How difficult is it to get SMP my sophomore year, and what impact does it have on my ability to compete in ROTC and for commissioning?

I'm looking at your question and asking why. Why spend time in a Reserve Component unit while you're in college? I understand if it's about money. You will have to balance many requirements as a college student, ROTC Cadet, and Reserve or Guard enlisted person. I expect you can complete your ROTC program with few problems. ROTC normally has academic classes in the fall and spring semesters and a requirement to attend "summer camp" at some point. It sounds great if your Reserve Component unit will allow you flexibility in attending basic and AIT. Remember that they will issue you orders for this training and they may or may not be as flexible as you might expect. Filling training quotas is important to the unit. As you indicated, you might be the one having to be flexible, like skipping a semester of college to attend your AIT. (Some schools give college credit for some AIT courses. Check with the school after you complete the training.) If you complete an ROTC program, you normally will commission after graduation. The ROTC office will have information about various scholarship and non-scholarship programs and the types of commissions you might receive (reserve or regular). You will have to be honorably discharged from the Reserve Component in order to accept a commission. This should be a formality, but still has to happen (you can't be a Spec4 and an LT at the same time).

If you're a law abiding US Citizen, security investigations are no big deal. For a Secret or TS, you'll have to fill out lots of forms, usually on-line, covering your life for the last 10 years or more. You'll need to enter data on everyplace you lived and every organization you ever worked for. Detailed information on you, your spouse(s), kids, and your parents and in-laws will be required. Overseas travel outside of Government employment (includes military) will be looked at. Associations with foreign nationals will get a close look also. Fill in the forms completely and carefully and keep a copy. At some point an investigator will interview you. Review the forms you completed before the interview so you don't accidently contradict the information on the forms; however, if you discover a mistake, admit it and point it out to the interviewer. Some stuff that is adverse information can slow down and possibly prohibit getting a clearance. Most of it's obvious: bankruptcy, illicit drug use, association with foreign nationals of enemy nations or groups, violation of security laws or rules, felony conviction, DUI, etc. The actual security clearance in granted by a real senior management person, usually a general officer or civilian equivalent. The investigators make recommendations to that person. The senior managers most often go along with the recommendation, but can make exceptions.

Obviously you have to be reserve or national guard. You understand that. Depending on your MOS will decide what clearance you get.

If you enlist before attending college, you’re already qualified to enter SMP if you do ROTC.

What school(s) are you looking at?

Drill is only once a month. AT once you contract, I believe can be waived or RST completed if you go to a summer camp with ROTC depending on your commander.

As for what they look for in a clearance they ask about your history and character. To people you lost as references. Plus your family.

I’m currently an SMP Cadet, with 4 years prior service. Drilling doesn’t impact ROTC that much, but AT will really screw with your school. That is, if you don’t want to contract. The minute you contract it’s school first, army second. That means you’ll be excused from any army activities that are scheduled during classes or other ROTC events. If you’re not contracted, don’t count on your school or unit being able to pull you off a deployment roster, I was pulled out of school for 1.5 years for a deployment after I’d already enrolled. The only upside is your university should work with you on delayed enrollment and stuff. Hope this helps! Feel free to reach out to me if you’ve got questions.

When I didn’t qualify for a medical waiver for an rotc schholarship my sophomore year, I enlisted, went to basic and AIT, came back and signed my SMP. I had to do 402, then my 300s, then 401 and graduated in DEC. I’d say going to basic and AIT actually helped me.
21 years tomorrow.

The SMP program is not at all hard to get as a soldier once you contract, however, since you will be non-scholarship you would have to wait until they decided contract you. Depending on how big your select schools ROTC program is this may be a little difficult to contract because you'll have to compete for that contracting slot, I speak from experience before I made the switch to AD. You will not have to attend OCS after you've completed ROTC, but you will have to complete BOLC. Drill and Annual Training will not take away your ability to compete in ROTC, if anything it will give you an edge on other Cadets. As far as clearances go as long as you haven't committed any serious crimes or owe the bank a stupid amounts of money you should be fine.

