Commissioning Opportunities
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RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS
COURSE OVERVIEW:
Army ROTC is a four-year program consisting of the 2-year Basic Course and the 2-year
Advanced Course. Individuals may receive credit for the ROTC Basic Course by successfully
completing one of the following: a. Military Science I and Military Science II (MS
I/II) in an approved ROTC program b. Leader’s Training Course (LTC) c. Initial Active
Duty Training (IADT), to include both Basic Training (BT) and Advanced Individual
Training (AIT) If otherwise qualified, members of the Army National Guard who have
completed IADT or BT are eligible to enter the ROTC Advanced Course. To maintain
academic alignment for undergraduate students (freshman - MS I, sophomore - MS II,
junior - MS III, senior - MS IV), the ARNG member would normally enter ROTC at the
beginning of the junior year in college. Qualified individuals who are enrolled
in a graduate program of at least two years in duration may also contract into the
ROTC Advanced Course if they have completed the ROTC Basic Course, or equivalent.
Army National Guard members who have completed BT or IADT, and are college freshmen
or sophomores, may enroll in the ROTC Basic Course (MS I/II) if they choose to do
so.
To remain in the Army National Guard while also contracting into the ROTC Advanced
Course, the individual must join the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP). SMP
cadets are advanced to the pay grade of E-5 or retain a higher pay grade if previously
earned, and serve in the rank of Cadet (CDT). SMP members will not mobilize or deploy
with their unit, unless the Secretary of the Army directs they be commissioned.
MS II cadets are also eligible to partcipation SMP.
Cadets normally attend the 5-week LDAC (Leadership Development Assessment Course)
at Fort Lewis, WA at the end of the MS III year and are commissioned at the end
of the MS IV year. To be commissioned, the individual must have completed a Baccalaureate,
or an Associate’s degree in the case of the five Military Junior Colleges (MJC).
Those selected for Reserve Forces Duty (RFD) may be commissioned prior to completing
the degree as long as they have completed all ROTC course requirements.
SMP ENROLLMENT PREREQUISITES:
To join or remain in the Army National Guard and contract in the ROTC Advanced Course,
the individual must become a Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) Cadet.
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
a. Academic: At least 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
b. Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen to commission.
c. Medical: Meet standards of Chapter II commissioning physical.
d. Age: Applicants must be under 27 years of age on day of commissioning. Up to
three years may be added on a one-for-one basis for previous active duty service.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Candidates must apply through the Professor of Military Science (PMS) at a Senior
Army ROTC program. SMP application is initiated by the PMS and completed by the
National Guard unit commander.If cadets intend to remain in the Reserve Components
upon commissioning, they must sign a Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) contract
and obtain a GRFD control number. Prior to commissioning, cadet may seek approval
to revoke the GRFD option and seek Active Duty. However, if a cadet contracts without
a GRFD control number, there is no guarantee the individual will be able to remain
in the Reserve Components after commissioning.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
SMP billets are authorized up to 4% of combined officer/enlisted unit strength (this
is normally averaged out over the state as a whole). However, SMPs assigned to a
unit may not exceed 3 per supervising officer. If the ARNG unit mobilizes, uncontracted
members who are in the ROTC Basic Course (MSI/MSII) will mobilize with the unit.
Since they are not contracted, these cadets are not SMP. SMP cadets will NOT mobilize
with their unit, but will be transferred to a non-mobilizing unit. Upon unit mobilization,
the Secretary of the Army will determine if ROTC cadets (to include SMP) will be
commissioned immediately or will continue in pre-commissioning training. If commissioned,
the lieutenants who were previously SMP cadets may be directed to mobilize with
their units.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND MONTGOMERY G.I. BILL:
Numerous sources of financial assistance are available for those attending ROTC.
Check with the State Education Services Officer (ESO), ARNG recruiters and/or the
ROTC PMS for more information.
Financial assistance applicable to ROTC includes, but is not limited to:
a. Army ROTC 2-year Reserve Forces Duty Scholarships.
b. Army ROTC 2-year Dedicated Army National Guard Scholarships (same benefits as
above, but participants must serve 8-year military service obligation in the ARNG).
c. Montgomery G.I. Bill and Kicker payments (up to 36 months).
d. Federal Tuition Assistance. e State-specific scholarships, loans and tuition
assistance of up to 100% tuition and fees.
NGB and States require the cadet to sign a GRFD contract before receiving financial
assistance.
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