We are so confused. I'll just start there. Son has been speaking with different branches of service. Currently most interested in Army. We have met with recruiter and will meet with school specific NG officer this weekend. I have done a lot of research and have read many forums on here. I feel like they are just telling us what we want to hear. I really need it all laid out specifically. I am sure they can not "lie" to us but yet doesnt mean that they will tell the whole truth. Recruiter is really pushing for SMP and not starting college until spring semester to get basic and AIT out of the way first (for financial benefit). Not sure would be in his best interest socially coming in a semester late and trying to join the group. But what I have read states cannot join SMP until sophomore year. If so, then how do you pay for freshman year? They all say "100% tuition" but is that guaranteed? Or only scholarship based? which then would need to apply for. You cannot do both scholarship AND SMP correct? I've also read about campus-based scholarships through ROTC, but not awarded until after one semester (so again what happens with finances for first semester?) And then there is the GFRD scholarship which guarantees that you will do NG not active duty which is is interested in. Why would you choose GRFD vs SMP? Or vice versa. He basically wants assistance with tuition and does not mind the NG commitment during school and likes the idea of receiving pay during that time. Is there one spot I can find all of this information to help navigate? Or ONE person that can help answer all questions that does not receive a "kickback" per se or benefit of him signing up with them that will be honest?? We completely support his decision to join the military but also want to be smart about this and not let him look through rose colored glasses.
New cadet -ROTC vs SMP
- Thread starter mommadep
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Herman_Snerd
5-Year Member
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Army ROTC: There are scholarships awarded to high school seniors who apply that are either 4 year or 3 year (starts day 1 of sophomore year) scholarships. All are contingent offers - MUST meet all standards - PT, grades, discipline, meeting unit standards, no arrests etc. to stay on scholarship.There are also people who join ROTC in college without a scholarship, and complete to earn one - they are called college programmers. Army ROTC scholarships can be either for tuition/ fees OR a specific amount per semester for Room/ board. Additionally SOME schools offer merit scholarships to assist with room and board (and some do not) for those on scholarship. You should apply for FAFSA federal aid and for college/ external scholarships too and see where you land. Read all about it in the official link including additional flavors of scholarships they offer: https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/find-your-path/army-officers/rotc/scholarships.html
Depending on the maturity of your son, I will say that one young man in SMP just started college last Spring after basic and those months of training really matured him / helped him start college on a focused, solid footing. And SMP gets you the stipend and drill pay - I would only pursue SMP if I wanted to serve in the reserves.
SMP: Is as the name implies simultaneous membership program - it is a path to serve not active duty, but reserves. Also one would train in guard duty one weekend a month plus some summer obligations. Read all about it in the official link: https://recruiting.army.mil/News/Article/3063650/simultaneous-membership-program/
Read all that, reach out to the Army Recruiting command or ROTC numbers provided then come back with any clarifying questions but that should get you on your way.
EJF
AROTC Mom
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Does he have a school, or schools he is interested in? I would encourage him to reach out to them and discuss options as well. Does he feel like he would be a strong candidate for the Army scholarship program? In our son's situation he did not want the extra commitment of National Guard on top of ROTC. It will delay your son's graduation from college if he joins NG, not something my son wanted to do either. He was awarded a 3 year National Scholarship, and the school he chose also gave him some scholarship money to help with Freshman year. The rest we were able to help him with that year. His scholarship and ROTC scholarship stipend is kicking in this year so he will be covering living expenses with his summer job money and what the Army will be paying him. In his Battalion he has friends that committed to NG after getting started with school. It can be challenging arriving to college later in the year after a lot of friendships have been formed already. He does have a friend that was able to join National Guard and because he was already in ROTC, he did not have to attend AIT, only Basic. He attended basic the summer between freshman year and sophomore year and didn't miss any school. I think this was his plan from the beginning. He is non-deployable as well. I'm not sure how all that works, but if they are in National Guard and aren't in ROTC, I believe they can be deployed even if they are in College. It also depends, does he want to Commission as an officer or does he prefer the Enlisted route. I would encourage him to do a lot of research and not to rush into a decision with the recruiter until he's looked at all his options.
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The recruiter is pushing enlistment, immediately followed by BCT, AIT as that is what he is paid to do. It's in his best interest. If your son's primary interest is ROTC during college, then he should be speaking to the Recruiting Operations Officer (ROO) at whatever college that he is interested in attending.
Here are some brief answers to your questions. I can get into more details over a phone call if you would like to discuss further, as it is quite a lot to type.
SMP - as stated above is Simultaneous Membership Program. Serving in the USAR or ARNG while an ROTC cadet. You technically do not become an SMP cadet until you contract with ROTC in Sophomore year. Prior to that you can be mobilized by the USAR/ARNG and pulled out of college, once a contracted SMP cadet you are protected. SMP cadets attend monthly battle assemblies and annual training which they receive pay for as well as participating in ROTC. SMP cadets not on scholarship can commission into the Active Duty, USAR, or ARNG.
GRFD - Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty, this is the only type of scholarship that an SMP cadet can receive. Means they have to commission into the USAR or ARNG, they can't go active duty.