Since you would have completed BCT and AIT, the Professor of Military Science can waive up to the first 2 years of Military Science classes. In most cases, you would not be able to sign an ROTC contract until your sophomore year anyway. So by policy and procedure, it would be an easy thing to do. However, I am always hesitant to put someone into the program who never took ROTC and just walked in trying to do that. I would encourage you to meet the Recruiting Operations Officer (ROO), my counterpart to see how the program works. Ultimately, the PMS has the decision so you would have to get approval from him/her. Also with SMP, your unit commander has to agree to bring you in as a cadet. So if you are a sub-standard Soldier, than it probably would not happen. You do have have to meet the academic, physical, medical and legal/moral requirements as well. You would not do OCS since ROTC is a commissioning program. You would receive your commission as an officer on the day you graduate. In terms of drilling and AT, you would be expected to attend all of your scheduled drills as you have to maintain satisfactory participation in the program. However, once you sign the ROTC contract, ROTC training takes priority. So if there is a conflict between AT and ROTC Advanced Camp, you would go to Advanced Camp. If there was a conflict between a drill and an ROTC FTX, you would do to the FTX. However, for most of our cadets that are in the NG or AR, their unit will count the FTX as drill time and pay them for that. For the clearance, they will check your background to make sure there is nothing derogatory. This includes any legal problems, foreign connections, financial issues. For most teenagers, if you have not been in trouble with the law, there should not be anything to worry about. You would need a secret clearance to commission anyway. Let me know if you have other questions.

I recently commissioned in 2017 and I was a SMP cadet. I was enlisted before I did ROTC and did a very similar route of what you’re thinking of doing. To answer your questions:

1. It should not be difficult to contract SMP in your ROTC. Some programs may not contract until the beginning of your junior year, but I’ve known cadets to get contracted (being paid) their sophomore year. The best way to get contracted, in my opinion? Don’t chase after the contract and actually care (fully invest yourself) in the program and it’s goals. The Army, and by association your cadre, want dedicated people and not people who say and do what they think they should IOT get what they want.

2. If you decided to commission through ROTC, you will commission just like every other ROTC cadet ever has. SMP only means you are a cadet and a NG soldier at the same time. You will have more responsibilities then other cadets who are not SMP because you will have your NG monthly drills and yearly AT. Since you’ll be dual-rolled does not mean you’ll have the opportunity to shirk in one or the other though. Both must be a priority and that’s where backwards planning will be your best friend.

3. Most of the time, for me, I found my NG drill dates and ROTC events were during the same times. Both command groups were probably using the same planning criteria and this is most likely why they seem to always line up. ROTC was my priority over guard (mostly because I had the option to make up drills with the NG) so I always attended ROTC events and made plans with my NG unit to make up the drills I missed. Again, backwards planning.

4. Everything.

PVT (Join to see) This has likely been superceded but it will give you an idea of the relationship between ROTC and RC units with SMP. https://www.utrgv.edu/rotc/_files/documents/cc-reg-145-11-smp.pdf

I would highly recommend joining the guard/reserves so long as you find a unit that is welcoming of cadets. For the past two years I’ve been a commissioned officer in the national guard as well as a student finishing my degree and it has been very challenging. However I encourage you to challenge yourself and add more tools to your toolbox, you’ll be a better officer for it. Take advantage of all the training the army will give you. That being said here are my answers to your questions:

1. This depends on your unit, state, and recruiter. Some ROTC units have SMP recruiters in or near the ROTC office.

2. Don’t worry about this, you’ll be okay. This is a very common path. Just be aware of what component you want to go into. Some SMP contracts may have you commission into the guard reserves.

3. December and April or May drills may break your semester. It is critically important for you to be very proactive with your classes so you don’t have to worry about one December drill taking away all of your study time. When you go to advanced camp, it can stand in place of AT.

The SMP program is a great way to experience a unit while being paid to complete your degree.
My advise would be to attend as many Battle Assemblies as you can. The more you integrate into your unit, the more responsibilities and experience you'll get.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Military_Academy_Preparatory_School

You might want to think about this quite seriously....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_Institute_of_Technology

All warrants and commissioned in all svcs, as well as, I'd seen, senior enlisted (I'd seen a YouTube video about an Army senior NCO who'd done it, as well as one for a senior USAF NCO) can apply to this, though you typically need to do at least a couple of tours to have a realistic chance, I'd found...I was never able to get it, largely through my own mistakes, poor planning, and sheer ineptitude, which was why I was also trying to educate you that such things exist, as I'd said....

https://www.usphs.gov/student/srcostep.aspx

And the USPHS Sr COSTEP program....

https://www.usphs.gov/student/jrcostep.aspx

This is the USPHS Jr COSTEP program....

