What are my options?

Michael_T

Michael_T

NU '26
Joined
Oct 29, 2020
Messages
692
Alright...


I'll keep this simple...

What other options do I have, other than Army SMP, that will basically help me pay for tuition at a public institution (e.g. Citadel), whilst nearly guaranteeing me a spot for Active Duty once I graduate?

I've looked more and more into SMP, and I'm continuously finding new information that seems to sway me on sides.

If anyone has any information, I'd really be interested in Army or Navy, no true preference.
 
Enlist, do your 4 years and get the GI bill.

But as an SMP cadet, I’m gonna sway you HEAVILY to go that route.

I could give you a million reasons, but it’s late and I have PT tomorrow.
 
As Jarhead713 said, enlistment and subsequent G.I. bill is certainly a valid option. Then you have your taste of the military, and an obligation free ride through college.

There are numerous other grants and scholarships which have nothing to do with the military and have no service obligation.

What are the downsides (in your perception) of the SMP program? The risk of not contracting and thus being ineligible? BMI, PT, etc? Not picking up any TA during your first two years of ROTC?
 
OldAFRet said:
As Jarhead713 said, enlistment and subsequent G.I. bill is certainly a valid option. Then you have your taste of the military, and an obligation free ride through college.

There are numerous other grants and scholarships which have nothing to do with the military and have no service obligation.

What are the downsides (in your perception) of the SMP program? The risk of not contracting and thus being ineligible? BMI, PT, etc? Not picking up any TA during your first two years of ROTC?
Click to expand...
My only problem with SMP is the fact that I need 30 credit hours before I can even enroll in the actual thing, so I'd have to wait till my Sophomore Year in college.

Next, if I enlist with the Reserves/National Guard, I don't see myself as getting high chances of active-duty once I graduate. I really have the desire to go active duty, and if I can't get that, that would suck.

Plus obviously there are so many other little tiny requirements, that are not-widely discuss like PFT score, etc/
 
So you're a highschooler with a high BMI and low fitness level, looking for a free ride through college with a guaranteed AD commission at the end? That's what I'm hearing from this and your other posts. Yes, my filters are turned off this morning, and I have had this discussion with my own son and 3 of his fellow Eagle Scouts.

Read my thread on "what's the real story with ROTC". I've asked most every possible question and received a lot of good authoritative answers.

In my own son's case, since he is not a scholarship cadet, he's got two years to improve his BMI, and fitness levels, excel at academics, and not P.O. anyone, so that MAYBE he is offered a contract after two years, and may then apply for the SMP program (which would get him a stipend, drill pay, assistance with books, and some free meals at his uni. SMP IS NOT A SCHOLARSHIP.

Now, if my own son, (and you for that matter) can make it through his MS I year, get his weight down, fitness level up, grade up, and be in the good graces of his PMS, he may be offered a 3 years scholarship IF THERE ARE SLOTS AVAILABLE.

Life comes with no guarantees.
 
While it is stated it is possible to go SMP and then serve active duty, much of your training is with a Guard unit and geared toward reserves/ guard activities. You'll bond with a unit and train for a role in that unit. It doesn't scream ACTIVE DUTY to me, which you stated is your goal.

General guidance is that it's a red flag for interviewers / readers when people lead with "needing to pay" for college vs finding a way to serve. Honestly if it's about money many community colleges are 5k per year or less often - you can make that with some hustle in a summer and part time jobs - easily. so get your min. credits or even halfway to a bachelor that way if you need or want to. You can take a year and get 30 credits, address your BMI, and reapply. You can always transfer to an expensive school as a junior if that is your dream, thereby getting your diploma for much less cost.

Another path to consider (sorry I didn't fully read all notes above) is OCS, if you're asking.

Do you want to serve as an officer or enlisted? If you don't want to be an enlisted personnel, then don't enlist. Right?

Where there's a will there's a way - you have options here and challenges that are pretty surmountable. Good luck to you.

'll just share that the laws of nature/ catabolism make it harder to lose weight as you get older. So if you're near 18, your best bet is to get that under control now v later and establish good habits. It also aligns with your desire to serve. As my cousin who serves, albeit as a physician but he's forward deployed at times, states - There are no timeouts / do-overs in combat. Best going in as prepared as you can - you'll also want to be in a position to help your brothers/ sisters around you, and being too out of shape to carry them etc would be a nightmare.

Sounds like you have some continued soul searching to do and I appreciate you're looking into options and getting a plan together - good luck!
 
OldAFRet said:
So you're a highschooler with a high BMI and low fitness level, looking for a free ride through college with a guaranteed AD commission at the end? That's what I'm hearing from this and your other posts. Yes, my filters are turned off this morning, and I have had this discussion with my own son and 3 of his fellow Eagle Scouts.

Read my thread on "what's the real story with ROTC". I've asked most every possible question and received a lot of good authoritative answers.

