How long did it take to get your SMP Cadet contract?

Cadet CPL Lamin Conteh — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 17:46:28 -0400

I recently got back from BCT and AIT. I went to my school's ROTC office, then got everything up to my NGB form 594-1 signed and sent out to the National liaison with my school. After that I have not heard anything for the past 3 weeks.

Response by COL Dana Hampton made Aug 2 at 2019 6:07 PM

COL Dana Hampton — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 18:07:24 -0400

Have you interviewed with a NG unit and commander that will accept you as an SMP Cadet? If so, do you have a letter of acceptance? If not, that might be a hold up. In any case, I would speak with the ROTC cadre, the NG Recruiter who prepared your contract, and your NG units full time staff / Readiness NCO. They at least should be able to get you a status.

As I recall my SMP time, it was all in my enlistment contract with the Guard and was fairly seamless.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 2 at 2019 7:29 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 19:29:18 -0400

Purely out of curiosity, as I'd seen you're a dental tech, I gather, are you doing a bio and/or clinical major? Or trying for something else? Another STEM field? Non-STEM? I just have an interest in career/educ topics, I'd just wondered...I did 3 yrs Army ROTC before going USAF OTS instead, I'd wanted to be on the clinical side, it never happened, basically because I totally bollixed the whole thing up...I'd gotten as far as doctoral allied health, and had wanted to go USPHS, as I'd trained under an O-6 with them as an extern, it just never happened either, I'm total perm disabled...I'd just been curious, as I'd said...did you have a specific branch you'd wanted, per se? Flight interests? No rush, whenever you'd want, I just like gabbing about such things, suggesting various possibilities that might not otherwise occur to those sending in such threads as yours, that's all I'm saying, I'd be most eager to hear more, if you'd be at all interested in chatting, whenever convenient...grades, GPAs, assocs, major for that before bach major, grad school interests, that sort of thing...it's just an interest of mine, as I'd said...I'd wanted to teach and do clinical research, I'm trying to find ways to volunteer to do that still, that's the only reason why when I see such threads as yours, I just try to ask about such things, honest....

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2019 7:43 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 19:43:26 -0400

I say do a follow up with your HRA at your ROTC program and also your unit. Sometimes they may not communicate the best. I’m a SMP cadet myself, and I always had to follow up and go in office. For me to contract, it took almost 3 months. Make sure you turn in all the required forms to contract, pass the PT test and demonstrate good leadership.

Once you contract your enlisted status changes to “cadet” you’ll be a 09R. You will get E-5 pay for drill. The army had to back pay me many many months because my OSM (officer strength manager) didn’t update me in the system as a 09R, so although I was “contracted” I was going to drill still getting E3 pay. So make sure you have everything squared away and have a good POC.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2019 10:11 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 22:11:16 -0400

First, stand outside the LTC's office and recite the cadet Creed as loud as you can until he or she is impressed. With their blessing, you then have to approach the 1SG of the unit you're looking to get into and offer three shards of your soul and possibly your firstborn child.

Right after that, during the next night of a full moon, you have to wait outside the S1s office with four and a half beers and a caramel macchiato from Starbucks with TWO SHOTS of espresso. If it's not exactly two, they won't even bother with you. Sit and wait, do not fall asleep and do not let the beer get warm.

Then, when S1 arrives, ask really nicely for them to look at your paperwork and you're golden.

That's how I did it. Only took two days...

Response by COL Jeff Williams made Aug 3 at 2019 2:22 AM

COL Jeff Williams — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 02:22:59 -0400

The squeaky chain gets the oil. check back as often as possible and make sure you have done everything you are supposed to do

Response by CPT Brad Wilson made Aug 3 at 2019 3:04 PM

CPT Brad Wilson — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 15:04:23 -0400

As I recall it was only a week or two for me but keep contacting the Readiness NCO they make personnel thing happen the fastest

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Aug 3 at 2019 3:54 PM

MAJ Matthew Arnold — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 15:54:14 -0400

A long time ago, I was probably one of the first SMP cadets in Utah. I was already hanging around with the 19th SF guys when I heard about this thing called SMP. I asked if I could do that and the next thing I knew I was in the SMP. I think it may have taken 2 drill periods, but that was a long time ago and I don't really remember the details.

Response by 1LT Kevin Chapman made Aug 3 at 2019 10:16 PM

1LT Kevin Chapman — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 22:16:00 -0400

It literally took me a little over a month to contract.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Aug 4 at 2019 11:15 AM

COL Jon Thompson — Sun, 04 Aug 2019 11:15:12 -0400

You cannot sign an ROTC contract until the start of the semester. So that may be the reason for a delay. Also, depending on the ROTC brigade contracting SOP and kind of contract, the program may not be able to approve it at that Level. Whoever does recruiting for the program would be able to tell you the status and they should be on campus and not summer camp. I recommend calling the program and talk to that person to find out what’s going on.

Response by COL Mike Walton made Aug 8 at 2019 11:36 AM

COL Mike Walton — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 11:36:08 -0400

It's the middle of summer...people go on leave, have summer TDY...give it another week or so. You'll get back pay for the time so don't sweat it. It took almost two months before my contract was approved all the way around and I got back paid to the date that I signed the contract. Hope this helps out!