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/united-states-marine-corps-platoon-leaders-course-3332801

As I'd mentioned, most generally don't know about this, as with USPHS COSTEP, as opposed to the ROTCs....

https://www.usphs.gov/student/

If you have any clinical inclinations at all, I merely mention this so you'd be aware of it, as I'd said....

https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/current-and-prior-service/advance-your-career/warrant-officer/flight-warrant-officers.html

This only needs high school to apply, though I've read that Army WOCS can be a pretty rough program, there are numerous YouTube videos on it, as well, I'd seen....

http://www.citadel.edu

This and VMI are the West Points of the South....

http://www.vmi.edu

This is where my best friend from USAF had gone for AFROTC, as I'd explained....

Everyone in my program that has wished to go SMP has gotten it without issue. The only thing it may interfere with is FTXs and other events you may have that are mandatory if you contract. I have also heard that the money you earn has not been worth it for the commitment. I would recommend looking into Minuteman and GRFD scholarships. Similar concept but with a full ride. Right now they don't seem to be very competitive.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Postgraduate_School

This one I did actually manage to get a recommend for from my unit commander, however, once again, I couldn't get it...this one, I really did want to go to, honest, I did genuinely try for it, I assure you, which is why I tell you that, in a svc, quite often, even the best thought out plans often aren't able to be realized, I'm afraid....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Maritime_colleges_in_the_United_States

Pay especial attention to this one....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_military_schools_and_academies

And this, esp the mention of civilian students being allowed to go through military programs without having to join first, I'm merely explaining such things exist, as I'd said, I realize you might not want such an option, of course, as I'd explained....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_junior_college

Look through this....

http://www.crows.org

This is another, also well worth the time to look over....

http://www.afcea.org

This is one of the main professional technical groups for military electronics....

http://www.mors.org

If you have STEM interests, this is a little known group in a little known area, ops research, that you might well also find of interest....

http://www.afa.org

This is the USAF professional association, also very well worth your time to peruse, I assure you....

http://www.usni.org

The proceedings published by them should be reqd reading for all those thinking of going into a svc, or actually in one, they're that good, trust me....

http://www.ausa.org

If you want Army, and haven't looked at this, trust me, you'll want to look this over, maybe subscribe to their magazine...

