Posted on Mar 26, 2021

If the National Guard pays for college, will I be able to do ROTC and commission Active Duty?

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Currently, I am a Junior in High School and I enlisted in the Pennsylvania National Guard in January. I am in the Split-Option Program, so this summer, I will be going to Basic Training and then next summer I will go to AIT.

I enlisted because I wanted to gain experience as an enlisted soldier before I became an officer, which has been something I always wanted to do. However, If the National Guard pays for my college tuition, would I still be able to do ROTC and then commission as an Active Duty officer when I graduate? Or will I have to continue within the National Guard as an Officer?

I've heard that there are many variables but I wanted to know how it would work for my case specifically.

I really want to go Active Duty as an officer, so this question has been on my mind for a while now. Thank you.

Posted in these groups: Thcapm08l9

ROTC Pennsylvania ARNG Dd20f3b1

ROTC Instructor

Posted >1 y ago

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Responses: 12

SGT (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

Just to clarify, no one in ROTC is guaranteed Active duty. You compete against other cadets, with the highest performing cadets offered Active duty. But as long as you don't accept a scholarship that forces you to go NG/ Reserves, you can compete for a spot just like all the other cadets.

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MAJ Ronnie Reams

>1 y

ROTC grads go where Army needs them. If a lot of LTs get put out of action, then more go on to AD, if not, more go to reserve components. Always remember ROTC is a RESERVE OFFICER Training Course, not a REGULAR OFFICER Training Course, therefore the bulk of grads will get a commission as a Reserve Officer in the Army of the United States. A lot of the traditional perks of having a USA Commission vice an AUS Commission are gone.

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SGT (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

I just contracted in ROTC and I'm also in the NG and the SMP program. As long as you don't take a scholarship that requires you to go NG/Reserves, then you can go Active. I'm using the NG state education benefits to pay my tuition, so I didn't need a scholarship. But they still asked me if I was interested in the Minuteman scholarship, If I took it it would have forced me to go NG when I commission. My brother is doing the same as me at another school, and in a different state's NG.

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SPC (Join to see)

>1 y

Thank you so much! That's the exact answer I was looking for, I wasn't sure if they would pay for my tuition and then require me to serve as an officer within the Guard.

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