College First and OCS/fast track or ROTC

[inquisitive]

I'm going in on the college first program then considering OCS. I'm retaking the ASVAB tomorrow. I'm not too worried about the score, I took it 5 years ago in High school and got a 97, So I should be good there. But I do have a few questions.
If I do the 2 years of college option ( I already have 1 done, so I'd be applying with 3 total) Would that give me a good position to apply for OCS or the fast track? I'm not holding my breath on the fast track option, I know that at least in Oregon preference is given to people 35+.
Also, after the 2 years of school since I'm already enlisted would I be eligible to then enroll in ROTC? or is OCS the only real option? I've heard of dual enlistment for ROTC But I'm not sure if that applies to my situation.
Any help/info would be greatly appreciated.

[Specialist Purdue]

I would suggest that you go to OCS. If you already have 90 credit hours not to bother with ROTC. Also I suggest staying in the enlisted ranks awhile so that you learn from your NCO's and know what they have to deal with and do on a regular basis it will make you a more effective leader.

[matthew.ritchie]

I recommend ROTC. Speak to your college's ROTC program and apply for a three year Dedicated ARNG scholarship. You might not get selected for accelerated OCS, and if you still need three years of college anyway, you probably don't have enough credits to apply for OCS (need 60 to apply, need 90 for accelerated).

[inquisitive]

I recommend ROTC. Speak to your college's ROTC program and apply for a three year Dedicated ARNG scholarship. You might not get selected for accelerated OCS, and if you still need three years of college anyway, you probably don't have enough credits to apply for OCS (need 60 to apply, need 90 for accelerated).
But is the ROTC still available to me If I enlist into the guard beforehand?



EDIT-
Nevermind this question- I just found the answer to my question while digging around in the "ask a recruiter" section. ROTC is available to enlisted guard members.
But I would like to hear more opinions/ideas from those of you with any insight or experience with the programs.

[matthew.ritchie]

Doing ROTC and the Guard at the same time is the sweetest deal the Army has, in terms of what you get for the time you put in. For best results, enlist and complete BCT and AIT prior to joining ROTC, and apply for an ARNG ROTC scholarship (2, 2.5, or 3 year awards). Use ARNG tuition assistance to pay tuition, and the scholarship to pay room & board on campus.

[49thadband]

Just curious, if a person is in both the ARNG and ROTC but is not an SMP, is that person deployable or does the ROTC prevent the person from being deployed?

Also, is there any difference between being in both ARNG and ROTC and being an SMP or not being in SMP? I would think that the SMP might not have to attend AT due to being ROTC. Also, does the ARNG member who is in ROTC still have to attend the advanced course?

[matthew.ritchie]

Just curious, if a person is in both the ARNG and ROTC but is not an SMP, is that person deployable or does the ROTC prevent the person from being deployed?

Also, is there any difference between being in both ARNG and ROTC and being an SMP or not being in SMP? I would think that the SMP might not have to attend AT due to being ROTC. Also, does the ARNG member who is in ROTC still have to attend the advanced course?

By Army policy, ARNG Soldiers who are in ROTC in good standing are not deployable. That means that you have been participating fully, and don't join the day after you get mobilization orders. Also, it means that they must contract as soon as they reasonably can.

SMP cadets have the same drill and AT requirements as any other Soldier. If drill dates conflict with an ROTC mandatory training event (not a party or a fundraiser, but a training event), then ROTC training takes priority (NGR 600-100). SMP cadets do not attend Basic or AIT.

[Tibbs10120101]

So if you are an SMP cadet, do you get the same benefits- MGIB, loan repayment, kicker, plus the ROTC monthly stipend, even though I haven't been to BCT or AIT. I did go to the Basic ROTC course (LTC, Fort Knox) this summer. Please let me know sir, that would be much appreciated.

[matthew.ritchie]

So if you are an SMP cadet, do you get the same benefits- MGIB, loan repayment, kicker, plus the ROTC monthly stipend, even though I haven't been to BCT or AIT. I did go to the Basic ROTC course (LTC, Fort Knox) this summer. Please let me know sir, that would be much appreciated.

You'll get the benefits you have earned. If you haven't completed BCT and AIT, then you can't draw GI Bill (ergo, you can't get the Kicker either, since you need to draw the GI Bill to get the Kicker).

You can draw (in your circumstance):

Federal Tuition Assistance (up to $4500/FY)
Drill pay as an E5 (about $200/mo)
ROTC Stipend ($350/mo for MSIII, or $400/mo for MSIV)
Your state may have additional benefits. Virginia has State Tuition Assistance, which pays beyond what the Federal pays.


Student Loan Repayment (SLRP) is an enlisted incentive, and requires an enlistment contract and IADT completion. Therefore, you won't get that, either.

[matthew.ritchie]

Just curious, if a person is in both the ARNG and ROTC but is not an SMP, is that person deployable or does the ROTC prevent the person from being deployed?

Also, is there any difference between being in both ARNG and ROTC and being an SMP or not being in SMP? I would think that the SMP might not have to attend AT due to being ROTC. Also, does the ARNG member who is in ROTC still have to attend the advanced course?

If you are eligible for contracting and have not contracted, then you are deployable.

SMP cadets have the same requirements as every other Soldier. They must attend AT as well, unless they have LDAC (the summer training period between junior and senior years) or some other ROTC training during the same period (if the dates don't overlap, then you go to both).

SMP cadets have the same ROTC requirements as other cadets, as well. They must attend LDAC as well.

[Polo08816]

By Army policy, ARNG Soldiers who are in ROTC in good standing are not deployable. That means that you have been participating fully, and don't join the day after you get mobilization orders. Also, it means that they must contract as soon as they reasonably can.

SMP cadets have the same drill and AT requirements as any other Soldier. If drill dates conflict with an ROTC mandatory training event (not a party or a fundraiser, but a training event), then ROTC training takes priority (NGR 600-100). SMP cadets do not attend Basic or AIT.

They don't?

[matthew.ritchie]

They don't?

BCT and/or AIT is not a requirement for SMP status. Many of our SMP cadets have completed this training (because it is advantageous in many ways, including financially), but it is not required as such in order to become an SMP.