National Guard SMP

[Airbourne Infantry]

I was talking to some Army National Guard Recruiters yesterday and they told me about the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP). My Drill Team Commander did this as well as the college first enlistment option and the split-op training program. Bascily, what he did was the summer after his High School Junior year (last summer) he went to Army Basic Training. He came back this year to finish his senior year and after he graduates he goes onto AIT. After AIT he will get assigned to the local Guard Armory and will go the local university here. Through the college first program he is undeployable for two years while he hoes through college. He's also doing ROTC so for the first two years he'll be undeployable through the college first option, and then the second two years he'll be contracted as a POC Cadet and not deployable until he graduates commissions. He's getting Guardsman pay, got a $20,000 enlistment bonus, and has the G.I. Bill to take advantage of. I think this is a great option and is something I might want to consider. What do you think?

[Drill for life]

Sounds like he had a plan. Our S-5 is doing that right now, she hasn't been through basic yet. Our BNCO and XO cam back last year as PFC's in the Army, they left and our XO went to Infantry AIT and our BNCO went to West Point.

[PhilK]

Just a point of clarification.

There are two programs being discussed here:

1.) Split-Op Training - Go to Basic between your Junior and Senior year and then to your AIT after your Senior year.

2.) Simultanious Membership Program - Available to contracted ROTC Cadets who are not on a ROTC scholarship.

They are independent of each other.

[cscsmp]

I am currently doing the SMP program with the National Guard but have not been to basic. It is an option on the table if you want but is not required for SMP. Getting the GI bill also affects the scholarships you can receive, if any, from ROTC. Some other things to think about. I highly recommend the SMP program, whether you attend BCT/AIT or not. Can't beat getting direct military leadership experience in an actual unit. Getting paid E-5 isn't bad either.

[Airbourne Infantry]

Originally Posted by cscsmp

I am currently doing the SMP program with the National Guard but have not been to basic. It is an option on the table if you want but is not required for SMP. Getting the GI bill also affects the scholarships you can receive, if any, from ROTC. Some other things to think about. I highly recommend the SMP program, whether you attend BCT/AIT or not. Can't beat getting direct military leadership experience in an actual unit. Getting paid E-5 isn't bad either.

True, but isn't SMP an ROTC program? Either way, I'm going to go AROTC I'm just not sure what I'm going to do before that. If you're already in the Guard can you still do the SMP while you're in ROTC?

[PhilK]

Originally Posted by Airbourne Infantry

If you're already in the Guard can you still do the SMP while you're in ROTC?

Only if you are a contracted, non-ROTC Scholarship Cadet.