Does an ROTC cadet applying for SMP have to go through basic training?

2018-05-16T12:16:57-04:00

I'm currently a junior in High School, soon to be a senior. I plan to enroll in ROTC whilst in college and commission into the Army. I was talking to a recruiter and he brought up SMP, and the idea of getting payed while in college. Now, as one naturally should do, I question everything a recruiter says and do further research on it before I put my name anywhere. I came across a section that says SMP applicants must attend basic training, does this extend to ROTC cadets as well? I'm not afraid of BT, but I would like to know for sure at least so that I can be mentally and physically prepared.

EDIT (Answered): After digging a little deeper and talking to my SAI (a retired O-4) and an O-2 below, I have learned that attending BT isn't required if you've already contracted, but it can be beneficial to the monthly pay you will receive. So basically, I'll just have to assess if I'll need the extra cash or not. I also learned that applicants with a scholarship aren't allowed in the SMP program, I'll have to look more into why that is, but I'm guessing it's just a liability issue.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made May 16 at 2018 12:23 PM

2018-05-16T12:23:43-04:00

Samael, you sound really wise and mature to me. I don't know the answer to your question: but, I send my fervent prayers to you for you to succeed.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made May 16 at 2018 12:35 PM

2018-05-16T12:35:48-04:00

If you are already contracted in the ROTC program and decide to go SMP after you’ve signed your ROTC contract, no you will not have to attend basic training / AIT. If you enlist in the guard / reserves prior to be offered and signing a contract in ROTC then yes, you will have to attend.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made May 16 at 2018 12:37 PM

2018-05-16T12:37:49-04:00

Simultaneous Membership Program - In the SMP, a cadet will participate in monthly unit training with your USAR or ARNG one weekend a month and get paid to drill once a month with your Guard unit. You do have to attend Army Basic Combat Training and join the National Guard or Reserves.
Found on the following web page:
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/simultaneous-membership-program-rotc-4139867

SMP - Army ROTC and Reserve Commissioning Program

Simultaneous Membership Program allows for members of the National Guard and Reserves to become ROTC members in college and receive GI Bill benefits.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 16 at 2018 12:58 PM

2018-05-16T12:58:59-04:00

OK, SMP I jadmt heard of, however, I can envision what it infers, at least...I was Army ROTC, then went USAF OTS. There's a fundamental limit to what I can suggest to you, as I'm total perm disabled, however, I'm not telling you to not do it, and your care is as also noted elsewhere here, very sensible. However, try to understand: The greatest problem in doing what you want is lack of info, and not knowing what to ask, or of whom, or taking adequate time to try to find out. Further, this isn't just your thing, your family is inextricably involved, so just accept that, get used to the idea, and tell them everything, before you do anything, OK? Now, having said tat, you need to elaborate, really elaborate, you need to give king re info so I and others here can suggest things to you properly, OK? It's gonna take time, it's gonna take patience, it's gonna take nauseating detail, however, this is a life changing thing you're contemplating, the greatest life changing thing...I did it twice, I bollixed a lot of it up preciswlt because I acted impulsively, didn't know what I was doing, didn't know what to ask, and didn't take the time to try to find out properly, OK? Now, you can't just look at Army, I know you want it, o get that, you need to look at all svcs, all, NP exceptions, and you need to do really serious reading, of things I can suggest. Do a really serious, detailed, thorough bio sketch, interests hobbies, reading, sports, grades, GPA, AP coursework, if any, what manor you'd want, what ambitions, objectives, motivations...if Army, which branch? Engineering? Signal? Armor? Infrantry? Also, would you want anything clinical? If nonclinical, then what specific fields or fields? Why? Law? Medicine? STEM topic? Have you already applied? Have you actually been accepted? Take the time to really do it right, send it in with as much concrete detail as you can, the more you give, the more can be suggested, OK? Have you looked at other svcs? USMC platoon leaders course (PLC), which is less well known? USCG scholarship program, which does exist, have you looked at it at all? Would you want to wait, do your bachelors, maybe grad school, and then try for an OCS or OIS (indoc) instead of committing now? Have you looked at Navy? The !maritime colleges? VMI? The Citadel? The academies? The academynprep schools, whicvb do exist bu t are separate? Do you want pure science, in which case the NOAA Commissioned Copra might be good? If you want clinical, look at the USPHS COSTEP, the USPHS analogue to ROTC there's a Jr and a Sr level. Also, you can do ROTC as grad student, I don't know to what extent, however, I've read that, I know it might be feasible. You need to understand a reality, OK? There are many, many ways to do this, you get maybe one or two chances to really get it right so it's extremely important that you try to get it right the first time, OK? Would you want flight at all? Would you want the Army high school to flight program for warrant officers, going to WOCS straight out of high school, though I've heard it's a really rough program? Were you JROTC at all? Were you Civil Air Patrol (CAP) at all? Do you have family qhoare in, or who were who can help you, so far as tour care to explain? Those are some of the things you really need to go into here, for all of us to try to help you, OK? I'm not trying to overwhelm you, I'm trying to educate you...everyone thinks its gottanne commission, it doesn't, for many senior enlisted is a good carwwrz for others here arrant is good, also, of you go commissioned, the days of a bachelor's being adequate are long gone, trust me, regardless of field, been there, done that (BTDT), if you're warrant or commissioned either, you're expected from day one to get tour !asters, minimum, and also domtour proefsnl mil ed (PME) coursework, all svcs are REAL serious about that, so, if you go in, I guarantee you, you're gonna be expected to do masters minimum, trust !e, doctoral, that's up to you, !asters isn't, you want to stay in, that's an absolute requisite, trust !e, BTDT, PME also...if you want minimum distraction in your day to day svc work, you'd be well off having a !asters minimum before you'd go in, I'm not saying it's a must, I'm saying you'd be well off staff with one fewer distraction...also, you need to understand something else as well, OK? Wherever you wind up, whichever svc, whichever branch, whatever unit, tour function is to help them, not plan where you'd want it be instead, that never works, ever, trust me...you are where you wind up, and that's where you're expected to perform, you're a public servant, no different than an elected official, held to an even higher standard, OK? So, indulge me, and send in that detailed bio sketch, you want help, ask, however, the more you send in, as I'd said, the more can be suggested...if you have questions, ask, OK? And tell your family everything, trust !e, this involves them, too, OK?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 16 at 2018 1:48 PM

