Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)

 

Students who contract as a Simultaneous Membership Program Cadet simultaneously enroll in ROTC and belong to an Army Reserve or National Guard unit. A student can become an SMP Cadet in their sophomore year and become non-deployable while in college. You'll serve as an officer trainee in a Guard or Reserve unit and perform duties commensurate with the grade of second lieutenant. SMP Cadets, scholarship and non-scholarship, receive:

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• Experience working with an officer during drill, learning the job of an officer.

• Drill pay as a Sergeant (E-5): $348.04/mo (for calendar year 2022)

• ROTC stipend of $420 per month while in school

 

Other benefits that SMP students may qualify for:

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• Federal Tuition Assistance: $250 per credit (for 12 – 18 credits; up to $4500 per year)

• Reserve GI Bill: $288/mo (must have completed Basic and AIT)

• Reserve GI Bill Kicker: $350/mo (must receive Reserve GI Bill benefits and be in a select specialty or unit)

• Educational Assistance Program: $4,097.00 per semester (PA Army National Guard only 2019-2020)

 

Non-scholarship SMP Cadets can apply for an active-duty, Army National Guard, or Army Reserve commission. Some benefits may be recouped if the Cadet chooses and is selected to serve on active duty upon commissioning.

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Helpful link: https://nationalguard.com/simultaneous-membership-program

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Guaranteed Reserve Force Duty Scholarship

 

The Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) program is designed for Cadets who are interested in obtaining a commission in the U.S. Army Reserves or National Guard with a guarantee for a reserve component assignment. Scholarships cover full tuition and mandatory fees, and range in length up to 3 years. Scholarship awardees also receive a book allowance and a monthly stipend. These Cadets also receive weekend drill and annual training pay as participants in the Simultaneous Membership Program.

 

Basic Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen

• Must not reach 31 years of age by December 31st of the year you will graduate from college

• Have a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale

• Score a minimum of 920 on the SAT and 19 on the ACT.

• Have no or only minor infractions of the law

• Have no moral or personal conviction against bearing arms to include armed combat or supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States

• Must complete the ROTC Basic Course requirements or Basic Combat Training

• Must be willing to participate in the SMP program with a Guard or Reserve unit. If you do not belong to a unit, you must obtain a letter of acceptance to the unit, stating that they will accept you as a SMP Cadet

• Must be medically qualified

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Helpful link: https://nationalguard.com/tools/guard-scholarships