Simultaneous Membership Program

2012Cadet

2012Cadet

10-Year Member
5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
608
How would one go about doing this...what is the process in joining and doing this?
 
Well im not 100% sure on how it works, but I do know that you cant be on a 4 year scholarship, and still do SMP. Just something to think about, since your competitiveness info suggests you have a decent chance of winning a scholarship.
 
SMP is open to ROTC cadets who have 30 or more college credits, so it's not available your freshman year.
Cadets with a 4 year scholarship can't participate but some will give up their scholarship and do SMP because it can be a better deal.

What is SMP - this is a program where you join the National Guard or Reserves as well as ROTC at your college. You go to drill once a month and do your two week training in the summer just like any other Guard or Reserve soldier. Since you are in ROTC there is no basic training requirement or MOS. It's is sort of like an internship. You are not deployable with your unit since you are in ROTC. Going to boot camp is not a requirement although some choose to go for the experience.
You get paid for your monthly and summer training.
The reserves and Guard units have lots of scholarship money available. This will vary from state to state - but for instance in Virginia, the Guard has tuition scholarships that pay in-state tuition.
So - if you are a Va resident at a Va state college - you will get tuition, books plus your monthly guard pay, your ROTC stipend and paid for summer training. You also get time in service. So if you are in the Guard for three years in college you commission as an O-1 with three years.
For Army training schools (Air Assault, Airborne, etc) the Guard has places available over and above ROTC, so you have a better chance of getting the school you want.
Even though you are enlisted in the Reserves or Guard you can still Commission Active Duty if you choose.

SMP is an option to think about once you are already in college and in a ROTC unit.
 
Questions

Could you join the Reserves during/before freshman year and still do ROTC like that and then upgrade later to SMP when get 30 credits? Also, could you join Reserves in high school (i.e. Reserve DEP) and do what I previously asked? Finally, could I still apply to academies if I was DEP (Reserve)?
 
Yes but....
if you join the Reserves you have to go to boot camp and then your MOS training. Many kids find they can't start college on time. You can't be a SMP until you have 30 credits. it does get tricky so you would need to talk to the ROTC folks.

You can certainly join the Reserves and apply to the Academy.
 
Actually there is more to the story.

Based on what you've posted, one recommendation for enlisting in the Guard or Reserves is to enlist under Split Option. This allows a student to complete Basic Training (BCT) during the summer, then complete AIT the following summer. Several of my Cadets here at Valley Forge Military College have done this.

Also, understand that completion of BCT meets the requirements for Military Science Level I and II. In other words, complete BCT and you do not have to participate in ROTC until your Junior Year.

SMP is required, however, for certain ROTC Scholarship Recipients, as well as those who enlist in the USAR and ARNG and then join ROTC.

The ARNG and USAR unit do not control scholarship money. The ARNG and the USAR provides Cadet Command with funding for ROTC scholarships, which are competed for and distrbuted via Cadet Command.

What each State has, is an Education Assistance Program, which provides educational benefits (varying State to State). To the best of my knowledge, all States require the Soldier to be either MOS Qualified or have completed BCT to be eligible for benefits. It does vary between States.

There is a whole lot that goes with this and your best bet is to speak with the ROTC Department at the Colleges you wish to attend. Additionally, if you chose to enlist, you need to talk with both the ARNG AND the USAR to ensure you see all your options. Be up front and honest about what you are trying to do.

Good luck.

V/R;
Eric Turner
CPT, TC, PAARNG
ARNG Liaison Officer
Valley Forge Military College
1001 Eagle Road
Wayne, PA 19087
610-989-1279
610-687-9495
eturner@vfmac.edu
eric.p.turner@us.army.mil
 
A couple of questions I have considered: when they say BCT is during summer, are they saying the summer before senior year and then the summer after that is spent in AIT.? If so, would training conflict with going to programs like SLS or Boy's State, etc.? Also, if I went to USMA, would this conflict with going to CBT or starting of academic year or do you not have to do CBT since your already been through military training, etc.?

Also, could you still participate in ROTC without taking classes till junior year (i.e. being in ROTC unit with rank and participating in ROTC-related extracurriculars, training, etc.)?

Would, if I did this, be deployable (or is it like SMP and your undeployable)?

If I was in this, would I be able to apply for military-affiliated noms to attend USMA?

Would, after I started college and ROTC, be eligible for E-5 pay like under SMP?

I'm sure I still have many more questions, but these are the ones I can think about right now...
 
2012Cadet said:
A couple of questions I have considered: when they say BCT is during summer, are they saying the summer before senior year and then the summer after that is spent in AIT.? If so, would training conflict with going to programs like SLS or Boy's State, etc.? Also, if I went to USMA, would this conflict with going to CBT or starting of academic year or do you not have to do CBT since your already been through military training, etc.?

Also, could you still participate in ROTC without taking classes till junior year (i.e. being in ROTC unit with rank and participating in ROTC-related extracurriculars, training, etc.)?

Would, if I did this, be deployable (or is it like SMP and your undeployable)?

If I was in this, would I be able to apply for military-affiliated noms to attend USMA?

Would, after I started college and ROTC, be eligible for E-5 pay like under SMP?

I'm sure I still have many more questions, but these are the ones I can think about right now...
Click to expand...

I think most of your questions have been answered already.
You are going to have to talke to a National Guard recruiter or Army Reserve recruiter and/or a ROTC staff member.

Army Basic training is 9 weeks. If you go the summer before your senior year it could possibly prevent you from attending SLS and Boys States.
If you do this and enter West Point after your senior year you still go to Cadet Basic Training. All New Cadets are required to go to CBT - even those with many years of prior service.

Enlisting in the Guard or Reserves qualifies you for a Nomination from SEC Army as a Reserve Soldier.

You need to talk to a recruiter about the pay issue. You do know you only get paid for the time you are at drill and training - right?

SMP makes you not deployable as you are also a ROTC cadet. If you are in the Guard/Reserves and in college, not ROTC you are generally deployable although there are some programs where you would not be deployable.

ETurner is right - SMP does differ from state to state. The Army has a lot of different programs - in order to choose the right one for you talk to a ROTC staff member and a recruiter.

Lastly, don't enlist in the Guard or Reserves because you want to go to West Point. Enlist because you want to serve, whether or not you get an appointment to West Point. You also may want to speak with an admissions officer up at West Point if you decide to enlist and apply.
 
Something I just noticed...if you enlisted in a certain branch, can you only apply to your branch's service academy? If not, is it something like there is only a very limited number of spots available for this?
 
No offense man :wink:
but I don't think anyone has an answer for you other than contact the actual recruiter.
 
I found the national guard forums were quiet helpful and had a lot of information about SMP if you use the search function.

nationalguard.com/forums/
 
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