National guard and ROTC

You guys are making my head spin...
1. If you are a freshman, enrolled in ROTC and a member of the guard or reserves technically you aren't SMP yet.
2. You can contract sophomore year if you are guard/reserve
3. If you are in the guard/reserves you can go to BT during the summer. You can also attend AIT. Some recruiters will try to talk you into missing a semester to complete BT and AIT (I strongly recommend you don't take that path). If you complete BT and AIT you will be eligible for GI bill along with your Tuition Assistance (TA). You don't have to go to AIT, and most of my cadets don't go to AIT. By not attending AIT you are giving up GI bill in return for graduating and commissioning on time in a normal progression.

Bottom line: talk to the ROO at your school of choice. She/he may be good with you missing a semester. Each school is different, so they will be able to give you the best advice.
This might help too http://goldenknightbattalion.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/smp-another-option/
 
Thank you everyone this is helpful information. Clarksonarmy that was a great website. If I decide to just complete basic before i went to college and complete AIT the following summer would I be actively drilling in my freshman year of college? Clarksonarmy are you referring only to federal tuition assistance? The states that I am looking at colleges in have better separate state tuition assistance programs for those in the national guard?
 
I met a guy at LDAC (11 bang bang in the NG) who took a LOA and volunteered to deploy with his unit to Iraq a few years back. So it is possible to deploy, don't know if it's forced though. If you are not contracted I could see it as very likely.
 
ZA,

You absolutely MUST talk with a ROO at the schools you are interested in attending. DS is SMP/NG in Ohio, the state can change their terms for allowing tuition assistance, OH did just this past spring(2012). Another very good reason to talk to the ROO at your potential schools - it will give a feel for how well ROTC and your NG/Reserve units communicate and work together. DS's school works very well with his unit and he is a sophomore in the process of contracting(ie. NG has completed their half now HR at his school is putting their contract together).

DS did attend BCT this past summer, there are pros and cons to giving up your summer to do this. There are rare cases where you will not graduate BCT in a timely manner(injury/illness) and you will chance missing school. DS was fortunate and graduated with 3 days to spare before classes started this fall. He will not attend AIT and forfeit the added financial benefits. He is not deployable, however, his new unit where he will "shadow/intern" will deploy in approximately 1 year at that time reassignment will occur.

This path is a bit complicated and requires you to do the research. The ROO at a school you want to attend will be the best source - DS's recruiter is campus based, his unit is close to school(somewhat close to home for the summer drill requirements).

Good luck and listen to anything Marist and/or Clarkson post:thumb:
 
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