Simultanious Membership Program (SMP)

>>32963593
Yes, smp is a great program for guard/reservists. Basically during drill you will now "shadow" an LT and do what he/she is supposed to do. However if youre in the guard then you may know how little training actially gets done.

Everything else you seem to know already. Rotc places you under TRADOC i.e. you dont deploy.

>>32963632
I've been poking around their websites all day trying to figure everything out. My only concern is what financial aid I'm going to get from the military. I can't tell if I would get the ROTC scholarship that covers tuition, the reserve check, the GI bill, etc. or any combination. Do you happen to know?

>>32963687
Edit: Financial aid for my college degree, to be clear

>>32963687
Im sure theres some sort of priority with each of those things, like the gi bill, 9/11 kicker, college financial aid, rotc scholarship... etc.

What i can say is that if your tuition is covered by financial aid and/or gi bill abd etc the rotc scholarship goes straight into your pocket (pretty damn good if you can land a scholarship; which are contract dependent) so with the smp, it depends what your ms level is. Ms1's would be able to get contracted and get a 3 or 4 year scholarship. For prior service/already went to basic you can skip your ms2 year perhaps and commission sooner; not quite sure about that.

TLDR; ask your college's financial advisor and cadet battalion point recruiting officer. If im not mistaken if your tuition is 100% covered, you get to pocket the rest.

>>32963593
I didnt read that you are currently NOT in the guard as of now.

If you want to commission, commission. If you plan on going into the guard or reserves solely to be a "mustang" officer with enlisted experience dont bother.

Ive had smp cadets who are like e-3's or e-2's in the guard who are evenmore lost then non prior service cadets

>>32963941
I'm doing it because it's a cool job to have in senior year, something to do over the summer, and I'm going to join anyway so why not now?

>>32963941
Samefagging hard but if anyone wants to correct/add on, go ahead.

Prior service doesnt always make you a "better officer" the only branch i can say this is NOT the case is mostly combat arms branches. Infantry, FA, Engineer, and etc guard cadets usually make better officers. I knew a prior service 1LT (!) Who was a guard mp before commissioning. He's just like an overpaid specialist really. Shamming and everything, not very inspiring to future officers when he's around.

But he's gotten better so yeah...

>>32963961
Well obviously your 40 meter target is to have a cool summer job. You want a cool summer job, try to see if you can work in your local supermarket's meat section.

What if you have a bad experience? And it makes you not want to commission?

Do you just want to join or do you want to commission? Keeping in mind that going officer is usually for career soldiers.

>>32963593
Also if you plan on delaying your ait date (because of school) know that you are practically useless to your unit because you have not gone to ait.

>>32964014
Well "its cool" is more of a short term thing. I do want to go career and fully intend to do at least 20 years of service with the national guard, either as an engineer or (hopefully, because I know its hard but im pretty determined) special forces.

>>32964065
Far out. Hopefully you dont grow out of the "Iwannabeanoperatorphase" most do. Especially once they have been in for a while.

If youre looking more long term, look into a branch youre interested in. If you truly have the burning desire to one day try out for some SOF unit join a guard combat arms branch. Commission infantry (ranger school right off the bat) and try out for the Q course in the future for an 18A mos. I knew a captain who was going to resign his commission in order to go to sfas to be an 18D, commo and stuff.

I do know a guy who went active infantry, 82nd, then tried out for the SF. And is now in a sf unit in the guard, so that's a possibility.

Officers are going to be desk bound after or beginning from O-3 and above. SF guard guy told me he had 18A's (team leaders) refuse promotions in order to keep their job and not become a staff officer.

Not saying officers dont get pew pew time. But it is very limited, when you make O-4 youre pretty much staff now. Whereas on the enlisted side, you can be a E7 or E8 and still be doing coolguy stuff.