What are my options?

VisionofConflux said:
Are there any adverse effects to doing SMP as a 3AD Scholarship cadet?
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Yes, you can't do that initially. The national 3AD scholarship is a line scholarship meaning you can't do SMP. After you contract with scholarship, you can request to convert the scholarship to GRFD, which would allow you to be an SMP cadet, however you could then only commission into the USAR or ARNG, not active duty.
 
MohawkArmyROTC said:
Yes, you can't do that initially. The national 3AD scholarship is a line scholarship meaning you can't do SMP. After you contract with scholarship, you can request to convert the scholarship to GRFD, which would allow you to be an SMP cadet, however you could then only commission into the USAR or ARNG, not active duty.
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Interesting.....at my ROTC unit, the cadre told us we could do SMP(09R10) then come out of it at the time of contracting for the National 3AD Scholarship. Looking over it, I guess we aren't really considered full-SMP cadets.
 
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VisionofConflux said:
Interesting.....at my ROTC unit, the cadre told us we could do SMP(09R10) then come out of it at the time of contracting for the National 3AD Scholarship. Looking over it, I guess we aren't really considered full-SMP cadets.
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That is horrible advice, especially to someone that has a 3AD scholarship. If you enlist, you will have to leave the USAR/ARNG in order to contract your sophomore year for the 3AD scholarship. The USAR/ARNG needs to release in order to do so, and they are not obligated to release you. You will need to get a conditional release which takes a very long time to get approved, if it even gets approve. Don't ever enlist to SMP if you have a national scholarship prior to ROTC contracting. You may enlist after contracting with ROTC and having the scholarship converted to GRFD. You are only an SMP cadet once you have contracted with ROTC. If you enlist as 09R, and if they don't release you, then you have lost your scholarship. They will also schedule you for basic training after your freshman year of college.

You don't have to tell me your school/ROTC program, but what was the position of the cadre member who told you that?
 
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?
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the national high school scholarship program is for just that, high school seniors. Have you applied for them? The close date for any of them is still far out. You can EARN an in college scholarship, but that is a different process than what high school seniors go through.
 
MohawkArmyROTC said:
That is horrible advice, especially to someone that has a 3AD scholarship. If you enlist, you will have to leave the USAR/ARNG in order to contract your sophomore year for the 3AD scholarship. The USAR/ARNG needs to release in order to do so, and they are not obligated to release you. You will need to get a conditional release which takes a very long time to get approved, if it even gets approve. Don't ever enlist to SMP if you have a national scholarship prior to ROTC contracting. You may enlist after contracting with ROTC and having the scholarship converted to GRFD. You are only an SMP cadet once you have contracted with ROTC. If you enlist as 09R, and if they don't release you, then you have lost your scholarship. They will also schedule you for basic training after your freshman year of college.

You don't have to tell me your school/ROTC program, but what was the position of the cadre member who told you that?
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My instructors.... basically said as long as I don't sign for the GRFD scholarship or anything that would bind me to the guard then I should be fine. There is a pathway to go in without having to do basic training and my release from USAR/ARNG would be prearranged. I had done a bit of research prior and never heard of this pathway until some of the MS3/MS4 cadets had mentioned it as some of them did the same thing as well as the cadre mentioning it as well.
 
jaglvr said:
NO..the AF ROTC is the HSSP. Meant that the ROTC scholarships that high school seniors compete for are only offered to HS seniors. College students have an entirely different process.
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OH, I SEE... thank you... Would you happen to know anything about scholarships that are offered directly by The Citadel?
 
Another question. Why the Citadel or Embry-Riddle? Yes, they're both great schools, and from what I understand SMCs are slightly favored for Army active duty allotments, but it's not like either is going to make you a noticeably better officer. If you've visited the campus and have real, concrete reasons to go there than by all means follow your dream, but in a lot of cases that I've seen, prospective cadets lock in on ER and the SMCs like they're some kind of golden ticket.

Pretty much every public school offers Army ROTC and turns out plenty of active duty officers. Plus, if you go SMP, you still need to find a guard or reserve unit close to your dream schools that will take you. Also, from a financial standpoint, many smaller state schools are way more affordable.

No offense to alums of either school, I've got friends from both, but I'm sure you'd agree folks show up on day 1 without seriously considering other options because of the name recognition.
 
MichaelT2022 said:
OH, I SEE... thank you... Would you happen to know anything about scholarships that are offered directly by The Citadel?
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Best bet is log into the Citadel website and search scholarships

www.citadel.edu

Scholarship Opportunities - The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships

Scholarship opportunities are offered to active duty & veteran students, cadets, ROTC, and graduate students looking for financial support.
www.citadel.edu www.citadel.edu
www.citadel.edu

Scholarship Opportunities - The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships

Scholarship opportunities are offered to active duty & veteran students, cadets, ROTC, and graduate students looking for financial support.
www.citadel.edu www.citadel.edu
 
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VisionofConflux said:
My instructors.... basically said as long as I don't sign for the GRFD scholarship or anything that would bind me to the guard then I should be fine. There is a pathway to go in without having to do basic training and my release from USAR/ARNG would be prearranged. I had done a bit of research prior and never heard of this pathway until some of the MS3/MS4 cadets had mentioned it as some of them did the same thing as well as the cadre mentioning it as well.
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Yes, you can enlist as 09R and will not go to basic training if you contract with ROTC within 12 months of your enlistment. I am under the impression that you have a National 3AD scholarship. Is that the case? If so, you won't be able to contract with ROTC for the scholarship your Sophomore year if you have enlisted in the USAR/ARNG. You would have to get a conditional release (DD368) from them in order to contract with your scholarship. They are not required to give you that conditional release, and if they do that is something that takes months to get approved in my experience. What would be the point of risking your scholarship to do less than 12 months as a private in the USAR/ARNG? You wouldn't be an SMP cadet, even if you enlisted as 09R as you don't become an SMP cadet until you contract with ROTC. However, you can only contract with ROTC if you are not in the USAR/ARNG. What would be the motivation of the USAR/ARNG to give you a conditional release less than a year after enlisting you?

