NG or Reserve Career Path

mariner116

5-Year Member
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Dec 17, 2009
Messages
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There have been several threads about the percentage of Army ROTC AD assignments being reduced in coming years. If that is the case many more ROTC cadets will be going into the National Guard or Reserves. In addition, many cadets are considering SMP as a path for Army ROTC which leads to a National Guard branching (I think).

I'd like more information on career paths if going into the Guard or Reserves. For example:

  • Is the Guard a part-time job (a weekend a month)?
  • Do you do anything if in the Reserves or is this just a back-up list to be activated if more soldiers are needed?
  • Can people switch from NG/Reserves to AD in their careers?
  • If branching to NG or Reserves, it sounds like a cadet needs to get a civilian job, is that right?
  • Are there MD or DVM (vet) roles in the NG or Reserves?
My DD has only been thinking about AD roles in the Army. Any insight on these other career directions would be appreciated.
 
Guard and Reserve soldiers are soldiers who usually train one weekend a month, and two weeks in the summer. Both are similar, but Guard soldiers also take on a state role along with to possibility of being federalized. The SMP program can be done through the Guard or the Reserves, and that program does not require you to serve in the Guard or Reserves when you graduate. You can still go active duty unless you get a scholarship through the Guard or Reserves (called a GRFD scholarship). There is a possibility of switching between Guard and Reserves, and typically you will need to find a "real job" if you are in the Guard or Reserves, although there are also ways to keep a steady paycheck by volunteering for full time assignments, or attending training. You will be full time for your initial training (Officer Basic Course) when you graduate from College.
The Guard and Reserves do have medical personel in their ranks, but as a brand new Lieutenant you typically wouldn't go right into an MD/DVM slot right out of college, even if you went active duty. That would require an ed delay and additional schooling/obligation.

Hope that helps
 
Guard and Reserve soldiers are soldiers who usually train one weekend a month, and two weeks in the summer. Both are similar, but Guard soldiers also take on a state role along with to possibility of being federalized. The SMP program can be done through the Guard or the Reserves, and that program does not require you to serve in the Guard or Reserves when you graduate. You can still go active duty unless you get a scholarship through the Guard or Reserves (called a GRFD scholarship). There is a possibility of switching between Guard and Reserves, and typically you will need to find a "real job" if you are in the Guard or Reserves, although there are also ways to keep a steady paycheck by volunteering for full time assignments, or attending training. You will be full time for your initial training (Officer Basic Course) when you graduate from College.
The Guard and Reserves do have medical personel in their ranks, but as a brand new Lieutenant you typically wouldn't go right into an MD/DVM slot right out of college, even if you went active duty. That would require an ed delay and additional schooling/obligation.

Hope that helps

I'm a junior in highschool and I've been considering joining the NG or AR. Am I permitted to go to boot camp this summer? I will be turning 18 in June. The reason I think it may not be a good idea is because I would like to apply to West Point and Annapolis. If I do receive an appointment, I wouldn't be able to continue serving. After I sign the contract, how would it work with being discharged prior to termination of contract? Do they make an exceptions for SA appointments?
 
I'm a junior in highschool and I've been considering joining the NG or AR. Am I permitted to go to boot camp this summer? I will be turning 18 in June. The reason I think it may not be a good idea is because I would like to apply to West Point and Annapolis. If I do receive an appointment, I wouldn't be able to continue serving. After I sign the contract, how would it work with being discharged prior to termination of contract? Do they make an exceptions for SA appointments?

Might be too late. There is something called the split option, where you attend basic training between your Junior and Senior summer than attend your Advance Individual Training after you gradate high school. If you are interested, talked to a NG or AR recruiter now.

If you receive an appointment to West Point or Annapolis, you will switch over to active duty as a cadet or midshipman and no longer serve in the NG or AR. An appointment to SA trumps any enlistment contract you sign.
 
Same with a 4 year scholarship. If you get a scholarship out of High School you will be released from your enlisted obligation. You can return to the NG/Reserves in your Sophomore year if you want to convert your scholarship to a GRFD scholarship.
 
mariner116

Military medical scholarships get extremely complex with the
several steps involved (undergrad, grad, residency etc)
The service requirements can get huge.

Try over here- Military Medicine Forum@Student Doctor Network
I would love to here a full report on your findings

Best of Luck

Thanks gojack!

My DD's plan is to apply for an Education Delay and then go to Vet School for 4-years (3 years of school and 1 residency). Her current thought is to not take the HPSC scholarship. She'll pay for DVM school on her own (and with loans) then return to the Army to fulfill her 4-year ROTC AD obligation. This is feasible as long as she gets admission to the Vet school in our state where she can get in-state tuition.

Thanks for this resource link. I'll check it out. It is focused on MDs. My DD has some interest in being an MD but she is on a pre-vet track now and seems pretty committed to that direction. Her hope is to get an assignment to the Navy for the marine mammel program (the Army provides veterinary services for all the branches).
 
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