I was on a tablet before, which, while useful, isn't always the easiest means of explaining oneself...Im on a PC for the moment, which, if nothing else, lets me fix mistakes easier...see, here's the thing...I see a good many career/educ topics on here, in which I obviously have an interest...that being said, quite frequently, those at your age like yourself seeking to do what you're seeking to do often only look at a single svc, not at all svcs, or all options in all svcs...I'm not saying that's a bad thing, of course, and, obviously, if your mind is made up, then, clearly, so be it...I can only explain all that happened to me, in the hope my at least relating what mistakes I made (and God knows, I made more than my share) might possibly do you some good in terms of avoiding the same...the single biggest mistake I made was to go in impulsively, without taking adequate time to research everything properly, or to have, at minimum, gone to grad school first...now, I'd certainly gather that your GPA must be quite high, by all means, as your description was quite lucid as well as detailed...however, at the same time, as I'd explained before, when others like yourself send in questions of that sort, they frequently do so without giving adequate background info as to interests, motivations, hobbies, reading, sports incl. martial arts if any as I'd also mentioned before...e.g., you mentioned nothing about what MOS types you might want, or range thereof...similarly, you said nothing about whether you'd looked into various AFSCs on the USAF side, or any naval or USCG fields that might interest you, as well...next, it'd help to know if you'd worked at all while in high school, and, if so, doing what, and at what level...further, what clubs you'd been in while in high school, as well as if you got any AP credits, and, if so, in what topics...next, do you have any interest in STEM topics, as I'd mentioned before, and, if so, which ones? Have you applied to and/or been accepted at an colleges thus far? Not which ones specifically, of course, however, it'd help to know their comparative level, and, if possible, for what specific major or majors...further, would you have any interest in a military college at all, of the type I'd mentioned? Would you care to try for any of the academy prep schools I'd explained about before? What type of civic stuff did you do while in high school? Were you involved in Civil Air Patrol (CAP) at all? Navy Sea Cadets? Scouting of any type, and, if so, what level did you reach in any of those? I've generally found on here that, the more you relate in a really detailed, thoroughly thought out bioscketch, the more all of us on here can suggest for you as various possibilities, that's all I'm saying...believe me, I recall virtually every mistake I made with virtually every recruiter I'd spoken with, and those were my mistakes, made out of haste, and/or ignorance, combined, which was why I'd thought to relate all I did, to try to help you forestall any such errors, as well as to consider other possibilities that might not have occurred to you, or that you might not have known about...there are certain fundamentally life-changing, life-altering events, going into a svc being pretty much at the top of the list, I assure you, which is why, at least to me, it is absolutely imperative that one take the adequate time needed to explore what exists, and sift through all the various possibilities, so as to minimize the possibility of error...also, when one goes into a svc, very frequently, despite all the best planning one can possibly do, things don't always wind up quite as one would expect...life and existence rather often take on a life all their own, and one is quite frequently constrained by circumstances and/or events beyond one's control...having bosses, also, whether active duty (AD), or civil svc, which I had both of while in, in abundance, and how to be under a boss, takes a good deal of time, as well as exposure, to realize that, in a svc, whatever unit you'd be assigned to, and wherever you'd ultimately wind up, your sole function is to assist them...your personal ambitions are you own, not theirs, or those of your unit, and while you're clearly entitled to having your own personal ambitions, by all means, those can never, ever conflict with your fundamental unit obligations, period, cut and dry, that is it, a fact I all too frequently needed my head quite literally slammed into pavement to get through my skull, more often than I generally care to recall...that was why I'd suggested the SDFs, if one exists in your state, as they let you explore svc life and reality in a way often not considered by those seeking to go in, though, of course, that's something only you and your family can decide, obviously...believe me, I've had friends and family who were enlisted as well as commisisoned in multiple svcs, my Dad was Navy enlisted, my next younger brother was USNR-MMR as I'd explained, my uncle was Army during WW2 and a radio operator for Gen Eisenhower (who did actually recall him later on once, an interesting side story), one of my Mom's first cousins had been Army armor in Germany during the Cold War, my Mom's Dad was USMC for awhile, though he was sent home, as he hadn't adjusted well during WW2 (he never spoke of it later on, for obvious reasons I only learned much later, of course), my wife's Dad was Army in WW2, he got a Bronze Star with Valor, my wife's stepdad had been Navy surface combat in WW2 and Korea in the Pacific, while her brother had been USAF enlisted in SAC as a KC-135 mechanic also doing midair refueling, I explain all that merely to illustrate that, while I haven't obviously seen everything, I've seen and heard a good deal, as well as been through a good deal myself, which was why I figured relating all that might be of at least some use to you in your reflections, if nothing else...there were some other things I might send, that also occurred to me might interest you, as well, should you care to chat at all, anytime, by all means...and, as I said, I didn't relate all that to dissuade you, I merely was trying to educate you, even if I didn't necessarily focus explicitly on SMP, per se, which, of course, I realize was the main object of your question to begin with...sometimes, though I've been told on here quite often I can be more than somewhat longwinded, rambling free association discourses of my type have often been found to, if nothing else, get the mental gears turning, to at least consider various previously unconsidered possibilities, as I'd explained before, I hope at least some of that was of interest, and would be eager for your thoughts and/or reactions, whenever convenient, no rush, of course, many thanks....

One of the things that I don't see mentioned so far is that is you Enlist and attend AIT and get your MOS, that will exempt you from the first two years of ROTC. If you go the route you are suggesting and you aren't on scholarship, join in Junior year as a SMP, attend the Advanced Camp between your Junior and Senior year and receive your Commission.
Cadets aren't deployable
No, OCS is a different path to a Commission if you are already a college graduate.
I think you will find that going SMP will give you real world experience in the military, along with Basic and AIT, that will give you an advantage over the non prior service Cadets.
Financially, you can get GI Benefits and get paid for Drills while you attend school. If you enlist in a Guard unit, many states offer tuition assistance to in state colleges.

http://www.ocsfoundation.org

Look at this as well, you might find it of interest....

