Second Chances?

[jl123]

Hello, sorry, I don't really understand the difference between joining the national guard compared to a college ROTC program. Are you saying that if I were to chose to join the national guard, I would be able to request a commander's endorsement; and that be the main benefit of joining the national guard in regards to gaining admission into WP?

If you want to be a military officer and do not get into USMA, go to college and join ROTC. Reapply to USMA as many times as you want for as long as you are age eligible.

By enlisting in the National Guard, you would enter the military at the lowest enlisted rank, E-1. If you are capable of college level academic work and your goal is to be an active duty military officer, enlisting in the National Guard is a poor decision - minimal upside (if any compared to ROTC) and large downside risk.

 

[1 2cubs]

If you want to be a military officer and do not get into USMA, go to college and join ROTC. Reapply to USMA as many times as you want for as long as you are age eligible.

By enlisting in the National Guard, you would enter the military at the lowest enlisted rank, E-1. If you are capable of college level academic work and your goal is to be an active duty military officer, enlisting in the National Guard is a poor decision - minimal upside (if any compared to ROTC) and large downside risk.

You are correct in saying that you would be entering at in E-1, but it is not a large risk if you understand what you are getting into. You definitely need to do your research and understand what it all means. I would start so online then I would go to the college you are looking at and talk to the cadre there. Usually there is a Sergeant in charge of all the SMP cadets(cadets that are doing ROTC and National Guard together).

I am currently at a Big Ten school that was awarded the MacArthur Award for best ROTC program in the Brigade(out of 44). Half of our cadets are SMP cadets, they are extremely knowledgable, and in terms of the community as a whole, they are much better leaders. They have been to basic, thoroughly understand the material ROTC covers and understand the army more so then there ROTC peers.

On that note, the biggest draw back is National Guard go into the National Guard not active duty. So if you go this route and don't get into USMA you'd be serving in the National Guard on weekends. However being in ROTC does not mean that you are going active duty. In ROTC you compete for active duty slots, and if you don't make it you go into the reserves. This is in comparison to USMA where you are slotted active duty and required to do 5 years active duty.

Like I said before the biggest benefit of going the National Guard route is the commanders endorsement nomination. This nomination gives you the best chance of being appointed USMA, while also continuing your college education in case you don't get in.

It is important you do the research and talk to as many people as you can. Ask your RC about it.

 

[et81]

I would agree that the SMP route is a good way to go for commissioning but I disagree that it is the best route to get to USMA as a ROTC cadet at one of the best University's for ROTC who also has won the MacArthur multiple times in the last 10 years. I will be attending USMA in the fall and I was told by my PMS and multiple contacts at WP as well as high ranking officers that going to ROTC for a year having the proof you can get good grades at a University and not just your high school is really helpful. Not to mention you can compete for your Congressional and Senatorial nominations but you can also get your PMS to endorse you. As someone who was in your shoes last year and just didn't make the final cut I cannot recommend ROTC anymore as a way to USMA.

 

[UHBlackhawk]

If you enlist in the National Guard they may permit you to do split training. This is where you go to basic one summer, then AIT the following summer. Used for high school and college students.

 

[Mcjlt]

My son chose to enlist in the National Guard last spring - because it offered another nomination source for him (although he would have joined anyway if he did not receive an appointment). He did the split training and attended basic last summer. He did receive a commander's nomination for USMA, along with JROTC and MOC noms. I do think that his commitment to the national guard helped tremendously in gaining a principal nomination. When we attended our informational meeting last spring, it was mentioned that they have a certain number of spots open for those in the national guard, and that they never use all their spots at USMA. (I have no idea if that's really true) The national guard also does have the minuteman scholarship, which is a way to still be an army officer. I agree with the other posters regarding talking to someone who is more knowledgeable regarding the guard before you commit.

 

[Barracuda17]

You are correct in saying that you would be entering at in E-1, but it is not a large risk if you understand what you are getting into. You definitely need to do your research and understand what it all means. I would start so online then I would go to the college you are looking at and talk to the cadre there. Usually there is a Sergeant in charge of all the SMP cadets(cadets that are doing ROTC and National Guard together).

I am currently at a Big Ten school that was awarded the MacArthur Award for best ROTC program in the Brigade(out of 44). Half of our cadets are SMP cadets, they are extremely knowledgable, and in terms of the community as a whole, they are much better leaders. They have been to basic, thoroughly understand the material ROTC covers and understand the army more so then there ROTC peers.

On that note, the biggest draw back is National Guard go into the National Guard not active duty. So if you go this route and don't get into USMA you'd be serving in the National Guard on weekends. However being in ROTC does not mean that you are going active duty. In ROTC you compete for active duty slots, and if you don't make it you go into the reserves. This is in comparison to USMA where you are slotted active duty and required to do 5 years active duty.

Like I said before the biggest benefit of going the National Guard route is the commanders endorsement nomination. This nomination gives you the best chance of being appointed USMA, while also continuing your college education in case you don't get in.

It is important you do the research and talk to as many people as you can. Ask your RC about it.

Could I also get a commanders endorsement nomination for usna in the National Gaurd?

 

[Capt MJ]

Could I also get a commanders endorsement nomination for usna in the National Gaurd?

You just woke a zombie thread from 2017. I doubt you will get a response.

You are getting responses on your duplicate thread elsewhere.