SMP or AROTC

[Inf1stROTC]

I got a decision to mak...I was offered a 4-year ROTC scholarship to the school of my choice. But, I've become very interested in the reserves SMP program and now I need advice on which way is best. I would hate to turn down the scholarship, but I would also love the opportunity to train "on campus" with my reserve unit and also get to go to basic and AIT like my troops.

Any thoughts/advice would be appreciated.

 

[plmmar]

I can tell you what my son did. He went to school on a 4yr army rotc scholarship. He did one year. He then joined the National Guard over the summer and went to boot camp in November-he just graduated and is now at AIT(combat medic).His plans are to go back to college after AIT.
He was eager to get out there and gain the active duty experience, however, while he was in boot camp he kept telling us that he couldn't wait to go back to college. He has a lot of funny stories to tell now and I'm sure he will have more before he is done with AIT.
At this time I think he wishes he would have stayed in school. As his parents we wished he would have stayed in school.

 

[Just_A_Mom]

Here is an alternate plan -
take the AROTC scholarship for one year. AFter your freshman year turn in your scholarship and join the Guard.
You have to check on the timing because you can't go to boot camp or AIT while you are contracted in AROTC. You can go to boot camp in the summer and not miss college. You can also choose to do AIT the next summer as long as you are not contracted with ROTC. While you are in college boot camp and AIT are not required.
Once you go to AIT you are deployable if you are not also contracted with ROTC.

You really should talk the officers in your ROTC unit. Some units even have Guard NCO's who are recruiters who can best answer your questions.

 

[bdaMom]

You should talk to a recruiter NOW on what your options are with the Reserves. The Reserves are almost full (we were told) and my son barely got in with time to fit basic training in between high school graduation and the start of college in the fall. He took his testing today and became officially 'enlisted.' His ship-out date for basic is June 9th (5 days after HS graduation), and he gets back in August with maybe a couple weeks to spare.

 

[Just_A_Mom]

Yeah, you definitely need to plan ahead with basic training.
However, cadets in SMP are not required to go to Basic training or AIT - but a lot want the experience.

 

[howardj]

Yeah, you definitely need to plan ahead with basic training.
However, cadets in SMP are not required to go to Basic training or AIT - but a lot want the experience.

My son is in an Engineering program where he's suppose to complete 3 co-ops along with his 4 years of study. He's actually getting co-op credit for Basic Training this summer. He'll complete Basic Training and AIT just in time to start back at school in the Fall. He'll be on the hook for drill weekends, but will be left alone otherwise until he graduates. Sounds like a great deal, just hoping it all works out for him.