-Bull-
So what exactly happens in this case?
Let's say they break their wrist at the last drill in June. This medically DQs them for USMA. If they enroll in AROTC does how does that work?
I assume they will still drill, but if their unit is in PA and they go to TAMU do they have to come home monthly for drilling? If so, than doesn't that basically kill your AROTC scholarship options once you go split? You know when applying to colleges you have to be close to drilling location. The scholarship candidate OTOH has time on their side and could go SMP if not picked up on scholarship.
Sorry for diverting the thread, but this is the first time I have read about split option and I think for all posters/lurkers that have an SA as plan A it is important to understand why the split would benefit a candidate more than AROTC scholarship as their plan B.
I get financial needs, but if there is no financial need why go this route? If there is a financial need why not wait it out and go GRFD or SMP?
Jreffert, this is not an attack on your decision. It is just me trying to understand the benefits from a big picture aspect.
Like I said this is more about WHY take this route as plan B.
Yea, if they are turned away from USMA for the injury, then they are still on the hook for their Guard contract, they are free to pursue whatever they want in addition to the Guard (ROTC, school, work). If they decide to enroll in AROTC without contracting, then they just continue on with their Guard obligations. If they were to go to TAMU, but joined the Guard in PA, they would need to work to transfer units. Usually, not a big issue since they are staying in the Guard especially if they are a contracted cadet in ROTC. Transferring to a different state could affect their educational benefits as states offer different incentives to Guard students. It would be between them and their losing and gaining units to complete the transfer.
The Split Option only refers to completing basic training and AIT when a high school student joins the Guard. They enlist in their junior year of high school, usually at age 17 with a parents signature, begin month drilling (usually learn things that will help them be successful in BCT, then go to basic training in the summer between their junior and senior years, complete high school, then attend their AIT the summer after graduating high school. After that, they are the same as any other member of the guard. There isn't anything other split to this option. This was created to get more high schoolers to enlist while allowing them to stay on track to graduate high school on time, and complete their training in time to start college (if they choose) on time, though college is not a requirement to this program.
In this guys case, if he was planning to attend USMA all along, there isn't much benefit to this program, unless he just wanted to make a few extra bucks a month. With only attending BCT, he has learned about as much as what USMA would have taught him during Beast. Usually when split-option people drill prior to BCT/AIT, they are in the Recruit Sustainment Program, not necessarily placed in a line unit training in specific MOS's. They are not MOS qualified so they aren't much help in that role to a unit. The RSP is split into phases and focuses on teaching new "recruits" the basics of the army prior to BCT and AIT. They drill separately than the Guard units who are doing their normal unit specific training. If for whatever reason he does not matriculate to USMA, he will have to attend AIT.
*not directed at any one person*
Joining the Guard and doing a few drills is not the prior service experience that many people feel they need to be a successful officer. Time is better spent focusing on the actual goal, not checking boxes to make you feel better about your goal. Being a prior service active duty soldier, or spending multiple years in a guard unit and serving as an NCO or deploying is different because that experience is beneficial and will have an impact on the applicant/cadet.