I guess to further explain, earlier this year, like January, I was enlisting 11B to get extra training, boost resume, somewhat enlisted experience, etc. Also I believed it'd help my packet for USMA. And what I was talking about the screwed over, a recruiter submitted a wrong form disclosing an in injury that delayed everything with waivers and BS until literally last week when an appeal finally worked. Also some people at MEPS mishandled my file and put it to the wrong people, once again it's a long story but short version is a bunch of stuff out of my control slowed me down. To clarify, I don't have an AROTC Scholarship, I was planning on applying for one. I thought if you weren't contracted as SMP and you won the scholarship you could accept it and just not do SMP and still drill or however so it works out.
That's the thing is that I have actually been researching this stuff for years, my whole goal is to commission as an officer into combat arms, been that way for as long as I can remember. But one plan since split op didn't work out that was proposes to me was that I take the first year off after high school, I'd be doing OSUT for 19D (chose that over 11B in his scenario because longer training which would be better because taking off from school), drilling and doing a lot of training, then most likely going to VMI the upcoming year. The logic behind this is idea was that it'd be a huge OML bump, especially being cav scout even in non wartime there's still a halfway decent amount of chance to deploy and can go with units other than yours, so that way would possibly have an enlisted deployment under my belt (and I know that'd delay a commission another year), and it'd pay 100% for my tuition from the TA offered, not including drill pay, GI bill, kicker, etc. So monetarily it appears the same as arotc scholarship as it only pays tuition. That's what I was wondering is how that scholarship would work around it and if so I'd choose to pay R&B over tuition.
To explain why I'd be willing to delay a commission 1-2 years, from what all I've heard, the best officers are previous enlisted. I don't mean to disrespect anyone AD if saying NG is previous enlisted technically, not sure the political correctness with that, but nonetheless it'd be giving me all of that experience and especially if I et to deploy I believe leading a combat deployment as a PL years from now for example I'd be much more in tune and know what I'm doing. Also all of this counts as enlisted time, so utd be several years in the military by the time I do commission, so I figure if I go career mil, then over the years having that extra time making me promote faster would help me catch up, also would be making more at each rank because of that. Lastly, that is just a huge OML bump from what I've heard which I like. I want to branch into infantry which is competitive so I'm sure some of you can see where I'm coming from. Also having been exposed to that environment of cav scout OSUT which is very rigorous from what I've heard, would probably be a great prep for VMI. Apparently a rat average GPA is like a 2.3! But I believe by already having gone through a somewhat similar or to an extent environment, I'd adjust easy and be able to focus on my studies and have an easier time academically then most of the other incoming rats.
So I hope this shows that it is something thought out. Hit me up with more questions, comments, and critism. Thanks for all responses, as you can see I have perhaps one of the biggest decisions of my life to make so I would love to hear what everyone thinks. Take care and have a nice day (sorry it was so log just wanted to show my thoughts and actual reasoning rather than "Ohh my recruiter said it'll be cool," this was my own ideas, only used recruiter to find statistical information and be able to enlist so I didn't let him sway me).