National Guard Split Enlistment Option

Melosh3

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So, I am planning on going to either attending USAFA or USMA (that is a different delemia entirely) but my friend suggested I do National Guard Split Training Option before I go, because I would have prior experience and maybe even a little bit of money to start me off.

For anyone that doesnt know what it is, after junior year (the year I am in) I go to national guard basic training, I then go to school my senior year as a national guardsman (aka doing drill or whatever every month) and then after my senior year I go to AIT then college

Has anyone ever tried that? If I get in to USMA, would that would with the academy training in summer? The main reason I would go is I would already kinda be trained with something in the army and it would get me used to the army lifestyle kinda.

But if I dont get into USMA, I will likely go to college, and i'm pretty sure I can do that, my question is can i be an officer after that?

Any thoughts or opinions on that?
 
In a nutshell:
If you enlist in the National Guard and then are accepted to USMA then your National Guard contract is "set aside" while you are at USMA. If you go on to graduate and Commission then your enlistment contract is never seen again.
While you are at USMA you will not be in the Guard or train with them. If you separate from USMA then your enlistment contract is activated again.

If you enlist in the Guard, attend college and desire to seek a commission then you should definitely join ROTC. You can do this while in the Guard and it's called SMP.
If you do not take ROTC and wish to commission then you can go to OCS after you earn your degree.

You should know that after you go to AIT, you are deployable. Except under certain circumstances, you will deploy if your unit deploys even if you are in college. If you are a contracted ROTC Cadet and in the Guard (SMP) - then you are not deployable.
 
Sweet, that sounds like a pretty good deal, would AIT possibly interfere with attending basic at USMA?

Also what if I went to USAFA? would I still be under contract with the guard?
 
Sweet, that sounds like a pretty good deal, would AIT possibly interfere with attending basic at USMA?

Also what if I went to USAFA? would I still be under contract with the guard?

Yes, AIT interferes with Beast at USMA. Beast begins the end of June. If you receive an appointment to USMA in your senior year; you will not be attending AIT.

If you go to USAFA, the Army will set aside your Guard contract. This might be 'tricky' because it involves two different branches of the military but it's been done.
 
A little experience and a little money are two poor reasons to consider the split option.
 
E-pay is prior enlisted pay....

If you look on pay charts you will see O-1 - O-10. You will also see O-1e, O-2e and O-3e. I forget the time in...somewhere between 1-3 years enlisted. It's a nice nice nice bump in pay, as an O-3e you're just a few hundred short of O-4 pay. Of course once you're promoted to O-4, it's not a huge jump and e-pay only goes through O-3.
 
hmmmm, I don't think so but you do receive time in service. If you enlist in the guard, then contract with ROTC while in college for - say - three years; then when you commission you are an O-1 with 3 years. This gives you a bump in pay.

Looking at the pay charts, it says you need 4 years plus 1 day AD enlisted to get the e-pay bump.
 
I would agree with this.

Yes, but I feel like it would better prepare me for the academy, and maybe look good on my application, specifically with the XC and leadership parts
Do you think they would be like "No, you are already in the NG" or would they still consider my application as much?

I am still considering it, I will talk to a NG recruiter to figure out the specifics, but I feel like it would help me in life.

So I would go to Basic this summer, then Beast next summer? and just not go to AIT at all?
 
Yes, but I feel like it would better prepare me for the academy, and maybe look good on my application, specifically with the XC and leadership parts
Do you think they would be like "No, you are already in the NG" or would they still consider my application as much?

I am still considering it, I will talk to a NG recruiter to figure out the specifics, but I feel like it would help me in life.

So I would go to Basic this summer, then Beast next summer? and just not go to AIT at all?

The National Guard isn't a stepping stone to get into the college you want. It's a component of the US Army and, as such, is a military service commitment. It's not something to be milked for your personal gain.

You need to look at the other side of the coin. You do the split option. West Point passes on you. Congratulations, welcome to a full-term enlistment in the National Guard.
 
The National Guard isn't a stepping stone to get into the college you want. It's a component of the US Army and, as such, is a military service commitment. It's not something to be milked for your personal gain.

You need to look at the other side of the coin. You do the split option. West Point passes on you. Congratulations, welcome to a full-term enlistment in the National Guard.

I do NOT know how the Army views this but I can give you a different perspective from the AF side.