2018-05-16T13:48:27-04:00

No it is not required but nearly all of the participants do. One thing to consider is how attending basic training will affect your entire career. First off is the experience itself, I highly recommend going through basic you will be a much better officer just by having the enlisted ground experience, especially as it won't significantly detract from your overall timeline. But the real selling point is regarding time in service. If you ship to boot camp that is the start date of your BASD or the date that is used to calculate time in service which determines you pay. If you go ROTC first then SMP you be a 2LT getting 0 years in service pay, if you go to Basic you'll have at least 4 years in service.
That is $800 dollars a month every month. Lets say you stay in and make 04 rather than a Major with 10 years in service at $7052.70 you'll be making $7647.60 or $600 dollars a month. That is for every month every rank you are ever on active duty. If you serve a full career it's over $150,000 dollars. And increases your retirement check.
I would strongly recommend the split entry option, you go to basic this summer, and complete AIT next summer, then you join your reserve unit, contract with ROTC and get bumped up to E5 grade during your SMP time. You can then choose to commission Active, guard or reserves. Also basic really isn't hard at all and the pay is nice especially as you can't really spend it (well you can but don't do it).

Good luck and thank you for your future service.

https://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/payentitlements/military-pay-charts.html

military-pay-charts.html

Response by SGT Tony Clifford made May 16 at 2018 1:51 PM

2018-05-16T13:51:37-04:00

Go through basic, it will be something you can look back at fondly down the road. It will also help give you an insight into your Joe's mindset.

Response by Cadet PVT Private RallyPoint Member made May 16 at 2018 3:10 PM

2018-05-16T15:10:37-04:00

I know that there is a special contract for Guard and Reserve soldiers who are in college that allows them to keep from getting deployed or go to basic and AIT while attending college. This may only apply to ROTC cadets but I believe it is also aviable to non ROTC soldiers. Another thing to consider is if you do go guard or reserve and get a scholarship through them and not ROTC you will not have choice to go active. So if I received a guard scholarship and contracted with ROTC I will still commission but I will have to go to the guard. However, you should double check with a ROTC recruiter.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2018 7:15 PM

2018-05-20T19:15:23-04:00

If you are an SMP Cadet, you are not required to go to basic training, because in order for you to be in the SMP program, you have to be prior enlisted. Which means you have already completed basic training prior to contracting with ROTC.
The good thing about the SMP program is that each year you are in the program goes towards your retirement.

As a former SMP Cadet, I did not have to go to basic training again. However, if you want, you can attend something similar to it, called "Basic camp", at Ft. Knox, KY.
Basic camp is a 30-day watered down version of basic training intended for new Cadets with no prior military experience. Once Cadets pass Basic camp, they will return to Ft. Knox the following year to complete the next phase of training, called "Advanced camp".
Now, Advanced camp is a requirement for ALL Cadets, so you will have to attend this in order to commission. During Advanced camp you will be evaluated on the following criteria;
*AFPT (within the first week)
*Land Navigation
*Basic Rifle Marksmanship
*Leadership roles during missions
*Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TC3)
*12 mile ruck march

My advice for you would be to brush up on these before attending Advance camp!

Response by Megan D. made Jan 17 at 2019 12:54 PM

2019-01-17T12:54:27-05:00

Hi I know this is 8 months after you posted your question, but I was wondering what you decided on? I have a similar situation, did you go to Basic the summer after your Junior year? And what about your freshman year? I know you cannot do SMP until Sophomore year of college so are you still going to do ROTC? Sorry just trying to figure it out too.

Response by CPT Brad Wilson made Aug 3 at 2019 11:20 PM

2019-08-03T23:20:07-04:00

You don’t have to but it helps and if you are in an MOS with a bonus you will get half of it when you complete AIT (at least that’s how it used to be) and I believe you keep it when you contract with ROTC. Also I believe the GI Bill may start at the completion of AIT but double check on that. This all helps you pay for school

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2021 4:36 PM

2021-02-08T16:36:36-05:00

In short no. If you are Contacted in ROTC prior to enlisting, you will not be required to go to BCT. Furthermore, if you enlist and Contact prior to shipping, I have heard of Cadets that became exempt.

If you join as a 'lateral entry Cadet', you will be required to go to 'Basic Camp' to enter as an MSIII. Hopefully this is helpful!