Air vs Army National Guard into ROTC?

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RIPKlepto

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tl;dr Which Is Better? Army National Guard → Army ROTC or Air National Guard → Air Force ROTC
The two main goals I have in the future are:
  1. Completing College With As Little Student Loans As Possible
  2. Commission As An Officer In The Military In Cyber/Signal
I've spoken to both Air and Army National Guard recruiters, but I have to complete my Latent TB treatment before committing to either branch + going to MEPS (Giving me time to study air force/army values, basic training prep, etc.)

In the future, I'm looking to do something IT/Cyber related for both National Guard and ROTC (There's 25B Openings for ARNG Around Me + Might Have 3D0X3 Openings As Listed By goang.com)

Currently, I'm a sophomore in Computer Information Systems but withdrew because I would be looking at ~$30,000 in student loans if I fail to commission

Here's a list of pros and cons that I have about both branches
ARNG/AROTC
Pros
  • Easier/More Chances to Commission
  • SMP
    • Better Prepared To Be An Officer
    • More Money (SMP + ROTC Cadet)
    • If I'm An SMP Cadet, I Can Focus On Schooling (No Deployments, Unless By The Secretary of the Army?)
  • More Chances For Scholarships (DEDNG/GRFD/MM/ROTC Scholarships)
  • My Major Doesn't Matter So Much For Commissioning
Cons
  • Worse Bases/Treatment
  • Worse Cyber/Tech
  • Active Is Not Guaranteed
  • If I Don't Become SMP/ROTC Cadet, Higher Chance Of Being Deployed/Activated During Schooling (Apparently National Guard Gets Deployed First, Then Air Guard?)
ANG/AFROTC
Pros
  • Better Cyber/Tech
  • Better Bases/Treatment
  • Active Is Guaranteed For Commissioned ROTC Cadets
  • Closer Drill Location
Cons
  • Harder to Commission
  • Requires Conditional Release
  • Although Deployment Packages Are Mostly Filled With Volunteers, I Can Still Be Deployed While In College (Can Bring Down OML)
  • My Major Is Considered Non-Technical In ROTC
    • If I Choose To Go ANG/AFROTC, I Can Switch My Major To Computer Science (Same Computing/Engineering School) Which Would Make Me A Freshman Instead Of A Sophomore In Terms Of Credits)
For the most part, I'm looking to enlist in the Army National Guard because of the SMP benefits/major matters less for commissioning.

However, some family members that retired from the military are persuading me to avoid the Army because they don't treat their people as well.

In any case, thanks for any advice that you can give.
 
Your bullets in regards to tech and treatment is mostly subjective and depends on your actual assignment. If you meet commissioning requirements, you have a great chance of commissioning and receiving active duty in the Army as Army ROTC is the largest commissioning source in the US military. Also, in the AF you have to be selected to progress to field training after Sophomore year. Not all are selected, even if they meet all requirements. The best way to guarantee active duty in either branches is to excel in the ROTC program and do very well academically.

In regards to being an SMP cadet, you become one as soon as you contract with ROTC. Usually sophomore year. Contracted ROTC cadets are non-deployable.

At this point your chances of getting an ROTC scholarship put of either ROTC program is slim to none. What state do you live in? Some guards pay the tuition for their state schools if you are in the Guard. If you need to take loans, some offer Student Loan repayment. Talk to the recruiters about that as well. It has to be listed in your enlistment contract in order to receive it.
 
Thanks for your reply and insight!
Because of that, I'm going to commit to the Army National Guard.

I live in South Carolina, and National Guard members can apply for FTA and the SCNG CAP through a separate application. ($4,500 Per Year, Lifetime Limit of $18,000)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if I want to go on active duty + become an SMP cadet, then I would need to
  1. Not Take Any Guard Scholarships (DEDNG, GRFD, MM)
  2. Compete For Active Duty During My Sophomore Year?
    1. During My Sophomore Year, I Am Deployable With The Guard Because I'm Not An SMP Cadet
  3. If Selected As A Contracted ROTC Cadet, Then I Can Join The SMP Program

Some other questions that I have are:
  1. Would accepting tuition assistance prevent me from competing for active duty or receiving an ROTC scholarship? (FTA, SCNG CAP)
  2. Would I be able to compete for an ROTC scholarship at all?
    1. If I compete in ROTC during my sophomore year, would I be able to compete for a 2-year scholarship?
I'm also going to be discussing my situation and questions with my school's ROO, but I haven't been able to come in contact with them yet. Any other information is appreciated.
 
Last edited:
Your first three questions:
1. Correct, you can compete for AD if you do not have one of those 3 scholarships listed.
2. Compete for active duty during the assessions board conducted during Fall of Senior year.
3. You become an SMP cadet as soon as you contract with ROTC (if currently a member of the ARNG). Part of contracting is completing the NGB 594-1 which is the SMP Agreement. You are deployable if you are MOSQ (you have completed BCT and AIT) in your enlisted MOS, and not contracted with ROTC.

Next two questions:
1. No.
2. Maybe. Depends on what academic year you are in. If you are a Sophomore when you join ROTC, then yes. However, the only type of scholarship an ARNG soldier can get is GRFD, MM, DEDNG. A line scholarship is the one that allows you to compete for AD, but if you are in the USAR/ARNG then you are ineligible for a line scholarship. You can only appy for a line scholarship if you have a DD368 (conditional release) from the ARNG, meaning that they will release if you contract with ROTC for a line scholarship.
 