In my own son's case, since he is not a scholarship cadet, he's got two years to improve his BMI, and fitness levels, excel at academics, and not P.O. anyone, so that MAYBE he is offered a contract after two years, and may then apply for the SMP program (which would get him a stipend, drill pay, assistance with books, and some free meals at his uni. SMP IS NOT A SCHOLARSHIP.

Now, if my own son, (and you for that matter) can make it through his MS I year, get his weight down, fitness level up, grade up, and be in the good graces of his PMS, he may be offered a 3 years scholarship IF THERE ARE SLOTS AVAILABLE.

Life comes with no guarantees.
Click to expand...
So is it still possible to apply for a ROTC scholarship, and maybe be awarded one, in the end of my first year in college?
 
Herman_Snerd said:
While it is stated it is possible to go SMP and then serve active duty, much of your training is with a Guard unit and geared toward reserves/ guard activities. You'll bond with a unit and train for a role in that unit. It doesn't scream ACTIVE DUTY to me, which you stated is your goal.

General guidance is that it's a red flag for interviewers / readers when people lead with "needing to pay" for college vs finding a way to serve. Honestly if it's about money many community colleges are 5k per year or less often - you can make that with some hustle in a summer and part time jobs - easily. so get your min. credits or even halfway to a bachelor that way if you need or want to. You can take a year and get 30 credits, address your BMI, and reapply. You can always transfer to an expensive school as a junior if that is your dream, thereby getting your diploma for much less cost.

Another path to consider (sorry I didn't fully read all notes above) is OCS, if you're asking.

Do you want to serve as an officer or enlisted? If you don't want to be an enlisted personnel, then don't enlist. Right?

Where there's a will there's a way - you have options here and challenges that are pretty surmountable. Good luck to you.

'll just share that the laws of nature/ catabolism make it harder to lose weight as you get older. So if you're near 18, your best bet is to get that under control now v later and establish good habits. It also aligns with your desire to serve. As my cousin who serves, albeit as a physician but he's forward deployed at times, states - There are no timeouts / do-overs in combat. Best going in as prepared as you can - you'll also want to be in a position to help your brothers/ sisters around you, and being too out of shape to carry them etc would be a nightmare.

Sounds like you have some continued soul searching to do and I appreciate you're looking into options and getting a plan together - good luck!
Click to expand...
I appreciate you're advice... I'm still thinking SMP is the right option for me, I just don't know what to believe, from speaking to my recruiter, and to a Lt Col, in charge of ROTC at Embry Riddle. They tell me information that is polar opposites, so I just would like to lay out other possible options in case that SMP is to not work.


I don't think OCS would work for me, since currently my dream school is Citadel, and if I'm accepted, I'll commit there. I'm just a bit shaken up I guess I'd say.

So far over a month, I've lost 5 lbs. I was at 194, and currently at 189. I'm just focusing on academics, and trying to balance everything out while changing up my diet, and exercising more often. Hence I ran 1.5 miles yesterday.

Thank you once again for your advice!
 
Herman_Snerd said:
While it is stated it is possible to go SMP and then serve active duty, much of your training is with a Guard unit and geared toward reserves/ guard activities. You'll bond with a unit and train for a role in that unit. It doesn't scream ACTIVE DUTY to me, which you stated is your goal.

General guidance is that it's a red flag for interviewers / readers when people lead with "needing to pay" for college vs finding a way to serve. Honestly if it's about money many community colleges are 5k per year or less often - you can make that with some hustle in a summer and part time jobs - easily. so get your min. credits or even halfway to a bachelor that way if you need or want to. You can take a year and get 30 credits, address your BMI, and reapply. You can always transfer to an expensive school as a junior if that is your dream, thereby getting your diploma for much less cost.

Another path to consider (sorry I didn't fully read all notes above) is OCS, if you're asking.

Do you want to serve as an officer or enlisted? If you don't want to be an enlisted personnel, then don't enlist. Right?

Where there's a will there's a way - you have options here and challenges that are pretty surmountable. Good luck to you.

'll just share that the laws of nature/ catabolism make it harder to lose weight as you get older. So if you're near 18, your best bet is to get that under control now v later and establish good habits. It also aligns with your desire to serve. As my cousin who serves, albeit as a physician but he's forward deployed at times, states - There are no timeouts / do-overs in combat. Best going in as prepared as you can - you'll also want to be in a position to help your brothers/ sisters around you, and being too out of shape to carry them etc would be a nightmare.

Sounds like you have some continued soul searching to do and I appreciate you're looking into options and getting a plan together - good luck!
Click to expand...
My main issue isn't necessarily the tuition, apologies for my abrupt language. Obviously, my goals haven't changed from serving my country, and although my goal is to be commissioned as an officer, I'm ready to give up my time, for whatever my country may need me for.
 
Alright here's my advice:

SMP (non-scholarship)
-You can get TIS (time in service) and comission into the Army making the maximum pay for a 2lt.
-Actual expirience, getting to spend time with an actual unit, and getting hands on work with what they do.
-Extra pay, drill pay in addition to your stipend and book allowance.

