National Guard Smp option

ChildeRoland76

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2014
Messages
99
Hello all!

We'll we are very happy, DS is coming home in a couple days from CIET. While at CIET DS had several conversations with other cadets about Smp national guard option. I would like a quick list of the benefits of Smp over waiting to branch at the end of college. My DS is trying to get his Masters for CPA so I believe his thinking is using some of the benefits from Smp to complete his Masters. If he did choose the Smp option would he be stuck in this state for national gaurd? Would he have to enlist and complete basic to use this option? Any answers would be appreciated.

Thanks!
 
Does your son currently have a scholarship, is he contracted?
 
Thanks for you reply Jcleppe. Yes he is a 3 year ad scholarship winner. During the school year he picked up another .5 year as well.

Thanks
 
I do not believe that you can participate in SMP if you are a national scholarship winner. In the past you could convert your national scholarship to a GRFD but that might not be do-able these days if I recall another thread correctly.

If active duty is on the wish list stick with the scholarships you have to at least keep options open.

DS was SMP as an early commission cadet and learned a lot thru the program, but he was with a very good unit. Not all guard units treat SMP cadets the same. Sometimes they are just glorified errand boys at best. You also have the expense of getting to and from drill which can take away from some valuable study time or other activities. SMP cadets do not always do the 2 weeks AT during the summer either. Some states do not want to pay for it.
 
He would have to enlist in the National Guard or Reserves, and complete BCT and AIT before becoming eligible for SMP benefits. Those benefits/stipends would begin once he becomes a contracted SMP cadet. The earliest that can happen is beginning of sophomore year. Upon graduation/commissioning as an officer, his commitment to Guard/Reserves is considered complete. There would be no more SMP benefits/stipends from that point.

He would also be deployable from the time he completes AIT until he contracts SMP. He is not deployable once he contracts.
 
This from Clarkson on 05/13/2015:
FYI...this currently can't be done. As of about 6 months ago the CG was prohibited from converting a line scholarship to a GRFD scholarship. Until she is give that ability again, if you are on a regular scholarship you cannot go SMP, which would require you to convert your scholarship to GRFD. Now that I've thrown a bowl of alphabet soup at you I'll also remind you that you can still chose to go Guard or Reserves when you commission. You just can't start drilling now.
 
Ok, thanks sherriff! I kinda was thinking along the same lines. Thanks for the information. I will advice to keep going along and wait to make that decision at the end. Why screw up a good thing right?

Thanks
 
He would have to enlist in the National Guard or Reserves, and complete BCT and AIT before becoming eligible for SMP benefits.

It is not required that a cadet attend BCT or AIT to enroll in the SMP program, however they cannot receive the GI Bill or Kicker if they do not attend BCT and AIT. They can still receive Tuition Assistance. They do not need to attend BCT or AIT to contract as SMP and receive the stipend.
 
You also can no longer receive GI Bill and FTA at the same time. That also was changed last year.
 
Unless he is dead set on commissioning into the guard, he should finish out without doing SMP.
 
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