Campus Based scholarships - are usually awarded as 2 or 3 yr scholarships. Recipient selected by the ROTC program, either line scholarship (can commission AD, USAR, or ARNG) or GRFD scholarship. Must become an SMP cadet for GRFD scholarship.
Scholarships will pay for full tuition and fees, or $12k/yr for room and board. Student's choice.
Is your son going to a state school? If so, then there are some states that give you additional education benefits for joining their state guard. For example, NY and FL will cover the state school tuition rate for their state schools. However, you have to go to BCT and AIT to be eligible. BCT/AIT will also earn you the Montgomery GI Bill.
For enlistments you can enlist a specific MOS, which means you need to go to BCT/AIT. Or if you are going to college, you can enlist as 09R which is potential SMP, and BCT/AIT is not required. The caveat is that you have to contract with ROTC within a year or they will send you to BCT/AIT and change your MOS.
If your son's overall goal is to go to college and commission as an officer. Speak to the ROTC program's ROO before signing any enlistment documents with a recruiter to ensure that your son has all the relevant information for the course of action he wants to take. Their is nothing wrong with enlisting, going to BCT/AIT and becoming an SMP cadet. However, that is not the best option for everyone as it can potentially limit future opportunities such as getting a line ROTC scholarship.
Here are some brief answers to your questions. I can get into more details over a phone call if you would like to discuss further, as it is quite a lot to type.
SMP - as stated above is Simultaneous Membership Program. Serving in the USAR or ARNG while an ROTC cadet. You technically do not become an SMP cadet until you contract with ROTC in Sophomore year. Prior to that you can be mobilized by the USAR/ARNG and pulled out of college, once a contracted SMP cadet you are protected. SMP cadets attend monthly battle assemblies and annual training which they receive pay for as well as participating in ROTC. SMP cadets not on scholarship can commission into the Active Duty, USAR, or ARNG.
GRFD - Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty, this is the only type of scholarship that an SMP cadet can receive. Means they have to commission into the USAR or ARNG, they can't go active duty.
Campus Based scholarships - are usually awarded as 2 or 3 yr scholarships. Recipient selected by the ROTC program, either line scholarship (can commission AD, USAR, or ARNG) or GRFD scholarship. Must become an SMP cadet for GRFD scholarship.
Scholarships will pay for full tuition and fees, or $12k/yr for room and board. Student's choice.
Is your son going to a state school? If so, then there are some states that give you additional education benefits for joining their state guard. For example, NY and FL will cover the state school tuition rate for their state schools. However, you have to go to BCT and AIT to be eligible. BCT/AIT will also earn you the Montgomery GI Bill.
For enlistments you can enlist a specific MOS, which means you need to go to BCT/AIT. Or if you are going to college, you can enlist as 09R which is potential SMP, and BCT/AIT is not required. The caveat is that you have to contract with ROTC within a year or they will send you to BCT/AIT and change your MOS.
If your son's overall goal is to go to college and commission as an officer. Speak to the ROTC program's ROO before signing any enlistment documents with a recruiter to ensure that your son has all the relevant information for the course of action he wants to take. Their is nothing wrong with enlisting, going to BCT/AIT and becoming an SMP cadet. However, that is not the best option for everyone as it can potentially limit future opportunities such as getting a line ROTC scholarship.
I agree. trying to find answers has been very difficult. I'll try to answer the other direction.
Family member enlists in NG right out of HS, does BCT and AIT. Then, starts college. His contract includes a bonus and a GI Bill kicker.
For our case... on top of non-NG aid, he would get federal tuition assistance, separate state tuition assistance, and additionally a school specific "military" tuition discount that stacked to make college really affordable. It is 50/50 whether to even initiate the Montgomery GI Bill (NG version). This is regardless of ROTC status. Deployment opens up Post 9/11 GI Bill options and a couple other perks.
His plan is to do SMP starting sophomore year. And depending on what he signs, he may lose all of bonus or remainder of bonus. I may get this part wrong... If he contracts, he gets drill pay of e-5 and switches to officer trainee MOS. If he doesn't, he drills per his current unit, MOS and rank.
Good luck...
BJD16
Army 95-05, Marquette AROTC, Sea Cadet Volunteer
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Lots of good info above, but some key details are missing. The more time and better resume he has, the more options he has to choose from.
HS Graduating class: 2023, 2024, 2025
GPA unweighted and ACT/SAT score to see if he is competitive for ROTC scholarship
Sports and extracurricular background to determine physical fitness and leadership abilities
HS Graduating class: 2023, 2024, 2025
GPA unweighted and ACT/SAT score to see if he is competitive for ROTC scholarship
Sports and extracurricular background to determine physical fitness and leadership abilities
Thank you. This helps. We are meeting the ROO from UK this weekend. I may take you up on that phone call at some point once we get deeper into this.
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Good info above.
The biggest thing is whether he wants to go USAR/NG or not. Lots of cadets think they can slink into SMP as active duty scholarship cadets for some easy TIS (Time in service) years/drill pay and then go active duty. This isn't the case.