What is my best route is to go Green to Gold while currently active duty?

2021-11-20T22:06:18-05:00

So, I am currently active duty my ETS is Oct 2023. I would like to do the green to gold program. Does anyone know what my best route is to take to do it? I really hate to get out to do it. So, wasn't sure. Would it even be worth reclassing before I do it? Just trying to see what my options are. I currently live on base so would I move off post to do it? I have dependents.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2021 10:17 PM

2021-11-20T22:17:53-05:00

Green To Gold, if memory serves, is for current members "getting out" to go to college and commission thru ROTC. They're still on the Army books, but their place of duty is college. If you ETS then go thru college/ROTC, then that wouldn't be Green to Gold. Find your Career Counselor and have a chat with them about this

Response by LTC John Mohor made Nov 20 at 2021 11:41 PM

2021-11-20T23:41:24-05:00

If possible I’d still recommend taking some college under your enlisted benefits as having some hours toward college certainly can’t hurt. I’m also partial in recommending the University of North Georgia enrolling in the Corps of Cadets on the Dahlonega, GA campus. It certainly would help set you up for success as a future Commissioned Officer! Best of luck PV2 Cheyenne Patterson

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2021 12:52 AM

2021-11-21T00:52:28-05:00

https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/current-and-prior-service/advance-your-career/green-to-gold/green-to-gold-active-duty.html

Green to Gold Active Duty

When you enroll in Army ROTC, you'll get more than college degree and scholarships. Gain leadership skills you can apply to your career and as an Officer.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2021 3:51 AM

2021-11-21T03:51:42-05:00

The Active Duty Option requires that you have at least two years of college complete. It's also very competitive, they only have about 200 openings per year, so you'll really need to stand out against your peers

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2021 1:58 PM

2021-11-21T13:58:48-05:00

For the Active Duty option, you have to have either an Associate’s or 60 hours towards your Bachelor’s, because it’s only a 2 year program. You would receive your Active Duty pay and benefits to finish your Bachelor’s, so you’d be getting BAH. Reclassing isn’t necessary, since your Enlisted MOS has no bearing on the branch you’ll get when you commission (although I think you should shoot for Engineer!). I’m not entirely sure how to apply. A recruiter would be able to point you in the right direction.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2021 2:33 PM

2021-11-21T14:33:25-05:00

I'll mention, a potential reviewer of your Green to Gold packet will probably consider the place you are PV2 to the place you want to be 2LT and have a hard time justifying approving such a packet.

Your focus between now and packet submission should be getting to SPC, and knocking out as much General Education courses toward a degree.

I'll just say that anyone getting OUT of the Army via ETS and full term of service as anything less than E4/SPC is going to set off red flags, let alone someone putting in a packet in hopes of being selected to become an officer.

Chances are you are going to be up against NCO's putting in Green to Gold packets as well. So if you are only a SPC, that's fine, but it will be looked at if you had TIG enough to make NCO or not, and if you didn't have TIG enough as SPC then fine, but if you submit a packet and you're not a SPC by then reviewers are going to wonder why.

*************
Example:
I had a future soldier attend drill one weekend, and in civilians he crushed the 2 mile run and beat everyone into the ground with his time, and he hadn't even attended BCT yet. He left me wondering why he was with us. Next he disappeared to BCT, and by time I saw him again after TRADOC he was now a sponsored ROTC cadet in college. Then I thought, Oh yea that makes sense. Otherwise I was going to press him to aspire to be something better than a PVT 92A.

You want your packet to give that impression.

Response by LtCol William Bentley made Jan 20 at 2022 2:10 AM

2022-01-20T02:10:46-05:00

Don't overlook possible reserve options, if you do choose to ETS next October.

1. Standard drilling reserve member, going to weekend drills, 2 weeks per year (PLUS whatever additional schooling, drills, active duty you can beg, borrow, scrounge from your unit, or to support other units that DO have additional funding available if you are willing to do the work during the summer, breaks between classes, or additional drills on days you don't have class, etc.).
2. Full Time Support member, either Army National Guard or Army Reserve (or possibly interservice transfer to Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve if they have more units near where you will want to go to live/go to school) AGR or FTNG programs. You never know if you are eligible to fill a requirement they may have if you don't ask. I served my last 15 years on active duty as a member of the USMCR Active Reserve program (the USMC version of AGR). AGR/FTNG means staying on active duty, and you'll have to do classes on your off time, but you will be much less likely to deploy, PCS less, and be more likely to have time to take college classes in your spare hours.
3. Even in the IRR, if you don't choose to join a Selected Reserve unit (either federal or National Guard units), you can ask for paid active duty from HRC, or the nearest AR or NG units, if they have projects you could do (especially if you have special skills they could use, or are willing to go to schools for them to use your new skills...). Again, you'll never know until you ask around.
4. Combine Army ROTC with a reserve unit (either AR or NG) at certain locations as part of the Simultaneous Membership Program. It's very complicated, but ask about it, as you won't know if it meets your needs until you understand it well enough to form an informed decision.

Participating in the reserves provides continued pay longevity, opportunity for promotions (and thus more pay), additional retirement credit, possibility of reclass, new MOS, new skills training, etc., access to medical and dental coverage, and other reserve benefits. Many States offer NG members either free or subsidized college costs, and/or tuition assistance, and I believe the Army Reserve offers tuition assistance as well.

Know your benefits to make informed decisions.

Best of luck, WKB