Army SMP

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Freddie Morneo

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Jan 9, 2015
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I am enlisting in the Army reserve in Arizona and I hope to participate in the SMP at Northern Arizona University. My goal was to become active duty after the SMP however diffreent sources give me different answers. Are there any current or past SMP cadets/parents who know if this is an option?
 
I would advise you to contact the ROO at Northern Arizona University prior to signing any enlistment contract if active duty is your goal. He/She will be the single greatest source of info for your specific situation. Once you enlist, be prepared to fulfill that obligation if ROTC doesn't work out. Don't enlist simply because you think it will make you a more attractive ROTC candidate. Best of luck to you
 
It used to be the case, and it may still be the case, but things are changing in the Army ROTC world, so you may or may not be able to do this.
The first thing everyone considering the SMP program should know is that YOU CANNOT CONTRACT WITH ROTC UNTIL YOUR SOPHOMORE YEAR AT THE EARLIEST!!!
So, what does that mean??? If you let that recruiter sign you up and send you to basic and AIT then you are an enlisted soldier in the reserves, even if you are enrolled in ROTC. If for some reason you don't get a scholarship or contract or if ROTC doesn't work out for you then you are still obligated to the reserves. If your unit gets deployed you are going. Until you contract with ROTC they own you. Once you contract with ROTC things are a little different and the priority is becoming an Officer and earning your degree.

The other thing to keep in mind is because we are going to be entering an environment where contracts are going to be harder to come by, you may only be offered a Guard/Reserve contract at some point. If that is all you are offered and your goal is AD then you will be stuck with a take it or leave it scenario and will still have that obligation.

Your other option is to go to school and enroll in Army ROTC first...then go talk to a recruiter about joining the guard or reserves. You will be eligible for less guard/reserve benefits, but the path to becoming an officer and being able to compete for AD will be less bumpy.

And Bull is absolutely right...you should be talking to the ROO at NAU.
 
One more thing, and I'm no expert, but if you take monies from the state while in SMP, then you can end up obligated to Guard/Reserves making Active Duty unavailable.
 
DS is currently in SMP. The above is good advice and be aware different States Guard requirements are changing. Someone just posted recently where their DS was SMP received no State money but was informed they had no AD opportunity. This was at Bama I believe. My son is SMP but was allowed to contract AD.
At the beginning he was allowed to draw FTA assistance and after Basic and AIT he was also allowed to draw the GI Bill if needed. That is no longer an option. If you are receiving FTA you can no longer draw GI Bill simultaneously.
As for deployment he was told up front that they try to keep all SMP in school but a deployment could become reality on an as needed basis. One unit he was in deployed and he did not and his current unit was set to deploy and he was not but since then deployment has been canceled. Yes he was given the opportunity to deploy but was not forced. But it could become a reality when least expected??? As said above, they own you when you sign the dotted line.
 
For some reason I could not copy and paste the thread. You will find it here in the ROTC Forum:

Titled---SMP Changes..... Started Nov. 17..... by scoutmaster
 
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