Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)

Frankie

5-Year Member
Joined
May 23, 2012
Messages
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I've been reading a little and came across an option called the SMP. It states that while I'm in ROTC, I may enlist in an Army National Guard or Reserve unit, but am not required to attend BCT or AIT. I know the benefits of it and if I don't receive a scholarship, it's defiantly something I'm interested in. But I have a few questions.

1) When would I be able to enlist? Is it whenever I'm enrolled into ROTC or are there specific time frames?

2) Would the contract be (for lack of a better word) cancelled if I sign a contract to commission (say after 2 years, no scholarship) or recieved a 3 or 2 year scholarship? (I'm pretty sure it will but there's nothing wrong with triple checking).

3) Would I be able to use the GI Bill immediately, and would I be paid monthly or yearly?

4) I got accepted and plan on attending Norwich University. Would I have any time to complete BCT / AIT during the Summer? Also, would the MOS you choose ultimately help you recieve the branch you want (for example, enlist in Infantry and wanting to commission in infantry).

Thank you!
 
Ok so if you are going to Norwich I am assuming you are going AD correct? An ROTC contract at that school would nullify your commitment but still allow you drill and get paid. However I don't believe you revive any GI benefits without attending basic or AIT. In addition I believe there is specific amount of time you need to serve before getting education benefits. At least there is for active duty.

No it doesn't help you get the branch you want for AD in any way shape or form unless you count the slight increase in OML points for participating.
 
Would you be able to use TA since I probably wouldn't be able to use the GI bill?

If I sign an ROTC contract while in SMP, would I be paid both a cadet pay and the reserve pay or only one or the other?
 
Would you be able to use TA since I probably wouldn't be able to use the GI bill?

If I sign an ROTC contract while in SMP, would I be paid both a cadet pay and the reserve pay or only one or the other?

There are going to be some changes to TA and you can't access it without first going to basic (and maybe AIT first).

If you are contracted I believe you get both, one is a stipend from ROTC and the other is for drill pay (E-5).
 
I've been reading a little and came across an option called the SMP. It states that while I'm in ROTC, I may enlist in an Army National Guard or Reserve unit, but am not required to attend BCT or AIT. I know the benefits of it and if I don't receive a scholarship, it's defiantly something I'm interested in. But I have a few questions.

1) When would I be able to enlist? Is it whenever I'm enrolled into ROTC or are there specific time frames?

2) Would the contract be (for lack of a better word) cancelled if I sign a contract to commission (say after 2 years, no scholarship) or recieved a 3 or 2 year scholarship? (I'm pretty sure it will but there's nothing wrong with triple checking).

3) Would I be able to use the GI Bill immediately, and would I be paid monthly or yearly?

4) I got accepted and plan on attending Norwich University. Would I have any time to complete BCT / AIT during the Summer? Also, would the MOS you choose ultimately help you recieve the branch you want (for example, enlist in Infantry and wanting to commission in infantry).

Thank you!
I'm SMP at VMI. You can enlist pretty much anytime. We have all classes enlisting at different times.
You can't really get an ROTC scholarship while on SMP...I know someone that did but you aren't supposed to. talk to a recruiter.
We get paid every time we drill. monthly. GI bill after AIT, and obviously we get paid at basic and ait.
you can attend BCT during the summer...I know a few guys who did that here. Just make sure you get your drill unit squared away, and timing for your rook week squared away before you commit to anything. You wouldnt want to sign and then something happens that prevents you from attending Norwich.
 
So I'd be able to say, enlist after finishing rook week and somewhere in my Freshman year and complete BCT in the summer? Then later complete AIT? Or if I were to join Infantry for the National Guard, would I be able to complete OSUT in that summer? ( I know OSUT is for Active, but is it also the same for National Guard?).


I know these are a lot of questions and I apologize. I just want to know as many details as I am able to get as possible since I'm heavily considering this.

Thank you!
 
Yep one could do that. As far as osut, they're not letting any national guard guys from vmi do that for the past few years now...
 
Do you know if that's the case for Norwich University?
I know an SMP Cadet from Norwich who joined with NG his rook year, went to BCT and AIT at Fort Benning over the summer between his freshman and sophomore year. He came back to Norwich a couple weeks late in the fall. He received an active duty contract at the end of fall semester. He is doing a mountain warfare school this summer (between sophomore and junior year) in Vermont.
 
My son has talked with the VT NG recruiter alot (Plan D -SMP, still waiting on B &C). Here is what we have learned:
My son isto come up early in the summer and sign-up, (if he was going to FLC that would be a perfect time) He would then go to the 2-week Rook training and start school. Sometine in early Sept /late Aug. the Rooks who signed up for NG/SMP program would go to Bennington (I think) and swear in together. At the end of the first year VT NG has worked out away to get in the training for the SMP kids(they go together) in before the next semester. Seems like they (VT NG) have this down pretty good.
The pay starts their freshmen year, need to review when tution support starts.
 
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