As I said that is horrible advice to tell someone with a National Scholarship to enlist. You would be risking your scholarship for zero benefit or gain. When it comes to contracting with ROTC and/or enlisting, you should be talking to your ROO, as not all of the cadre are aware of all of the intricacies involved. Most enlisted recruiters definitely are not, and are only looking to enlist you, damn the consequences.

If I am mistaken, and you do not have a 3AD scholarship, then go ahead and enlist if that is what you want to do.
 
Thunderbolt462 said:
Another question. Why the Citadel or Embry-Riddle? Yes, they're both great schools, and from what I understand SMCs are slightly favored for Army active duty allotments, but it's not like either is going to make you a noticeably better officer. If you've visited the campus and have real, concrete reasons to go there than by all means follow your dream, but in a lot of cases that I've seen, prospective cadets lock in on ER and the SMCs like they're some kind of golden ticket.

Pretty much every public school offers Army ROTC and turns out plenty of active duty officers. Plus, if you go SMP, you still need to find a guard or reserve unit close to your dream schools that will take you. Also, from a financial standpoint, many smaller state schools are way more affordable.

No offense to alums of either school, I've got friends from both, but I'm sure you'd agree folks show up on day 1 without seriously considering other options because of the name recognition.
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I went to a small state school myself, commissioned, and went on to active duty. Where I went to college had zero effect on my military career. The only benefit to an SMC was that the PMS could override your OML results and get those referred to the USAR, onto active duty. However, I am not sure if they can do that anymore since USACC has changed to a new branching model using talent management. Now the top 3400 cadets on the OML are considered for active duty, and the determining factor is how they end up during branch selection.
 
Be aware that The Citadel has a height/weight requirement for both males and females to enroll. Also, there is a requirement to be enrolled in the SCCC for a minimum of 6 semesters to graduate from the Corps of Cadets. So if planning on Community College and then transfer - plan on one year in CC. However, if money is an issue and if strength in academics is a concern, a year of CC may be a worthwhile consideration. As is OCS after completing college. My son-in-law was not in ROTC while in college and instead joined the Marine Corps Reserve unit nearby. After college he went to OCS and is now a Colonel active duty….can be done if you have the drive and ambition to serve as an officer
 
Overwhelmed said:
This shouldn't be so complicated and cryptic.
How is an 18 year old year supposed to figure this out?
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Exactly what I have thought, following this thread. And I’m NOT an 18 yr old.

I recall my oldest son going through a whole lot of stuff getting to where he is with the ANG. Sooo complicated. Never did or do understand it all. But he is happy. I hope it al works out ok!
 
MohawkArmyROTC said:
Yes, you can enlist as 09R and will not go to basic training if you contract with ROTC within 12 months of your enlistment. I am under the impression that you have a National 3AD scholarship. Is that the case? If so, you won't be able to contract with ROTC for the scholarship your Sophomore year if you have enlisted in the USAR/ARNG. You would have to get a conditional release (DD368) from them in order to contract with your scholarship. They are not required to give you that conditional release, and if they do that is something that takes months to get approved in my experience. What would be the point of risking your scholarship to do less than 12 months as a private in the USAR/ARNG? You wouldn't be an SMP cadet, even if you enlisted as 09R as you don't become an SMP cadet until you contract with ROTC. However, you can only contract with ROTC if you are not in the USAR/ARNG. What would be the motivation of the USAR/ARNG to give you a conditional release less than a year after enlisting you?

As I said that is horrible advice to tell someone with a National Scholarship to enlist. You would be risking your scholarship for zero benefit or gain. When it comes to contracting with ROTC and/or enlisting, you should be talking to your ROO, as not all of the cadre are aware of all of the intricacies involved. Most enlisted recruiters definitely are not, and are only looking to enlist you, damn the consequences.

If I am mistaken, and you do not have a 3AD scholarship, then go ahead and enlist if that is what you want to do.
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Yes, it's a National 3AD Scholarship. ROO did say the same thing as what the cadre have said in accordance with his experience with the USAR/ARNG in the past.
 
VisionofConflux said:
My instructors.... basically said as long as I don't sign for the GRFD scholarship or anything that would bind me to the guard then I should be fine. There is a pathway to go in without having to do basic training and my release from USAR/ARNG would be prearranged. I had done a bit of research prior and never heard of this pathway until some of the MS3/MS4 cadets had mentioned it as some of them did the same thing as well as the cadre mentioning it as well.
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I had heard the same from my cadre as well. I'm also curious as I also would like to do the same thing.....first year tuition, fees, and books definitely were an ouchy.
 
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Overwhelmed said:
This shouldn't be so complicated and cryptic.
How is an 18 year old year supposed to figure this out?
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A 60+ y/o is having trouble figuring all this out for his son. Fortunately, there are a lot of people on here who have authoritative information, and don't mind answering many of the same questions over and over.
 
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