How will going into ROTC, after signing an SMP contract, impact my attending basic and reporting to my assigned unit?

2023-02-05T13:27:13-05:00

I am graduating HS with my AA, meaning I only have 2 years left of college. I am planning to do ARMY ROTC at my university and I learned about SMP there so I went to talk with a recruiter.

My recruiter said I do not have to complete Basic/AIT if I receive an ROTC scholarship or contract with ROTC, even if I sign an SMP contract first (09R MOS), then get my ROTC stuff done. The issue is that I have not received/signed a scholarship or contracted.

My ROTC contact is telling me if I sign a SMP contract before I receive a scholarship or contract with ROTC I will have to attend Basic. He did say it would be beneficial to attend basic and if I did that I would not have to do ROTC Basic Camp, which I will have to do since I do not have the first 2yrs of ROTC experience. He also stated he does not know how I will get paid in basic (since smp cadets get E5 pay?) or what rank I would wear in basic (since SMP cadets wear their Cadet Rank?)

My Main Questions are-
Is what I'm being told true? If not, what parts and what is correct?
Will I have to attend basic? If so will I be paid as an E5?
If I do not attend basic, when would I first report to my assigned unit (Would this be dependent on the SMP contract?) and how would uniforms/equipment work?
-My Recruiter and my ROTC contact do not have an answer to the last 2 yet and may not.

Thank you all!

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Feb 5 at 2023 2:25 PM

2023-02-05T14:25:05-05:00

What exactly are you asking? I can't tell from your narrative.

Response by COL Randall C. made Feb 5 at 2023 3:19 PM

2023-02-05T15:19:20-05:00

Private RallyPoint Member, the regulation that covers the SMP is AR 601-210, para 9-14. Cadet Command's regulation that 'sort of' pull all the applicable stuff into one spot is CC Reg 145-11 (all the Cadet Command forms/regs/etc. are at https://www.cadetcommand.army.mil/forms_pubs.aspx). The ARNG's reg is NGR 600-100 in which Chapter 13 addresses the SMP program.

Once you sign an SMP contract, you must enroll in ROTC (MS II, MS III or MS IV) within one year. If you are enrolled in ROTC, then BCT is not required (AR 601-210, para 9-14e(19)). What you will be required to do is attend ROTC Basic & LDAC (Leader Development and Assessment Course .. used to be called 'Advanced Camp'). In your case, you would enroll in the MS III class.

If you are a "Potential" participant in SMP (i.e., you signed the contract but didn't enroll in ROTC yet), then you're not a "cadet/officer-trainee" yet and get paid at your enlisted rank (likely E1/E2/E3 depending). Once you enroll in the ROTC advanced course, you will now become a cadet/officer-trainee and paid as an E5.

Remember - you sign an SMP contract with the component (USAR or ARNG) and 'complete the requirements' of it by enrolling in ROTC. Both sides have to complete the admin portion for you to become a 'SMP Cadet'.

Regarding your assigned unit - units are limited to the number of SMP cadets they can have. You'll work this out on the 'front side' when you are signing your SMP contract - you won't be able to do the contract with the reserve component side unless there is a unit that you will go to already identified.

For uniforms, SMP members are authorized a complete uniform issue by their RC unit. If you were in ROTC first and then later signed a SMP contract, then you would have gotten your issue through the ROTC detachment (CTA 50-900, 5a(5)(d))
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* AR 601-210 - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN6642-AR_601-210-001-WEB-1.pdf
* CCR 145-11 - https://www.utrgv.edu/rotc/_files/documents/cc-reg-145-11-smp.pdf
* NGR 600-100 - https://www.ngbpmc.ng.mil/Portals/27/Publications/NGR/NGR%20600-100_20221122.pdf?ver=dwcxyN-shPzZxt7P5N84PA%3D%3D
* CTA 50-900 - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/CTA%2050-900.pdf

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U.S. Army Cadet Command's public web site.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2023 3:27 PM

2023-02-05T15:27:54-05:00

First, I need to point out that Officer Candidates do not have rank. You are paid the equivalent of an E5. You are not an E5. There is a rank structure for cadets and candidates but there isn't a pay scale for them. I knew a Candidate that called hims a SGT and I honestly was shocked. I am glad he didn't finish his training and was separated from the Army. You need to talk to your School about this. You could do either. Going to basic would familiarize you with the Army but it necessarily wouldn't make you a better leader. I have heard of people doing what you are doing for their masters. They return to college for two years and they contract so they can commission. You can contract in your first year of college and skip basic. If you contract you will have to wait till your last few month of ROTC to get your branch assignment. Everything is dependant on that. The needs of the Army will change by the time you finish ROTC. In the last year of your ROTC time you will have to compete nationally with everyone else in ROTC for your branch. It is now talent based branching. That means if you want to be a pilot in the Army you will have some stiff competition. Most get their top three. You have to keep in mind, if the Army is struggling to maintain enough infantry officers in unit you and most of your buddies might find yourself at the Infantry BOLC at Fort Benning. Now when it comes to shipping to your Basic Officer Leaders Course there are a few factors. First, it is based on slots. If you commissioned into a branch that is back logged at their school you may wait 6 six months. Next, it also depends on your OML. If you branched infantry but you are at the end of your OML you will finish school with your commission and wait at home until the next spring till you start your BOLC. I was a commander at the Infantry School at Benning. It was very common to see classes full of ROTC in the fall and spring.

https://www.cadetcommand.army.mil/res/files/forms_policies/handbooks/Talent%20Based%20Branching%20Handbook.pdf

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Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Feb 6 at 2023 9:22 AM

2023-02-06T09:22:55-05:00

If you enlist in the Army Reserve or Army National Guard and complete Initial Entry Training and are awarded a Military Occupational Specialty, it exempts you from having to do the first two years of ROTC and attending their Basic Camp. You can then join ROTC as a SMP in your Junior Year, complete your Advance Camp and commission when you Graduate. What the SMP program does is let you drill at your unit as a Cadet at the Pay Grade of E-5 and you qualify for Reserve GI Bill when you enlist. So you pick up some real world experience, get paid for doing it, and still commission when you graduate.

You can not be SMP and be on ROTC Scholarship. Active Duty Slots are competitive and you need to be at the top of your class. If you aren't interested in Active Duty, you can contract for Guaranteed Reserve Force Duty and stay Army Reserve or National Guard.

A couple of other notes. Commissioning cancels your Enlistment Contract, although you still get credit for the time against your Mandatory Service Obligation. ROTC membership comes with a non-deployment clause.

If you decide to go that route, look at both Reserve AND National Guard. A lot of States offer additional educational benefits, like full tuition to in state schools. Also, a lot of Military Occupational Specialties offer enlistment Bonuses right now. Be aware that when you Commission, you loss the part of the bonus.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Feb 6 at 2023 9:38 AM

2023-02-06T09:38:08-05:00

If you are new in ROTC, you will not have any cadet rank, you will be a RAT, the lowest form of life. That how it used to be, not sure with all the not hurt folks feelings today, if that still true.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2023 8:24 PM

2023-02-06T20:24:10-05:00

https://www.usar.army.mil/ARCG/ARCG-Officer-Pre-Reqs/

ARCG Officer Pre-Reqs

Official site of the U.S. Army Reserve, the federal military reserve forces of the United States.