I was Army ROTC, then USAF OTS instead, before SMP existed...obviously, to even remotely answer you properly, you'd need to say if you were actually accepted for SMP, and, if so, exactly how far you've gone with it...further, you need to explain exactly what your ambitions are, what major you'd want undergrad, what your GPA is, if you're able to go into it, obviously, your family would have to be a major part of he whole thing, certainly...when I went in, I hadn't been enlisted first, which, had I been, tat would've helped me adjust far faster, certainly...however, at the same time, while I gather you apparently want Army, it'd help to know of you'd considered ROTCs without SMP, or, possibly, doing undergrad first without committing, and then going into an OCS or direct commission indoc OIS program...finally, have you looked at any purely military colleges, e.g., VMI, where a good friend of mine went for AFROTC, Citadel, or any of the academies, my next younger brother went to USMMA Kings Point, I commissioned him for USNR Merchant Marine Reserve (USNR-MMR) when he finished, while I'd been in. I suggest the maritime colleges, if you haven't looked at them, depending on what state you're in, for numerous reasons most might be unaware of...as with VMI and the Citadel, you can go through their regimental training without having to commit first, so as to expose yourself to the life, with no commitment, most think all military schools one must be ROTC, or USMC platoon leaders course (PLC), which is less well known, and which is most definitely NOT the case, as I understand the matter...then, too, there are what are termed state defense forces (SDFs) in many states, not all, albeit many, look at http://www.sgaus.org, their main national organizational body, SDFs are the supplements in many states to Army and Air Natl Guard (ARNG and ANG), they're very real militaries, however, typically, they can't be deployed outside their own state, the god thing aside from that being, they let one see what the life is like, with real boot camps, enlisted training, OCS programs of their own, all without needing to worry about leaving one:s own state...had I known NY had the NY Guard (NUG), not the NY ARNG or NY ANG, I might well have tried that first, merely to get adequate exposure without committing to Federal first...also, if one, while in an SDF, opts to go Federal, an SDF typiappy releases them, NYG as I understand has a 3 yr contract, I'd wanted to go with them of late, however, I'm total perm disabled, so they can't allow it...though I did meet with them, as I'd been clinically trained, though we shut my doctoral level allied health license off sevl yrs ago...finally, you might well know nothing of the USPHS Commissioned Corps, look up their Jr and Sr COSTEP, 5he USPHS analogues to ROTCs or USMC PMC, there's also the NOAA Commissioned Corps, they have an OIS called BOTC, at USMMA Kings Point, I saw it and walked through the bldg when I'd seen my brother at USMMA, incl at the graduation...USPHS is perfect if you'd want clinical at all, NOAA is lure science, and has 5 yr flight program!, though NOAA Corps is quite small and very selective...USPHS, if you want to serve with a regular svc, and would want psych related clinical, RN, NP, PA, or social work, whether MSW or LCSW, has 3 yr stabilized tours with Army, Navy and USAF, USCG uses all USPHS for their own clinicians other than PA, USCG has their own of those, the main intersvc PA program is at Ft Sam Houston in TX, I think, trees also a recent intersvc program for those enlisted who want actual medicine, per we, that didn't existed when I'd gone in, I'd wanted to go to the mil med school, USUHS, not USPHS, that's the svc I'd mentioned, USUHS is an actual school at Bethesda Naval Med. Ctr, however, as I'd said, you hadn't said what major or majors you'd been looking at...there's also Army WOCS for rotary wing, which only needs high school to compete...please understand, I'm not telling you all that to dissuade you from SMP, my sole object is to try to educate you about options you might well not know about, as few generally do, there are also the academy prep schools for West Point, Annapolis, and USAFA, one enlisted airman where I was got into USAFA without prep school directly from my installation, so I do know it can be done...if you'd care to chat further, and elaborate, explain about hobbies, STEM interests, reading, sports, esp martial arts, if any, also, how athletic you are, also, whether you're able to run 2 miles in fatigues and combat boots now, which Army typically expects, minimum, USAF OTS expected a mile and a half in short and sneakers, when I was there...I also was at West Point a good deal with my Army ROTC unit, as well...ROTC unit commanders can apparently nominate for the academy of their svc...USCG has its own scholarship programs, though UzsCGA in New London has an entrance exam as opposed to being admitted by nomination, most also generally frequently don't know that, open that was all of some use, if I think of other material hat might be useful, I'll try to send it also, as well, of course....