SMP and enlistment

[NMMICadet]

Im currently in my freshman year of college and ROTC and plan on commisioning in the active Army upon graduation. However i've been thinking about joining the Guard while in college, I know that when you reach your junior year you can participate in the SMP program, but if I enlisted now and did all of my training for my MOS would I still have to do SMP or could I just stay in my unit? What is the best option should I enlist or should I just wait another year and join SMP without going to BCT or AIT?

[FlashWolf75]

Join the guard with college first program. The guard recruiter told me i can join now then go SMP, im unsure if you can stay in your own unit though, the more experienced guys will know more ofcourse!

[matthew.ritchie]

Either way can work, depending on what you're trying to accomplish. Joining early and completing BCT/AIT will maximize your training, but will take more time from your life to complete training.

If you plan on serving in the active component after commissioning, be very careful about what financial incentives you take, so you don't accidentally obligate yourself to the Guard long-term. Your drill pay and federal tuition assistance carry no additional obligation for enlisted Soldiers, but anything else will -- a Guard ROTC scholarship, state tuition assistance, Montgomery GI Bill, MGIB Kicker, bonus.

[NMMICadet]

Well I plan on enlisting as a 91W, I know AIT for that MOS is 16 weeks, lets say I took a semester off to complete all of my training, and then enter my sophmore year as a 91W, when I enter my junior year will I have to give up being a medic so that I can be an officer trainee in the SMP program? Because I don't want to miss a semester of school and spend 16 weeks in AIT just to give it all up once I reach my junior year. I also want to know if there is any split option possible for 91W? and judging from what your saying im guessing it would be harder to get commisoned in the active Army if im already a part of the Guard right?

[matthew.ritchie]

Well I plan on enlisting as a 91W, I know AIT for that MOS is 16 weeks, lets say I took a semester off to complete all of my training, and then enter my sophmore year as a 91W, when I enter my junior year will I have to give up being a medic so that I can be an officer trainee in the SMP program? Because I don't want to miss a semester of school and spend 16 weeks in AIT just to give it all up once I reach my junior year. I also want to know if there is any split option possible for 91W? and judging from what your saying im guessing it would be harder to get commisoned in the active Army if im already a part of the Guard right?

If you serve as an SMP, you will not serve as a medic. The duties of an SMP are different than that of a medic. Even if you did enlist for a split-option, once you contract ROTC you become an SMP whether you have any prior training or not, and any future enlisted training is canceled.

It's not harder to get into the active Army as an SMP. If anything, your training can make you more competitive among your peers. If your goal is to serve in the active component, then you should not take any financial incentives that carry a Guard-specific service obligation. The Guard has incentives to get you to stay in service longer. If that's not what you want to do, then don't take the money -- it's really very simple. You are under no obligation to accept an incentive just because you are eligible.