(2)
Norwich University.
(3)
The Virginia Military Institute.
(4)
The Citadel.
(5)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
(6)
The University of North Georgia.


Source:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/2111a
.
 
One question that comes to mind is would you even be eligible for a ROTC scholarship if you've already signed with National Guard? I wouldn't think so.

I do not know the answer, but it would be best to find out the answer before you sign anything.
 
I'm 17 and I have been talking to a recruiter about the National Guard's Split Option program. I'm also trying to get into VMI on a ROTC scholarship(I'm a junior in high school). Assuming all goes well, what are the chances of getting an active duty commission(not AGR) doing both the National Guard and ROTC? I haven't signed any papers yet and that is why I am here asking this question before my dad and I sign anything. Any help will be much appreciated.

I am pretty sure you can do get ROTC scholarship and be in the NG, but depends on what type of contract you sign with NG.

You also have to keep in mind, unless you are in VaARNG (I believe VaARNG and VMI have a program where VMI students can be VaARNG), you will have hard time meeting your NG commitments while being a student at VMI. I don't think VMI will let you leave campus once a month during freshmen year to participate in drill outside of Virginia.
 
You'll be going for the SMP program while in ROTC. For those reading and thinking too much of the Split Option, that's simply an enlistment option. It will not change anything as far as him being able to join ROTC, it just might affect some benefits eligibility depending on the timing of joining ROTC. Once that happens he'll be SMP like everyone else.

I suggest you have a nice long talk with the local ROO and your parents. What is your reasoning for wanting to join the guard?
 
If you are in the guard you will only be eligible for a GRFD scholarship
 
Correct me if I am wrong but I believe once you sign up for GRFD AD is not an option.
 
My son is Army National Guard Split Op and enrolled to start a (non-military) college and ROTC in the fall.

Yes, he could apply for a national ROTC scholarship like anyone else. He will become eligible for SMP benefits if/when he is contracted into ROTC. At that point, he would still be required to drill once a month with the Guard, but he would not be deployable.

As long as he does not accept any GRFD scholarships, upon graduation/commissioning his chances of getting Active Duty would be like anyone else in AROTC - based on merit and military needs.

Timing and MOS are important for Split Ops. My son did BCT in the summer between his junior and senior year of high school. He enlisted in April and didn't get to BCT until June. As a result, he was 3 weeks late starting his senior year, which required getting signed off by his high school before going to BCT. His MOS is 13D, which has one of the shorter AIT times. Even so, he will again be 3 weeks late starting college because his AIT won't start until July. It's not uncommon for Split Ops to start college a semester late because of scheduling issues.
 
If a guard/reserve soldier gets a line (non nurse or GRFD) scholarship offer they must be released from the guard/reserves to accept the offer. If they receive a GRFD offer they are told active duty is not an option.
One thing people forget is you can't be a contracted SMP soldier until your sophomore year (unless you are on a minuteman scholarship). What I always caution future cadets about is what happens if ROTC doesn't work out for some reason. You still have an enlisted contract. You are deplorable and have less flexibility with your drill schedule. My advice is always to come to school and try ROTC first. SMP can wait, unless you are sure you want to remain in the guard/reserves after college (and are interested in a GRFD contract)
 
Minuteman is basically GRFD, except you already have to be in the guard/reserves. And they have a four year option
 
You should get in touch with the Recruiting Officer (ROO) at VMI and have this discussion with them about all your options before you sign anything with the National Guard. The local recruiters do not know the in's and out's of ROTC, their main objective is to get you to sign and enlist.
Agree with Jcleppe and DCKC88, by all means consult with the ROO at VMI before you do anything else!

If active duty is your main motivation for NG, you should be aware that as a Senior Military College, all AROTC graduates are assured of active duty so long as they meet all the standards and are approved by the Army ROTC PMS. (This code only pertains to the Army).

From the Code:


10 U.S. Code § 2111a
(e)Assignment to Active Duty.—
(1)
The Secretary of the Army shall ensure that a graduate of a senior military college who desires to serve as a commissioned officer on active duty upon graduation from the college, who is medically and physically qualified for active duty, and who is recommended for such duty by the professor of military science at the college, shall be assigned to active duty.
(2)
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the Secretary of the Army from requiring a member of the program who graduates from a senior military college to serve on active duty.
(f)Senior Military Colleges.—The senior military colleges are the following:
(1)
Texas A&M University.
(2)
Norwich University.
(3)
The Virginia Military Institute.
(4)
The Citadel.
(5)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
(6)
The University of North Georgia.


Source:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/2111a
.
Do you know what general scores I need for the ROTC Scholarship Physical Fitness Assessment?
 
I have a friend who is currently doing SMP with the GA national guard. He's attending UNG (a SMC). However he had to sign a contract stating that after he commissioned from ROTC he would go the national guard officer route.

Even though SMC's can commission anyone into AD (supposing they meet all the reqs), with the SMP, you will be required to go NG.
For GA at least. Can't speak for other states but I would assume it is similar for all of the branch regardless of state.
 
I have a friend who is currently doing SMP with the GA national guard. He's attending UNG (a SMC). However he had to sign a contract stating that after he commissioned from ROTC he would go the national guard officer route.

Even though SMC's can commission anyone into AD (supposing they meet all the reqs), with the SMP, you will be required to go NG.
For GA at least. Can't speak for other states but I would assume it is similar for all of the branch regardless of state.

Your friend has probably accepted a GRFD Scholarship through the guard which is why he is required to commission into the Guard.

If that's not the case it would be good to get more information.
 
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