Army Reserves and College

[momofsenior010101]

My son was accepted to his two top schools but has now decided to enlist in the Army Reserves. His intention is to start college in the Spring of 2023 instead of the Fall of 2022 as he will be in boot camp and specialized training. His recruiter is telling him that school has to defer his entry to the Spring of 2023. I have many questions.
1. If we pay the deposit to school to secure his seat does anyone know if we will lose the money? He hasn't signed the enlistment paperwork yet.
2. When should the school be notified of his intentions? I would like for him to at least be medically cleared before notifying school. His medical should be scheduled sometime in mid to late January.
3. I am also curious about financial aid, scholarship and grant awards he has been offered by the schools. Will he lose any of the award money he has been offered at the schools he was accepted into?
4. Does anyone know what the Army Reserves will offer him in terms of assistance with college? Please know, my son is not joining the Reserves for money. He feels strongly that everyone should serve their country (this makes me a proud mom )!

Can anyone speak about their experiences?

Thank you and a huge thank you to all of those who are serving and who have served our country!

 

[Devil Doc]

If I were his parent I would go with him to the recruiter’s office and ask those same questions. Lots of people here have your answers but I think you should get them from the Army.

 

[AROTC Parent]

My son was accepted to his two top schools but has now decided to enlist in the Army Reserves. His intention is to start college in the Spring of 2023 instead of the Fall of 2022 as he will be in boot camp and specialized training. His recruiter is telling him that school has to defer his entry to the Spring of 2023. I have many questions.
1. If we pay the deposit to school to secure his seat does anyone know if we will lose the money? He hasn't signed the enlistment paperwork yet.
2. When should the school be notified of his intentions? I would like for him to at least be medically cleared before notifying school. His medical should be scheduled sometime in mid to late January.
3. I am also curious about financial aid, scholarship and grant awards he has been offered by the schools. Will he lose any of the award money he has been offered at the schools he was accepted into?
4. Does anyone know what the Army Reserves will offer him in terms of assistance with college? Please know, my son is not joining the Reserves for money. He feels strongly that everyone should serve their country (this makes me a proud mom )!

Can anyone speak about their experiences?

Thank you and a huge thank you to all of those who are serving and who have served our country!

Questions 1-3 should be answered by the school. Bursar? Financial Aid Office? Or, the ROTC Recruiting Ops Officer at that school may know the general answers though the final answer, THE source of truth, is the School itself. Some schools remove scholarships/aid for students that defer, others don't. Plan for student housing too. Is he guaranteed on campus housing with a Spring start?

Many schools are supportive of these interruptions to school start dates for military service.

 

[Day-Tripper]

My son was accepted to his two top schools but has now decided to enlist in the Army Reserves. His intention is to start college in the Spring of 2023 instead of the Fall of 2022 as he will be in boot camp and specialized training. His recruiter is telling him that school has to defer his entry to the Spring of 2023. I have many questions.
1. If we pay the deposit to school to secure his seat does anyone know if we will lose the money? He hasn't signed the enlistment paperwork yet.
2. When should the school be notified of his intentions? I would like for him to at least be medically cleared before notifying school. His medical should be scheduled sometime in mid to late January.
3. I am also curious about financial aid, scholarship and grant awards he has been offered by the schools. Will he lose any of the award money he has been offered at the schools he was accepted into?
4. Does anyone know what the Army Reserves will offer him in terms of assistance with college? Please know, my son is not joining the Reserves for money. He feels strongly that everyone should serve their country (this makes me a proud mom )!

Can anyone speak about their experiences?

Thank you and a huge thank you to all of those who are serving and who have served our country!

Army National Guard (as opposed to Army Reserve) benefits for college students vary from state-to-state, but can be lavish in some cases. Massachusetts offers 100% of tuition & fees at state colleges/universities waived for Guard members. Plus added stipends, money for books & additional income for Guardsmen seeking officer commissions through ROTC-SMP (Simultaneous Membership Program) - plus a guarantee that the student won't be called to active duty while pursuing their education.

The University of Massachusetts in Amherst, for example, costs about $20K/year in tuition/fees - or $0 for Air Force or Army National Guardsmen.

I would compare Reserves vs. Guard benefits for college in your state. The military service commitments are very similar but the education benefits could be startling different.

Note: ROTC scholarships are nice but are competitive. Guard college benefits are guaranteed with limited requirements, i.e. actively drilling one weekend per month (plus 2 weeks in summer) and maintaining something like a 2.0 or 2.5 GPA. Just show up, stay relatively fit (this surely ain't like US Marine Corps PLC or NROTC) & get decent grades = nealy cost free college degree.

P.S. I have a son pursuing this route right now. He's already done his six months of active duty BCT & AIT at Fort Jackson, SC & is now back in school, which is not only free but he makes a profit each month, paying for his car payment, car insurance, housing, food, books and a few hundred extra for ..... college lifestyle incidentals. He still complains about weekend drills and morning PT every so often, but he knows he's getting a pretty good deal.

Here is the official US Army Reserves propaganda link: https://www.usar.army.mil/Educational-Benefits/

 

[momofsenior010101]

Army National Guard (as opposed to Army Reserve) benefits for college students vary from state-to-state, but can be lavish in some cases. Massachusetts offers 100% of tuition & fees at state colleges/universities waived for Guard members. Plus added stipends, money for books & additional income for Guardsmen seeking officer commissions through ROTC-SMP (Simultaneous Membership Program) - plus a guarantee that the student won't be called to active duty while pursuing their education.

The University of Massachusetts in Amherst, for example, costs about $20K/year in tuition/fees - or $0 for Air Force or Army National Guardsmen.

I would compare Reserves vs. Guard benefits for college in your state. The military service commitments are very similar but the education benefits could be startling different.

Note: ROTC scholarships are nice but are competitive. Guard college benefits are guaranteed with limited requirements, i.e. actively drilling one weekend per month (plus 2 weeks in summer) and maintaining something like a 2.0 or 2.5 GPA. Just show up, stay relatively fit (this surely ain't like US Marine Corps PLC or NROTC) & get decent grades = nealy cost free college degree.

P.S. I have a son pursuing this route right now. He's already done his six months of active duty BCT & AIT at Fort Jackson, SC & is now back in school, which is not only free but he makes a profit each month, paying for his car payment, car insurance, housing, food, books and a few hundred extra for ..... college lifestyle incidentals. He still complains about weekend drills and morning PT every so often, but he knows he's getting a pretty good deal.

Here is the official US Army Reserves propaganda link: https://www.usar.army.mil/Educational-Benefits/

Thank you very much for this information! I am going to definitely share this with him!

 

[Day-Tripper]

Thank you very much for this information! I am going to definitely share this with him!

Follow-up on my DS. He's state-activated for COVID-related duties for 90 days. Might be extended to 180. Get's active duty pay plus $2100+ per month in non-taxable BAH. His college must, by state law, keep a space open for him. And he's working no more than 6 hours per day. He hangs with the enlisted men, loading supplies and stuff on trucks at a warehouse. He says the officers spend all day watching Netflix.

Even if the COVID detail lasts only 90 days, he's got a summer job working full time (May - August) at local recruiter's office (Cape Cod); gets government car to commute with & drive Army National Guard recruits to-and-from MEPS & hotels before travelling to BAT. Also gets BAH over the summer. Still will have plenty of time for the beaches, girls, etc.

It's a pretty good gig.