I want to join ROTC and am not sure if I should join SMP. What are some reasons to join/not join SMP?

2018-02-09T15:03:02-05:00

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2018 5:04 PM

2018-02-09T17:04:49-05:00

SMP. TONS of benefits. Message me and I will help break it down

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2018 5:05 PM

2018-02-09T17:05:46-05:00

I would recommend it. You get experience while you are in the reserve/guard while making a little extra money. Also, the time I spent at the various ROTC leadership camps and labs went toward my MUTA requirements. For example, I did not have to participate in the unit AT because I was going to be at LDAC for ROTC.

You should not do SMP if the commute is extreme, if the unit will not allow you to participate in ROTC training that conflicts with their schedule, or if the ROTC PMS and/or unit commander will not work with you.

Response by CPT Andrew Wright made Feb 9 at 2018 6:29 PM

2018-02-09T18:29:09-05:00

Plus: Military training you won't get on a college campus. Extra pay and tuition waivers possible.
Minus: Your SMP contract might force you into the USAR or National Guard for a few years after commissioning. If you want to go Active Duty after graduation SMP might be a roadblock. Also, you would most likely have to attend Annual Training with a unit over Summer and not get Airborne or Air Assault slots that ROTC hands out to its cadets.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2018 11:15 AM

2018-02-10T11:15:07-05:00

Great question Lilly Chan. With SMP, you participate in both the Guard and your college's ROTC program at the same time. During this two to four year course, you'll be paired with and mentored by a unit officer. In some instances you will be the acting platoon leader of a real platoon gaining unparalleled experience over your peers. More information on this program can be found at:
https://www.nationalguard.com/simultaneous-membership-program
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpAUYNdZlVs

You would also benefit in pay. If you are SMP you get your ROTC stipend (350-500), drill pay at E-5 rate (350-500), and your GI bill (approximately +/- $380). That's over $1K a month to participate in ROTC and go to class. To put icing on the cake, your time in service will get you paid at a higher rate. Base pay for a 2LT with zero time in service is ($3,107.70/mo). Base pay for 2LT with over 2 years is ($3,234.90), +3 ($3910.20). You'll be making about $10k more a year than your non prior service counterparts upon coming on active duty.

There is a misconception that if you are a scholarship recipient that you are guaranteed active duty, or if you participate in SMP, you cannot go AD. This is NOT true, and the only time you cannot switch from guard to AD is if you signed a Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) contract for a bonus.. The order of merit list which determines your component and branch is based off of GPA, leadership potential, APFT score, and voluntary contributions to the organization via extracurricular activities, not scholarship status. I was SMP and graduated at the top of my class and went on Active Duty immediately along with my choice of branch and post. More than half of the scholarship recipients didn't even make AD.

If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me or your projected university's ROTC Recruiting Operations Officer (ROO).

Simultaneous Membership Program | National Guard

Simultaneous Membership Program smp you participate in both the Guard and your college&#039;s ROTC program at the same time two-year course GRFD scholarship cash bonus monthly allowance Montgomery GI Bill and Guard Kicker commission as a second lieutenant

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2018 4:08 PM

2018-02-10T16:08:17-05:00

Lilly,

Great question. A lot of my peers joined SMP because they were waiting on their ROTC contract and needed tuition assistance. The NG helped them with tuition assistance, and it also gave them a leg up on other cadets because of all the extra training they got. The downfall is that sometimes you are only offered Dedicated guard or reserve contracts. If your end goal is to go active duty, I would really look into how going SMP would effect that.