Split Option BCT AIT

[Rfreemanva]

Hey just trying to get a little more information on split option BCT/AIT. I'm a high school junior and I know I'd go this summer for BCT then next summer AIT before college,

• What type of pay would I be getting (My eagle scout and 3 years JROTC get me E-3)?
• Would I still attend monthly drill?
• If my hopeful MOS is MP's would I be assigned to a MP unit rather than the engineers in my county?
• Would i have to wait until after AIT to work on promotion to E-4?

Any answers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance- R. Freeman

[iambrian90]

1. should get E-3 if that is what everything says. I am not sure, I got my E3 from college credit, but I know guys who had at least E-2 from being Eagle Scouts/jrotc
2. yes, RSP, which is pre-ship drill. you would get put in the AIT group when you got back, and probably have a little bit more responsibility in leading the newer guys, as well as taking a full 2-2-2 pt test instead of the pre-ship 1-1-1.
3. You will get put wherever there is a slot in your MOS. that might mean that you will have to drive 4 hours after you get to your unit to get to drill. your RSP site should be somewhere close though, depending on the state, there tend to be a lot of those.
4. No, e-3 to 3-4 comes from 24 months time in service. so if you signed up may 1 2012, you will get orders put in (as long as you arent a screw up or a fat-body) for e4 come may 1-4 2014

[Rfreemanva]

That sounds great, thanks a lot for your help.

[Rfreemanva]

now i had a buddy go through basic last year (Ft. Jackson) with a cell phone pretty much the whole time but I see that its contraband on the packing list, whats the deal there?

[Hunter]

Those policies change all the time. It means your cell phone will be confiscated while you're there and returned when you're done.

[Rfreemanva]

Cool beans. Thanks for that.

[iambrian90]

chances are that you will get to make a few calls while you are there though, on a sunday for 10 minutes or so.. no guarantee, but i haven't heard of anyone going through, especially outside of benning, who didnt get at least one call while they were there.

[Rfreemanva]

Thanks for that.

[Rfreemanva]

Another question. I was looking through training dates and MP won't work for me. Other things such as cavalry scout require OSUT. Can I do split op and OSUT or is there no way to do that?

[iambrian90]

you can do split op for some OSUT, i am not sure about Cav Scouts though. I would imagine it is possible, as it is also at benning and they do a split op for infantry. talk to your recruiter about it, he would have concrete dates. I wish i knew someone who did a split 19d but the only ones i know of doing it were 88m, 11b, and MP

[Rfreemanva]

Thanks for that

[HR NCO]

You can do split op with any mos. if you want to ship this summer you need to talk to your recruiter quickly because slots are filling up fast for split ops right now.

[Rfreemanva]

Well thats my plan but how does osut work with split op?

[iambrian90]

they have units dedicated to the split ops. for instance, you will go to basic training at benning in... lets say Aco 1/50 and then come home after the 9 weeks. you will then go back the next year into either a company dedicated to split ops (depending on when you go, summer generally has these), which will start you around week 7 of basic and then go through to AIT, just to remind you that you are back in basic again.. or, if you go in an off-peak time, they will simply throw you in with in osut company that is in week 7 or 8, and you will go on their 36 hr pass, and then be with them through the AIT portion. I have friends that have done it both ways

[Rfreemanva]

Ok cause my recruiter said that cav scout might not work. I dont know for sure and wont until meps i figure. I just didnt know if they would split osut like that or not. It sure makes sense to.

[iambrian90]

you should be fine, but you are right, MEPS will know the answers for sure

[Solrider]

I agree with the NCO, get the ball rolling on your ASVAB and MEPS asap. When I enlisted in March they were having trouble getting a slot for me in SEPTEMBER because the summer was already full from all the high school kids. I'd say more than half the people in my RSP currently are either split-op high schoolers or seniors getting ready to ship this summer. Makes for fun times for us older folks!

[iambrian90]

I agree with the NCO, get the ball rolling on your ASVAB and MEPS asap. When I enlisted in March they were having trouble getting a slot for me in SEPTEMBER because the summer was already full from all the high school kids. I'd say more than half the people in my RSP currently are either split-op high schoolers or seniors getting ready to ship this summer. Makes for fun times for us older folks!

+1

most split op is 17 year old high school kids. your best bet on enlisting in the job you want is going in as soon after OCT 1 as possible, as it is the first day of the fiscal year. If you can't get a slot in what you want, but really dont want to do any other job, consider just holding off for a couple months.

[Rfreemanva]

+1

most split op is 17 year old high school kids. your best bet on enlisting in the job you want is going in as soon after OCT 1 as possible, as it is the first day of the fiscal year. If you can't get a slot in what you want, but really dont want to do any other job, consider just holding off for a couple months.

See i feel like if I don't go this year i'll just shoot for the rotc scholarship and go with a commision

[iambrian90]

it depends where you are planning on going to school.. For me, I go to a VERY conservative, military loving school. I tried to get into ROTC, but it has basically come down to needing a 3.8 and a 300 pt score to even get looked at.. when, at the school down the street, they are dying for people to join their program. Just make sure you are aware of what their program looks like before assuming you can jump right into it. Either way, if you are determined to get into the Army, and are willing to work hard, you will find something that will work out in the long run. Some people like being enlisted better than officer, and vice versa. also, you can go to OCS after you graduate if you just wait and go ahead with enlisting. I can't speak for all officers, as many of the ROTC ones are brilliant and many of the prior service are idiots, but in the minds of a lot of the joes, they like to see their leaders being in their shoes before they commission. It will also get your feet wet so you can make sure that is what you want. 6 years enlisted in the guard is much easier to do than an 8 year officer spot, as many officers do a lot of work for the guard on their own time. It is def. something you need to want.

But, by all means, keep talking to recruiters, try to get in this summer. All I am trying to say is dont give up hope if something doesnt work out perfectly the first time through

[Rfreemanva]

I understand. Thanks for the help