Teaching The Leaders Of Tomorrow

PHOTOS
(click to download photos - Power Point File)

Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)
Explanation

U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) and Army National Guard (ARNG)

{All non scholarship ROTC cadets can participate in this program once contracted-at the beginning of the sophomore year.  If someone wants to take advantage of the many benefits listed below, they can join the NG/Reserve before/during the fresh/soph school year-see MAJ E 1st}

• Gain leadership, experience, - SMPs are non deployable! SMP is better than ROTC scholarship if you are going active!!
• Basic Training and/or AIT isn’t required but many Cadets attend one or both schools before becoming an SMP.
• Monthly drill pay = Sergeant (E5) pay (roughly \$234 per weekend drill = $2,340 per yr). Experience is gained at drill!
• ROTC Stipend = $350 a mth during school for MS II’s, $450 as MS III, and $500 as MS IV
• $4,500 a yr Federal Tuition Assistance (TA) to help pay for college.  USAR pays upon contracting or after completion of basic training – ARNG pays the day you first sign up and qualifies you for In-State Tuition.  With both, you must submit your TA forms by the established deadlines in order to receive the TA for the next semester
• Virginia ARNG provides an additional $6,000 a year of State TA and must be repaid if you are assessed into active duty instead of staying in the ARNG.  Note: you do not have to repay any money if you gave the NG 2 years of service since the last date of State TA use = you can use during your MSI and II yr with no payback obligation if you are eventually selected for active duty. This is only for LDAC or basic training graduates
• Your time as an SMP counts towards active duty pay and NG/Reserve retirement – this is a huge benefit.  Example-if you serve three years as an SMP, your 2LT base pay is roughly $7,000 a year more than your counterparts and you will continue to make more than your counterparts every year thereafter-roughly $70,000 over a 20 yr career. 
• $10,000 bonus for Cadets after BOLC III if you choose GRFD (most branches/branches change yearly).  Guaranteed Reserve/NG Forces Duty (GRFD) is for those not wanting to go on active duty after college = 50% of our Cadets.
• 2 yr GRFD scholarships (USAR or ARNG) are limited/competitive.  Dedicated ARNG scholarships (plentiful) achieve the same goal/same amount of benefits and will also give you another advantage (see next bullet) and also have a 3 yr option.  Both give you $600 a semester for books (the NG also gives an additional book payment to its scholarship awardees through state TA-see next bullet).  You must be under 31 by date of commissioning for these scholarships unlike the ROTC scholarships = 26
• The Virginia NG now offers $350 per semester for books – must be taking state TA.  
• SSG Koptchak informed me in 2008 that there is a new $200 kicker for all who complete AIT – GRFD or not.
• The NG (this is not offered in the Reserves) now lets SMPs go to Air Assault school on their way to LDAC.
• 3-year and 2-year Dedicated National Guard scholarships can be applied toward room/board (on or off campus)- you pay for your housing and get reimbursed.  This is essentially equal to a full ride and more because tuition (unless at a high cost school) is paid by Ta!  You can receive up to $5,000 per semester (depends on your hours) for room and board plus tuition, books, 2 monthly pay checks,…,
• In the ARNG, you can lock in your branch (most branches) of choice during your MS III year
• Out-of-state students receive in-state tuition – In the ARNG this is received right after you swear in, in the USAR this is only received once you complete AIT
• ROTC (Cadets desiring active duty) scholarships can be exchanged for ROTC GRFD/Dedicated ARNG scholarships
• Lifetime GI Bill kicker (if you go to AIT you get $309 per month for GI BILL) = $350 kicker for GRFD Cadets – Form 4365 (can’t be getting any other kickers and must have 6 years left on enlistment or extend) (fax to 434-292-2701or Email) (Nationwide GI Bill and kicker questions - Doug Boyd 501-212-4933
• GRFD Cadets get guaranteed interview with their choice of Fortune 500 Companies with the new PAYS program
• ARNG provides $3,000/year free of state tax, and half-price car license plates – call Ms. Bishop at (434) 298-6156

• Other military benefits to include Space-A flights, travel discounts, dental insurance, and shopping
• The ARNG also provides a $2,500 incentive for every lead that eventually completes AIT (Active/Reserves pays 2k)

In May 2006, the NG announced that their new College First Program will allow you to attend paid Basic Training/AIT, obtain a bonus (must pay back if you contract with ROTC before serving 1 yr as enlistee after bonus is paid), pay for tuition (TA), receive the GI Bill and $350 a month NG kicker, monthly drill pay, and … while, ensuring you are non deployable as long as you contract with ROTC within 2 years-this is a great option for anyone who is looking for extra training and more money!!

• The NG offers all SMP Cadets the opportunity to attend Air Assault School on their way to LDAC!
• All GI Bills can be used with GRFD Scholarships – only the Active Duty GI Bill (Ch 30) with DedNG scholarships so, the limited GRFD scholarships (can be used toward room and board) are only good for 2 years and only more appealing to individuals who have the Reserve/NG GI Bill-1606/ 7(prior deployed). 

If a cadet doesn't complete ROTC, they must fulfill their obligation by continuing enlisted service with the NG/Reserve

Major Eberly, Old Dominion University Program Advisor:

Phone: 757-683-3671
Email: jeberly@odu.edu

NURSE

Promotes Army ROTC Nurses as a group. They have study groups, picnics, Tides game outings, a Relay for Life Team, mentorship, intramural sports, a trip to Walter Reed Medical Hospital, and more.

Please read more about the Nurse program here.
(Adobe PDF File)

CLUBS

• Black and Gold fraternity/sorority:
  Anyone in Army ROTC can join this fraternity/sorority. They do community service and several fun activities as a group (paintball, beach trips, etc.) throughout the year.
   
• Ranger Challenge Team:
  Each year in October we put together a team to go to Fort Pickett and compete against the other 18 schools in our brigade to see who has the most HOOAH Cadets. YOU BETTER BRING IT IF YOU”RE GONNA BE ON THIS TEAM!!!
  
  
• Color Guard Team-Scabbard and Blade Honors Club:
  Nationally recognized Honor Society. Only 10 official members are allowed. Requirements are: junior or senior standing, a 3.0 GPA, and 270 APFT score. However, any Army ROTC Cadet can be a pledge. Similar to Black & Gold, they conduct numerous meetings and events throughout the year.
  
  
• Drill Team:
  The ROTC Drill Team is an elite, highly trained, precision drill and ceremony team. Dedication and hard work are required for membership to perfect the split second timing and cohesive team work necessary to achieve the impressive performance admired by views.
  
  
• Rifle Team:
  for individuals who enjoy firing personal and rented weapons at a local range as a group in order to improve their skills and possibly compete in future competitions. Outings are held after each lab.
  

BENEFITS

We have a limited amount of Room & Board Scholarships for our Nurses and higher caliber Cadets. There are certain criteria that have to be met in order to obtain and retain these Room & Board Scholarships.

We also have a limited amount of monetary funds to obtain and retain higher caliber Cadets. This is placed in the student account to be used towards ODU bills, and can be taken out as cash.