Kyguardmom
Member
- Joined
- May 14, 2015
- Messages
- 65
Hi all - first time poster here, with lots of questions on all things military and hoping for some enlightenment.
So, my son is a junior in high school, and has just enlisted in the National Guard, with the intent of attending college as a SMP cadet. He attends Basic Training this June, then plans to do his Advanced Training the summer between senior year and start of college. Training period for his MOS (Field Artillery 13D) is 7 weeks - so it looks like starting college on time would be do-able.
He decided on this path because we've heard that ROTC scholarships are so competitive. His GPA is 3.1 and ACT 26. He did Track and Field in 9th grade, but no other sports. However, he is an Eagle Scout and Red Cross Certified Life Guard - working as life guard since he was 15 years old. His ASVAB score was 92. His National Guard recruiter said he thinks my son is a great candidate for SMP.
So, to some questions I'm hoping to get some help with.... I'm wondering about possibility of SMP cadet going active duty? I have gotten assurances that it is possible, but not possible if he accepts the GRFD scholarship. I'm wondering why he would even apply for that - since it pays tuition and some stipends. Since he's enlisted, and will have completed BCT/AIT before start of college, he's already eligible for full tuition assistance with the GI bill. Are there other benefits to GRFD I'm not aware of?
Also, having gone through MEPS, I'm wondering if he would still have to medically qualify with DodMERB as part of ROTC?
Sorry to be so long-winded! Our family has very little previous military experience, so I'm trying to get up to speed in this strange new world!!! Thanks in advance.
So, my son is a junior in high school, and has just enlisted in the National Guard, with the intent of attending college as a SMP cadet. He attends Basic Training this June, then plans to do his Advanced Training the summer between senior year and start of college. Training period for his MOS (Field Artillery 13D) is 7 weeks - so it looks like starting college on time would be do-able.
He decided on this path because we've heard that ROTC scholarships are so competitive. His GPA is 3.1 and ACT 26. He did Track and Field in 9th grade, but no other sports. However, he is an Eagle Scout and Red Cross Certified Life Guard - working as life guard since he was 15 years old. His ASVAB score was 92. His National Guard recruiter said he thinks my son is a great candidate for SMP.
So, to some questions I'm hoping to get some help with.... I'm wondering about possibility of SMP cadet going active duty? I have gotten assurances that it is possible, but not possible if he accepts the GRFD scholarship. I'm wondering why he would even apply for that - since it pays tuition and some stipends. Since he's enlisted, and will have completed BCT/AIT before start of college, he's already eligible for full tuition assistance with the GI bill. Are there other benefits to GRFD I'm not aware of?
Also, having gone through MEPS, I'm wondering if he would still have to medically qualify with DodMERB as part of ROTC?
Sorry to be so long-winded! Our family has very little previous military experience, so I'm trying to get up to speed in this strange new world!!! Thanks in advance.