What are an SMP cadet’s drill obligations?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 09:39:47 -0500

As a contracted SMP cadet, are you required to attend the AT portion of your drill schedule? I understand you go to drill once a month per usual, but what about the 2 weeks in the summer? How does this work if there is a conflict with Advanced camp?

Response by COL Dana Hampton made Feb 23 at 2019 9:45 AM

COL Dana Hampton — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 09:45:58 -0500

Simply to be at Drill and Annual Training. SMP Cadets are members of the National Guard.

If there is a conflict with drill and ROTC training, coordinate with unit leadership to split out the missed drills. Commanders will work with the ROTC training schedule as a rule.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2019 9:46 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 09:46:11 -0500

Advanced camp takes priority and can double as your AT time ... I would talk to your hra, ms instructor, and your unit about this

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Feb 23 at 2019 9:46 AM

LTC Eugene Chu — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 09:46:19 -0500

SMP normally have to attend annual training during summer. If there is a scheduling conflict, best course of action is to talk with school's ROTC cadre and unit chain-of-command. There may be a way to change Advanced Camp date if there is sufficient notice and these unusual circumstances...

Response by LTC John Griscom made Feb 23 at 2019 9:53 AM

LTC John Griscom — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 09:53:14 -0500

Work with your unit leadership to determine a course of action.

Response by SGT Rodrigo Contreras made Feb 23 at 2019 10:00 AM

SGT Rodrigo Contreras — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 10:00:34 -0500

SMP Cadets are still TPU soldiers. You drill one weekend a month and your AT in the summer. However you can submit DA 1380 and RST for points or pay... in other words ROTC Basic and Advance Camp can be counted as your AT instead. Also every FTX and Mini Camp can also be RST. Just need signature of approval from A/PMS or PMS. So if you can maximize your pay by doing Drill, AT, Camp and use your ROTC activities to pad your points totals to qualify for a “good year.” Don’t forget to draw Tuition Assistance too!!!

Response by 1LT Ryan Millican made Feb 23 at 2019 10:59 AM

1LT Ryan Millican — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 10:59:48 -0500

This all depends on the unit, as Advanced Camp and AT come from two different pots of money, State and Cadet Command. If your advanced camp does not fall within the same month as your AT or Drill, you could be expected to go. For a direct answer check with your Readiness NCO. You might be able to get credit for AT, but some states won’t allow it or they won’t pay you for AT, since you’re already getting paid for Advanced Camp by Cadet Command, remember when you go to AC you are entering Active Duty, btw you’re pay for the 28-29 days is less than that of an E1, and you don’t get Tricare since it’s less than a month. Remember a lot of times you cannot double dip, meaning you can’t do drill and then a ROTC FTX and have your unit pay you for both, this is what your stipend is for, you can probably do an FTX lieu of drill and still get your drill check.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Feb 23 at 2019 11:54 AM

COL Jon Thompson — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 11:54:31 -0500

Once you sign the ROTC contract, ROTC training takes priority over your unit training. This can include a drill weekend that coincides with your ROTC FTX. The program can make you do the FTX. In the summer, Advanced Camp would take priority over AT. However, they run 10 cycles of Advanced Camp every year and in my program, we have been able to schedule our cadet early or late so they can do AT. However, in the event of a conflict that cannot be resolved, you are going to Advanced Camp.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2019 5:22 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 17:22:01 -0500

Yes you can attend as long as it doesn't interfere with ROTC. I would recommend you attend AT so you can pay attention to what the Command Team is doing during MDMP. Compared to ROTC, you're working with an actual platoon. You may get a chance to work with your Battalion echelon.
Possibly, you can attend a sister units AT if it conflicts with Advance Camp. I recommend attending both and possibly another AT for experience, pay(not half bad), and networking. I had a chance to attend 2 ATs along with my advance camp which is a total of 2 months training with having a month or 2 left over for summer fun. Enjoy it because once you get bars on your shoulders it's the real deal.

Response by CPT Brad Wilson made Feb 24 at 2019 12:00 AM

CPT Brad Wilson — Sun, 24 Feb 2019 00:00:32 -0500

Advanced Camp takes priority but if you can do both then do it especially if you have chosen to stay in the reserve component and want to stay with that unit. I was able to do both and joined the unit I was an SMP with It was an artillery battalion and during that AT they put me in the FDC for part and with one of the battery XO’s so I got a very good preview of FAOBC

Response by 1LT Christopher Gonzales made Feb 25 at 2019 7:50 PM

1LT Christopher Gonzales — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 19:50:31 -0500

Question one: Yes
Question 2/3: Yes, but your Commander can approve LDAC as equivalent training to meet your drill requirement.

Overall, it is worth the time. Depending on your command, you may be put into an Officer role where you can learn some of what a PL does.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2019 11:21 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 11:21:32 -0500

The answer depends on if you are USAR or NG. Cadet Command Reg 145-11 details the SMP program. (Paragraph 11-4 in the copy I’m looking at currently). Common among them is Advanced Camp (LDAC now I gather, but I’m old!) trumps annual training.

If you haven’t been told yet, you will spend a lot of time as an officer reading and referencing regulations, doctrine, etc. Start with CCR 145-11 and go from there.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2019 9:02 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 21:02:35 -0500

What about a month long CSTX? Cam cadets be put on orders in the summer?