Posted on May 16, 2018
Does an ROTC cadet applying for SMP have to go through basic training?
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I'm currently a junior in High School, soon to be a senior. I plan to enroll in ROTC whilst in college and commission into the Army. I was talking to a recruiter and he brought up SMP, and the idea of getting payed while in college. Now, as one naturally should do, I question everything a recruiter says and do further research on it before I put my name anywhere. I came across a section that says SMP applicants must attend basic training, does this extend to ROTC cadets as well? I'm not afraid of BT, but I would like to know for sure at least so that I can be mentally and physically prepared.
EDIT (Answered): After digging a little deeper and talking to my SAI (a retired O-4) and an O-2 below, I have learned that attending BT isn't required if you've already contracted, but it can be beneficial to the monthly pay you will receive. So basically, I'll just have to assess if I'll need the extra cash or not. I also learned that applicants with a scholarship aren't allowed in the SMP program, I'll have to look more into why that is, but I'm guessing it's just a liability issue.
EDIT (Answered): After digging a little deeper and talking to my SAI (a retired O-4) and an O-2 below, I have learned that attending BT isn't required if you've already contracted, but it can be beneficial to the monthly pay you will receive. So basically, I'll just have to assess if I'll need the extra cash or not. I also learned that applicants with a scholarship aren't allowed in the SMP program, I'll have to look more into why that is, but I'm guessing it's just a liability issue.
Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)
ROTC
Basic Training
Recruiter
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 11
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If you are already contracted in the ROTC program and decide to go SMP after you’ve signed your ROTC contract, no you will not have to attend basic training / AIT. If you enlist in the guard / reserves prior to be offered and signing a contract in ROTC then yes, you will have to attend.
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MAJ (Join to see)
The school I want to attend is MIT, with Boston University as a second option. BU is the more likely choice as well. And yeah, I try my best to be logical and keep things organized. Not sure if you’re familiar with JROTC ethics or not but green aka planner is my winning color. I think that’s what makes me a good XO (in my cadet battalion). I prefer to find solutions to problems before the problem exists.
The school I want to attend is MIT, with Boston University as a second option. BU is the more likely choice as well. And yeah, I try my best to be logical and keep things organized. Not sure if you’re familiar with JROTC ethics or not but green aka planner is my winning color. I think that’s what makes me a good XO (in my cadet battalion). I prefer to find solutions to problems before the problem exists.
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MAJ (Join to see)
Wow BU is crazy expensive. If you plan on completing an active duty career I suggest you find a cheaper alternative, in the reserves your civilian job is the driver, but that is a lot in student loans even with an ROTC scholarship, there are plenty of other good universities at a fraction of that cost to include out of state tuition if you are not stuck on Boston schools. Anyway good luck in your choices.
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MAJ (Join to see) - Thanks for the tip, I need about 10 colleges to present to my guidance counselor, so I have been searching. I'm prioritizing schools with good tech centers, or tech schools all together, considering I'm going into Military Intelligence, but I may switch from that half way through my military career, I haven't chosen yet.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
(Join to see) - You will have more experience than any of your peers since you will have been to Basic Training and MOS training, plus if you go into ROTC as Junior, two years of experience in your Military Occupation Specialty and with the Army. If you enlisted before College and then go ROTC and SMP, you get credit for all your Time In Service, so you would commission at an O1 over four year in service, which right now is about an extra 400 a month. Maj. Glover went into more detail about all the programs available.
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No it is not required but nearly all of the participants do. One thing to consider is how attending basic training will affect your entire career. First off is the experience itself, I highly recommend going through basic you will be a much better officer just by having the enlisted ground experience, especially as it won't significantly detract from your overall timeline. But the real selling point is regarding time in service. If you ship to boot camp that is the start date of your BASD or the date that is used to calculate time in service which determines you pay. If you go ROTC first then SMP you be a 2LT getting 0 years in service pay, if you go to Basic you'll have at least 4 years in service.
That is $800 dollars a month every month. Lets say you stay in and make 04 rather than a Major with 10 years in service at $7052.70 you'll be making $7647.60 or $600 dollars a month. That is for every month every rank you are ever on active duty. If you serve a full career it's over $150,000 dollars. And increases your retirement check.
I would strongly recommend the split entry option, you go to basic this summer, and complete AIT next summer, then you join your reserve unit, contract with ROTC and get bumped up to E5 grade during your SMP time. You can then choose to commission Active, guard or reserves. Also basic really isn't hard at all and the pay is nice especially as you can't really spend it (well you can but don't do it).
Good luck and thank you for your future service.
https://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/payentitlements/military-pay-charts.html
No it is not required but nearly all of the participants do. One thing to consider is how attending basic training will affect your entire career. First off is the experience itself, I highly recommend going through basic you will be a much better officer just by having the enlisted ground experience, especially as it won't significantly detract from your overall timeline. But the real selling point is regarding time in service. If you ship to boot camp that is the start date of your BASD or the date that is used to calculate time in service which determines you pay. If you go ROTC first then SMP you be a 2LT getting 0 years in service pay, if you go to Basic you'll have at least 4 years in service.
That is $800 dollars a month every month. Lets say you stay in and make 04 rather than a Major with 10 years in service at $7052.70 you'll be making $7647.60 or $600 dollars a month. That is for every month every rank you are ever on active duty. If you serve a full career it's over $150,000 dollars. And increases your retirement check.
I would strongly recommend the split entry option, you go to basic this summer, and complete AIT next summer, then you join your reserve unit, contract with ROTC and get bumped up to E5 grade during your SMP time. You can then choose to commission Active, guard or reserves. Also basic really isn't hard at all and the pay is nice especially as you can't really spend it (well you can but don't do it).
Good luck and thank you for your future service.
https://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/payentitlements/military-pay-charts.html
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Thanks for that brief explanation. The only thing that may deter me from joining SMP at this point is the fact that they don't accept cadets with a scholarship. I really want to do the program and I also think going to basic is a good idea, for all the reasons you've listed. Whether or not I am gonna be able to join SMP and go to basic, I've already made plans to upgrade my workout schedule to accommodate for the extra strain I'll have on my body. I've always believed physical strength is just as important as mental strength, so I've tried my best to maintain both.
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MAJ (Join to see)
Good philosophy, Basic will help with that and pay you to do it. What school do you plan on attending what is their annual tuition rate, and what is the possibility of a scholarship and how does that differentiate from the benefits offered through the GI Bill, Bill Kicker, Reserve Drill Pay, and Tuition Reimbursement. You'll probably find you're better off without the scholarship. State/school dependent. The only real difference for me was the book stipend.
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Go through basic, it will be something you can look back at fondly down the road. It will also help give you an insight into your Joe's mindset.
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I used to be under the impression that everyone in the military had to go through basic training anyways, officer or not (this was back when I was an 8-9th grader, so I was kinda lost), and that didn't make me change my mind about joining, so I think I've always been kinda mentally prepared for BT. I plan to go ahead and do BT for the experience and extra funds during college, but that's only if I do get into SMP.
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