If you want to go active duty from SMP, you CAN. Just don't take any guard money (like the GRFD scholarship.) Know lots of SMPs who commissioned into active duty and were making a LOT more money than their peers.

CC scholarship
-Tuition & up to $100 in fees
-$420 a month (abbreviated for months that you're not fully in school i.e. August, and December)
-Some campuses offer free housing for scholarship winners.


Note: Some universities will offer you free tution if you're enlisted in the guard and doing smp. Ergo, you don't have to take any guard money and can still compete for active duty. Do your research :)
 
Jarhead713 said:
Alright here's my advice:

SMP (non-scholarship)
-You can get TIS (time in service) and comission into the Army making the maximum pay for a 2lt.
-Actual expirience, getting to spend time with an actual unit, and getting hands on work with what they do.
-Extra pay, drill pay in addition to your stipend and book allowance.

If you want to go active duty from SMP, you CAN. Just don't take any guard money (like the GRFD scholarship.) Know lots of SMPs who commissioned into active duty and were making a LOT more money than their peers.

CC scholarship
-Tuition & up to $100 in fees
-$420 a month (abbreviated for months that you're not fully in school i.e. August, and December)
-Some campuses offer free housing for scholarship winners.


Note: Some universities will offer you free tution if you're enlisted in the guard and doing smp. Ergo, you don't have to take any guard money and can still compete for active duty. Do your research :)
Click to expand...
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
 
MichaelT2022 said:
So is it still possible to apply for a ROTC scholarship, and maybe be awarded one, in the end of my first year in college?
Click to expand...
The idea is that (like my son) you do your first year as a programmer or walk-on to the ROTC program and "get your poop wrapped so tight it squeaks" so that your cadre submits you for a 3 year (or two year if we're talking end of sophomore year). Again, this is a gamble, and not a guarantee. Read my whole thread - I asked about different scenarios, and a lot of people with real authoritative knowledge took a lot of time to give me the lowdown on the processes.

For now, weight, PT score, GPA are all that matter.
 
MichaelT2022 said:
Next, if I enlist with the Reserves/National Guard, I don't see myself as getting high chances of active-duty once I graduate. I really have the desire to go active duty, and if I can't get that, that would suck.
Click to expand...
Being an SMP cadet does not affect your chances for getting AD if you are non-scholarship. In fact you get accession points for being an SMP cadet or having a part time job.

An excellent resource to loss weight is the "MyFitnessPal" app. It basically counts calories and tracks exercise. You put in how much weight you want to lose each week, and it will give you the number calories you are allowed to eat. Also tracks macros if you want to get that advanced. I used it in 2018 to lose 15lbs in 15 weeks. Wasn't too difficult, just need to have discipline and cut out empty calories like drinks with sugar. Still at my goal weight, as I don't eat the foods I cut out of my diet back then, but don't count calories since then either. I am in my 40s so should be easier for someone your age.
 
MohawkArmyROTC said:
An excellent resource to loss weight is the "MyFitnessPal" app. It basically counts calories and tracks exercise. You put in how much weight you want to lose each week, and it will give you the number calories you are allowed to eat. Also tracks macros if you want to get that advanced. I used it in 2018 to lose 15lbs in 15 weeks. Wasn't too difficult, just need to have discipline and cut out empty calories like drinks with sugar. Still at my goal weight, as I don't eat the foods I cut out of my diet back then, but don't count calories since then either. I am in my 40s so should be easier for someone your age.
Click to expand...
Second MyFitnessPal - I lost 45 pounds in 6 months by tracking calories in/out with the out being a 5 mile/day speed walk (and I'm north of 60 years old). Track everything you put in your mouth (in terms of kcals) and be brutally honest about portions. You will lose weight. (doesn't apply to you, I hope, but adult beverages need to be scaled back but not cut out).
 
Third MyFitnessPal.

By using the way it is designed, you "learn" what you can eat, portion size, required caloric burning, etc.

Getting nutritional data on homemade and restaurant foods can be tough but not impossible (find similar items on web based cookbooks, restaurant sites, etc and use that data). After a while, the common items you eat become easier to log in.

My DD has a kinesiology degree and has worked as a personal trainer for years. She has taught High School health for 10 years and introduces all her classes to this app as part of a healthy living section.
 
MohawkArmyROTC said:
Being an SMP cadet does not affect your chances for getting AD if you are non-scholarship. In fact you get accession points for being an SMP cadet or having a part time job.

An excellent resource to loss weight is the "MyFitnessPal" app. It basically counts calories and tracks exercise. You put in how much weight you want to lose each week, and it will give you the number calories you are allowed to eat. Also tracks macros if you want to get that advanced. I used it in 2018 to lose 15lbs in 15 weeks. Wasn't too difficult, just need to have discipline and cut out empty calories like drinks with sugar. Still at my goal weight, as I don't eat the foods I cut out of my diet back then, but don't count calories since then either. I am in my 40s so should be easier for someone your age.
Click to expand...
Are there any adverse effects to doing SMP as a 3AD Scholarship cadet?
 
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