I need info/help with ROTC and the process

[maxtheginjah]

Hi everyone, I'm currently a senior in high school and looking to do Army ROTC in college. I met with my local army recruiter and he said there are two ways to get the scholarship, SMP and Minuteman, I'm still pretty confused about what both are. I've been trying to look for information but I am still fairly confused.
I definitely want to go into the army after college, so I figured this would be the best way to both get a college degree and then join the army. I also want to go to college right after high school and not join then go to college.
Can anyone help out? (explain what SMP and Minuteman are or if there's a better way to go about it?)

 

[justdoit19]

I googled ‘army rotc high school scholarship’

There is even a live chat function to ask questions.

Scroll down for high school scholarship application information, as well as college programmer.

ROTC Scholarships

Apply for an ROTC scholarship in order for the Army to help you pay for college, all while gaining invaluable leadership skills.

www.goarmy.com

 

[kinnem]

Don't talk to a recruiter... Speak to an ROO at a AROTC unit near you. They can fill you in. It's not that the recruiter is steering you wrong, but he's not giving you the full picture. You don't need to do SMP or Minuteman to get a ROTC scholarship. Those are alternate paths and the Minuteman (at least) does not lead to active duty

 

[Capt MJ]

Don't talk to a recruiter... Speak to an ROO at a AROTC unit near you. They can fill you in. It's not that the recruiter is steering you wrong, but he's not giving you the full picture. You don't need to do SMP or Minuteman to get a ROTC scholarship. Those are alternate paths and the Minuteman (at least) does not lead to active duty

Exactly - if you are talking to an Army recruiter visiting your school or you found at a local shopping center recruiting office, those fine people are focused on recruiting quality candidates for enlisted ranks. Nothing wrong with that, but you are exploring g pre-comm college programs. Yes, college programs can be involved in what that recruiter tells you, but you are not hearing about the Army ROTC scholarship.

Find a college of interest with an AROTC program. Go to that unit’s website hosted on the college website. Look for “cadre” or “staff,” find the officer or staff employee designated as the ROO. It’s their job to talk with interested candidates like you and explain the options. Ask if you can visit!

Here’s a sample:

Cadre | UMD Army ROTC

armyrotc.umd.edu

And, be sure you have read every page, link and drop-down menu item at your primary source for Army ROTC.

And welcome new member of a few hours! There is an Acronym List on the home page at SAF.

 

[TBVADAD]

Hi everyone, I'm currently a senior in high school and looking to do Army ROTC in college. I met with my local army recruiter and he said there are two ways to get the scholarship, SMP and Minuteman, I'm still pretty confused about what both are. I've been trying to look for information but I am still fairly confused.
I definitely want to go into the army after college, so I figured this would be the best way to both get a college degree and then join the army. I also want to go to college right after high school and not join then go to college.
Can anyone help out? (explain what SMP and Minuteman are or if there's a better way to go about it?)

So here is the link for SMP and Minuteman. https://www.nationalguard.com/simultaneous-membership-program / https://www.usar.army.mil/MinutemanCampaign/
My son has a few SMPs and one MM in his platoon.

Def meeting with the recruiters will steer you in the MM of SMP path. DS has a 3yr scholarship and his first year the recruiter was constantly in his ear. Anyways sounds you are interested in the National scholarship (link was posted by justdoit19) as a better fit. The second board is in January so if you are interested you will need to get moving.

How are your school stats (GPA, SAT, ACT). Any Varsity sports?

We can only type so much here. I would def contact your number 1 school's ROTC ROO about your next steps.

 

[maxtheginjah]

So here is the link for SMP and Minuteman. https://www.nationalguard.com/simultaneous-membership-program / https://www.usar.army.mil/MinutemanCampaign/
My son has a few SMPs and one MM in his platoon.

Def meeting with the recruiters will steer you in the MM of SMP path. DS has a 3yr scholarship and his first year the recruiter was constantly in his ear. Anyways sounds you are interested in the National scholarship (link was posted by justdoit19) as a better fit. The second board is in January so if you are interested you will need to get moving.

How are your school stats (GPA, SAT, ACT). Any Varsity sports?

We can only type so much here. I would def contact your number 1 school's ROTC ROO about your next steps.

My GPA is 3.8, ACT is 22, I played varsity golf both last year and I'm going to do it again this year.

 

[MohawkArmyROTC]

As mentioned earlier. Speak to a Recruiting Operations Officer (ROO) at an ROTC Program, not an enlisted recruiter. To get the Minuteman Scholarship you have to enlist into the Army Reserve or Army National Guard first. That scholarship is also not guaranteed and you won't find out that you are selected for it until after you are enlisted. As a HS senior you are in the application window for the National Army ROTC Scholarship. Go here to apply: https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/find-your-path/army-officers/rotc/scholarships.html

 

[maxtheginjah]

As mentioned earlier. Speak to a Recruiting Operations Officer (ROO) at an ROTC Program, not an enlisted recruiter. To get the Minuteman Scholarship you have to enlist into the Army Reserve or Army National Guard first. That scholarship is also not guaranteed and you won't find out that you are selected for it until after you are enlisted. As a HS senior you are in the application window for the National Army ROTC Scholarship. Go here to apply: https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/find-your-path/army-officers/rotc/scholarships.html

thank you so much, just emailed the ROO at a college I'm applying to.

 

[Candd82026]

Also, you need to check onsite/crosstown ROTC schools if you're applying to multiple schools within a certain area. If commuting to the ROTC school may be an issue if you end up NOT going to the ROTC host school. You need to ask those kind of logistics and culture-fit questions to the ROO (and cadre). Some schools may give extra benefits if you get the 4-year National ROTC scholarship - so you may want to apply to those schools too. My DS missed applying to some schools that would have been great options had he known about these things beforehand. Pick at least seven ROTC schools to apply to - not just one.

 

[maxtheginjah]

Also, you need to check onsite/crosstown ROTC schools if you're applying to multiple schools within a certain area. If commuting to the ROTC school may be an issue if you end up NOT going to the ROTC host school. You need to ask those kind of logistics and culture-fit questions to the ROO (and cadre). Some schools may give extra benefits if you get the 4-year National ROTC scholarship - so you may want to apply to those schools too. My DS missed applying to some schools that would have been great options had he known about these things beforehand. Pick at least seven ROTC schools to apply to - not just one.

yes thank you! that is one of the things I've been looking into, one of my criteria for the schools I'm applying for is that they have to have ROTC.