RIPKlepto said:
tl;dr Which Is Better? Army National Guard → Army ROTC or Air National Guard → Air Force ROTC
The two main goals I have in the future are:
  1. Completing College With As Little Student Loans As Possible
  2. Commission As An Officer In The Military In Cyber/Signal
I've spoken to both Air and Army National Guard recruiters, but I have to complete my Latent TB treatment before committing to either branch + going to MEPS (Giving me time to study air force/army values, basic training prep, etc.)

In the future, I'm looking to do something IT/Cyber related for both National Guard and ROTC (There's 25B Openings for ARNG Around Me + Might Have 3D0X3 Openings As Listed By goang.com)

Currently, I'm a sophomore in Computer Information Systems but withdrew because I would be looking at ~$30,000 in student loans if I fail to commission

Here's a list of pros and cons that I have about both branches
ARNG/AROTC
Pros
  • Easier/More Chances to Commission
  • SMP
    • Better Prepared To Be An Officer
    • More Money (SMP + ROTC Cadet)
    • If I'm An SMP Cadet, I Can Focus On Schooling (No Deployments, Unless By The Secretary of the Army?)
  • More Chances For Scholarships (DEDNG/GRFD/MM/ROTC Scholarships)
  • My Major Doesn't Matter So Much For Commissioning
Cons
  • Worse Bases/Treatment
  • Worse Cyber/Tech
  • Active Is Not Guaranteed
  • If I Don't Become SMP/ROTC Cadet, Higher Chance Of Being Deployed/Activated During Schooling (Apparently National Guard Gets Deployed First, Then Air Guard?)
ANG/AFROTC
Pros
  • Better Cyber/Tech
  • Better Bases/Treatment
  • Active Is Guaranteed For Commissioned ROTC Cadets
  • Closer Drill Location
Cons
  • Harder to Commission
  • Requires Conditional Release
  • Although Deployment Packages Are Mostly Filled With Volunteers, I Can Still Be Deployed While In College (Can Bring Down OML)
  • My Major Is Considered Non-Technical In ROTC
    • If I Choose To Go ANG/AFROTC, I Can Switch My Major To Computer Science (Same Computing/Engineering School) Which Would Make Me A Freshman Instead Of A Sophomore In Terms Of Credits)
For the most part, I'm looking to enlist in the Army National Guard because of the SMP benefits/major matters less for commissioning.

However, some family members that retired from the military are persuading me to avoid the Army because they don't treat their people as well.

In any case, thanks for any advice that you can give.
Click to expand...
Make sure you ask the ARNG about Branch Detailing: https://juniorofficer.army.mil/reflection-branch-detail-program/
 
RIPKlepto said:
Thanks for your reply and insight!
Because of that, I'm going to commit to the Army National Guard.

I live in South Carolina, and National Guard members can apply for FTA and the SCNG CAP through a separate application. ($4,500 Per Year, Lifetime Limit of $18,000)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if I want to go on active duty + become an SMP cadet, then I would need to
  1. Not Take Any Guard Scholarships (DEDNG, GRFD, MM)
  2. Compete For Active Duty During My Sophomore Year?
    1. During My Sophomore Year, I Am Deployable With The Guard Because I'm Not An SMP Cadet
  3. If Selected As A Contracted ROTC Cadet, Then I Can Join The SMP Program

Some other questions that I have are:
  1. Would accepting tuition assistance prevent me from competing for active duty or receiving an ROTC scholarship? (FTA, SCNG CAP)
  2. Would I be able to compete for an ROTC scholarship at all?
    1. If I compete in ROTC during my sophomore year, would I be able to compete for a 2-year scholarship?
I'm also going to be discussing my situation and questions with my school's ROO, but I haven't been able to come in contact with them yet. Any other information is appreciated.
Click to expand...
If you are a SC resident and meet minimum academic qualifications don’t forget the State Lottery scholarships - $5,500 per year base amount and fo up to $10,000 per year based on your HS record and standardized test scores, and if taking a STEM degree. Tuition at most SC colleges is ~ $14K for in-state. R&B is about $8K, so these merit grants are a good way to lower the cost - and no commitment other than maintain your gpr in college.
 
Unfortunately for me, even with the LIFE Scholarship + STEM Enhancement, department scholarships for merit, other scholarships I received, and living with my parents, I am still around that $30,000 figure in student loans without an AFROTC/AROTC scholarship.

Even in unfavorable situations, such as being unable to commission or struggling to find a job after college, I would only be paying 1 discounted year of college at the most by joining the National Guard.
 
RIPKlepto said:
Unfortunately for me, even with the LIFE Scholarship + STEM Enhancement, department scholarships for merit, other scholarships I received, and living with my parents, I am still around that $30,000 figure in student loans without an AFROTC/AROTC scholarship.

Even in unfavorable situations, such as being unable to commission or struggling to find a job after college, I would only be paying 1 discounted year of college at the most by joining the National Guard.
Click to expand...
Borrow all you want - money doesn't cost anything anymore!

And they are well on their way to making all loans disappear. Great for current students - not so great for those who paid back every red cent, with ridiculous interest.
 
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