We will accept active duty airmen to the Academy if they meet the requirements, after they go through a selection process in the AF (very involved, not guaranteed). NORMALLY the airmen selected will be sent FIRST to the AFA Preparatory School to bring them up to speed academically as they've been out of class for, typically, a couple of years.

Yes, a COUPLE of years. They are NOT selected from basic; they can't even apply until they're at their unit of assignment and let's be honest: how many senior NCO's or commanders are going to recommend the "newbie" that hasn't show them anything?

I have to agree with my Army brethren here...enlisting into the ArANG will only assure you of one thing: you are in the ArANG. West Point?

LOOOOONG odds...and if possible, it's a couple of years away.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
The National Guard isn't a stepping stone to get into the college you want. It's a component of the US Army and, as such, is a military service commitment. It's not something to be milked for your personal gain.

You need to look at the other side of the coin. You do the split option. West Point passes on you. Congratulations, welcome to a full-term enlistment in the National Guard.
Listen to ScoutPilot......

Along with an EIGHT (8) year commitment to the Army National Guard, with all the rights and privileges of deploying with your unit.
If you want to be an enlisted soldier then enlist. Put your heart and soul into being a good soldier.

This is the risk that you need to fully understand. Is it possible? Yes, but those I know who have done it, did not do it purposfully with the intention that you have. Your recruiter will not disuade you. He sees an enlistment. You sign - he gets paid. You complete boot camp - he gets paid.

BTW - why would you want to go through basic training two summers in a row? There is more to life that Basic (boot camp, Beast etc).

If you were my kid (and you are not...) I would counsel you to consider applying to West Point (if that is what you really want) and a Army ROTC scholarship. If both of those fall through then you can explore the options available in the Guard for college - i.e. SMP.
 
Listen to ScoutPilot......

Along with an EIGHT (8) year commitment to the Army National Guard, with all the rights and privileges of deploying with your unit.
If you want to be an enlisted soldier then enlist. Put your heart and soul into being a good soldier.

This is the risk that you need to fully understand. Is it possible? Yes, but those I know who have done it, did not do it purposfully with the intention that you have. Your recruiter will not disuade you. He sees an enlistment. You sign - he gets paid. You complete boot camp - he gets paid.

BTW - why would you want to go through basic training two summers in a row? There is more to life that Basic (boot camp, Beast etc).

If you were my kid (and you are not...) I would counsel you to consider applying to West Point (if that is what you really want) and a Army ROTC scholarship. If both of those fall through then you can explore the options available in the Guard for college - i.e. SMP.

Agree with JAM and scout. I have seen several posts recently where applicants are considering enlistment in either an AD or Reserve/NG component to further their chances at SA admission. This is a BAD idea.

Enlisted recuriters are not well-informed on the Service Academies or on ROTC programs, and are known to tell you most anything to convince you to enlist. When I was a high school senior 15 years ago, I would get phone calls from recruiters wanting me to enlist. I distinctly recall telling a USMC recruiter that I was pursuing ROTC At VMI, and he said that was great, but that he could promise me "a chance for a college education" with the USMC. This was before the age of online forums and helpful websites, but it goes to show that enlisted recuriters have been clueless about SAs/ROTC for years.

There is nothing wrong with serving as an enlisted Soldier/Sailor/Airman/Marine/Coast Guardsman; however, you should only enlist if you are prepared to serve as an enlisted person. DO NOT do it if you're only going to be happy as an officer and you think it will help you get into USMA. In the end, as others have said, the only thing an enlistment contract promises you is service as an enlisted man.
 
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So there is more to it then that, I am quite aware that my family is not doing so well financially, and my dad is planning expensive things for the summer, I don't want to be a financial burden either, but also I think the enlisted training would help me quite a bit

I am aware I am signing a service commitment, and I plan to serve it out completely, either in National Guard or in Active duty (preferably in active duty) I plan to make the Army a career, and even if I don't end up doing so I do plan on serving my commitment

I know recruiters will encourage me, I am attempting to talk to the MALO in my area but have been unsuccessful in contacting him

As for getting in through being enlisted, I more plan to go in the normal way, ie through high school

I am prepared to be enlisted should my plans for college fall through, though I would much rather be an officer, and will go to Army ROTC somewhere (hopefully BYU)

The SEO page even says AIT should be finished in time for college

I dunno, I am still considering it
 
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