3 Year Advanced Designee Scholarship

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bdaMom

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Help! I was on this forum for a year when our son was trying to get a 4-yr scholarship last year. He did not get one. Plan B was to join the Army Reserves, do BCT this summer, start college/ROTC this fall, do AIT next summer, and do SMP beginning his sophomore year.

He has been in BCT all summer, with 26 days to go (but who's counting??) The university just called and offered him a 3 Year Advanced Designee Scholarship and we have less than a week to accept or decline. We can't even ask our son unless he happens to call this weekend (we've only received 3 phone calls since he's been gone.)

I was confused after speaking with the PMS. He said basically we need to accept it now and our son will have all year to decide if he really wants it. If he decides next summer that he doesn't want it, no harm, no foul. Does anyone know if this is true?

He said he can actually accept it and also do SMP. The stipulation would be he would have to stay in the Reserves after graduation and be an officer there. If he doesn't do both, then he can compete for Active Duty.

So if he accepts, does that just do-away with all his time in the Reserves and the GI Bill and Kicker he will be receiving for that? And would he even do AIT next summer?

If anyone can shed some light on this, we'd appreciate it.
 
Try this thread: http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=11384


My understanding is:
The purpose of the 3 Year Advanced Designee Scholarship is to
guarantee a student a 3 yr scholarship if they keep their grades up.
He is under no obligation until final paper work, at the start of his 2nd yr of college.

Is this a National 3AD or University 3AD?
(Some National three-year advance designee (3AD) scholarship recipients will receive $1,000 each semester for their first year in the program.)

In effect it is a letter of intent on you son's part, it's non-binding.

IMHO... Read it carefully, insure that it is non-binding, and take it.
(make this decision later)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

His current plan, if he is getting a good bonus for AIT, will yield the most cash of all these options. If he accepts ROTC funds then he can not get GI Bill and Kicker.

This is really about whose budget his funds come out of.

As an SMP'er your son is obligated to the Reserves, with a possibility of RA commission

As a ROTC'er he is obligated to the Regular Army (RA) 1st

To stay in SMP and take ROTC funds they would slot his as a Guaranteed Reserve Force Duty Scholarship (GRFD) He then must go Reserve comission

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"3-Year Scholarship (3AD)
Scholarship benefits beginning sophomore year. Offered to high school seniors. A 3-yr advanced designee is a guarantee to incoming freshmen, that as long as they maintain scholarship eligibility they will receive full benefits beginning their second year of school, from the beginning of their sophomore year. (Total 6 semesters of benefits)."



Guaranteed Reserve Force Duty Scholarship

The GRFD program is designed for cadets who are interested in obtaining a commission in the U.S. Army Reserves or National Guard with a guarantee for a reserve component assignment. Scholarships cover full tuition and mandatory fees, and range in length up to 3 years. Scholarship awardees also receive a book allowance and a monthly stipend. These Cadets also receive weekend drill and annual training pay as participants in the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP). Benefits may be recouped if the cadet chooses and is granted conversion to serve on active duty upon commissioning.
Eligibility Requirements
* Must complete the ROTC Basic Course requirements or Basic Training
* Must be willing to participate in the SMP program with a Guard or Reserve unit. If you do not belong to a unit, you must obtain a letter of acceptance to the unit, stating that they will accept you as a SMP cadet.


Military Obligation

If you are selected for a GRFD scholarship, you are required to sign a GRFD contract, guaranteeing service in the National Guard or U.S. Army Reserve upon commissioning.

* Serve 8 years in a National Guard or Reserve unit that includes 3-6 months active duty for initial training. Terms of obligation begins at time of commissioning.
* Attend the 5-week Leadership Development and Assessment Course (LDAC):Warrior Forge between the Junior and Senior year.
* Accept a commission to serve in the National Guard or Reserve upon degree completion.
* Serve as a SMP cadet in the unit of your choice with an available SMP slot.
 
Thank you so much for all the great info. I believe it will come down to whether our son wants to commit to being an officer in the Reserves, or leave the option open to compete for Active Duty. I think having the year to experience the Reserves, and get through his first year of college/ROTC, will put him in a better position to make this decision.

We finally received this exciting news and I can't even tell him!

By the way, I don't know if it's a National or University 3AD. I didn't think to ask that. The PMS was just putting the form in the mail today and said since it was so late in the summer, we didn't have much time and it had to be returned with a signature within a week - that he couldn't just tell 'them' we accepted. Not sure who he was referring to as 'them.' Maybe the form will clear that up.
 
The description of the 3-year AD in the scholarship instructions from CC that are received after an award indicate 3 terms for getting the scholarship:
1. You need to be enrolled in ROTC Military Science classes starting fall of 2010.
2. Have 2.5+ GPA and not on academic probation
3. Be recommended by the PMS.
4. Be medically qualified at the start of Fall 2010 semester/quarter.

Basically, if you perform well in ROTC and academically the scholarship kicks in Sophmore year.

I can't judge your plan B, but a 3-year AD has lots of upside and not much downside. It is still 75% of the benfits of a 4 year AD and gives the option for active duty assignment. It might be considered an A- option.
 
I'm guessing it's a University 3AD, just because it was the University PMS that called about it. Having a choice is usually nice, just stressful sometimes.

They:
Indefinite third person singular antecedent, used as an indefinite subject.
A pronoun of indefinite number to refer to singular nouns that stand for indefinite number of persons:biggrin:.
 
I would say go for look at which option is most economically viable.
Stipend, SMP, Books, Tuition, etc...

Both look like great options for your son! Does the PMS know he is already at basic?
 
Thanks for everyone's input. You've all confirmed what we were finding online and how we were interpreting it.

Yes, the PMS knows he's at basic. We had been in contact with him throughout the year and he answered questions about SMP when we started considering it. He told us in previous years our son would have received the 4-year, but just fell below with the higher pool of candidates this year. We let him know when our son went with Plan B and signed up for the Reserves. He seemed pleased he made the commitment and that he'd come to ROTC in the fall 'buff' and ready to go. So I don't know if that had any part in him getting the 3Year AD, but it probably didn't hurt.

Since this is at an in-state school, when crunching the numbers the GRFD is the best option, however giving up a chance for Active Duty might be a show stopper. Maybe not though. Our son's major is Civil Engineering, so a civilian job in the Army Corps of Engineers and a Army Reserves Officer wouldn't be a bad combination.

I'm excited he has options and a year to figure it out.:smile:
 
Army Corps of Engineers and a Army Reserves Officer sound like a Great option

Could not find these links last night,
Just in case someone else needs them...

University of Alabama's AROTC web site has Word Document that covers all these options in detail, covers the money issues very nicely.

Page Link (top link on page, labled 'click here')

Direct download Link

Purdue University Army ROTC has a nice PowerPoint covering the various options at Link

Read carefully, check to make sure numbers are accurate, up to date and relevant to your situation.

PLEASE NOTE Some numbers are specific to Host University only
e.g., 3 YEAR ADVANCED DESIGNEE SCHOLARSHIP $2,000 "UA Incentive"
 
Those are awesome links - Thank You! The numbers I came up with match those in the Alabama document, so I feel like I'm understanding it all correctly.:biggrin:
 
Our soldier called from BCT yesterday, so we were able to tell him about the scholarship. He couldn't believe it, after all the time waiting for the 4-yr, and was really excited to hear the options he has with the 3-yr.

I think it was perfect timing, since it seemed to give him a huge boost and I know he will finish the last 3 1/2 weeks of BCT strong. Thanks to everyone for helping me understand it so I could explain it to him.:thumb:
 
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