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Simultaneous Membership Program

The Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) allows you to participate in ROTC and serve in the US Army Reserve or Army National Guard at the same time. It gives you an opportunity for additional training and experience as well as earning Reserve or National Guard pay and education benefits. "Simultaneous" means you are:

  • A full-time college student (graduate or undergraduate)
  • Currently serving (or willing to enlist) in the USAR or Army NG
  • Enrolled in Army ROTC

In the SMP you participate in unit training with a USAR or Army NG unit one weekend a month while earning your commission through ROTC. Upon college graduation you will be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, and then have the option of serving as an officer full -time (on Active Duty) or part-time (in the Army Reserves or Army National Guard).

Requirements

  • Sophomore status and enrolled as a full-time student
  • Minimum 2.00 GPA
  • Eligible to contract into the ROTC program
  • Currently in the ARNG or USAR or eligible for enlistment 

If you're currently enlisted, your benefits already include Federal Tuition Assistance (up to $4500 per year), 100% tuition waiver (NG only), GI Bill ($356 per month, if MOS qualified) and drill pay. Joining ROTC adds to that:

  • Drill pay increase to SGT/E-5 rate ($293 per month)
  • ROTC stipend ($350 -$500 per month)
  • GI Bill Kicker ($350 per month, if MOS qualified) for being in ROTC
  • Non-deployable status—your college education won't be interrupted by deployment
  • Officer training in your unit

If you are (or will be) a freshman and are currently enlisted, you are eligible for SMP at the beginning of your sophomore year. For your first year you can still enroll in ROTC classes and drill with your unit, but are not formally in the SMP. If you are a sophomore or higher and currently enlisted, you must enroll in the SMP to enroll or continue in ROTC.

To get into the SMP, most students with no prior military service will attend Basic Combat Training (BCT) and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) during the summer and will be assigned to a local National Guard or Reserve unit upon completion of training.

  • It is possible to join the NG and enroll in ROTC without going to Basic Training, but without Basic Training and AIT you are only eligible for a fraction of the tuition benefits available.
  • In most cases, completing BCT and AIT will take longer than the summer break and cause you to miss a semester. Many students, though, see this
    as a good bargain for the amount of financial aid it makes you eligible for.

Benefits

SMP cadets keep all their current NG or USAR benefits, including:

  • Up to 100% tuition and fees (Education Assistance Program and/or Federal Tuition Assistance)
  • Cash enlistment bonus, depending on MOS
  • GI Bill—Chapter 1606, 1607, 30, or 33: up to $1,128/month plus full tuition (usually requires completion of BCT and AIT)
  • Monthly drill pay ($243 for a PFC/E-3)
  • Hands-on military experience in your unit

Being in ROTC at the same time adds to your benefits:

  • $350/month GI Bill Kicker (requires completion of BCT and AIT)
  • Increased drill pay (goes to $293/month)
  • $300-$500 monthly ROTC stipend
  • Opportunities for additional training (Airborne, Air Assault, Mountain Warfare, and Northern Warfare Schools), internships (at places like the NSA, NASA, Army Medical Department, and National Research Labs), and fully-funded culture
    and language programs in countries such as Tanzania, Cambodia, Thailand, Portugal, Chile, Guatamala, and more).
  • And, of course, the gold bars of an Army lieutenant upon graduation

After Graduation

When you enlist (or previously enlisted) in the USAR or NG you may choose an enlistment period of up to 6 years. As soon as you graduate college and get commissioned through ROTC (usually on the same day as graduation), your enlistment contract is terminated—no matter how much time is left on your enlistment. Upon commissioning, you start a brand new career as an Army officer. That means that even though you were enlisted in the USAR or NG while going to school, you have the option of serving as an officer full-time (on Active Duty) or staying part-time (as an officer in the USAR or NG). Likewise, your enlisted job specialty (MOS) has no bearing on your career options as an officer. If you like the field you were in as an enlisted soldier, you can choose that field as an officer. If not, you can pick any of the other 15 basic branches

For more information about the Simultaneous Membership Program contact:

MAJ (Ret.) Bill Lloyd
(717) 404-7092
whlloyd@ship.edu

SSG Jarrett Seigle
(717) 451-7476
jarrett.g.seigle.mil@mail.mil

Contact the ROTC Enrollment Officer

Wright Hall, Room 135   1871 Old Main Drive   Shippensburg, PA 17257 Phone: 717-477-1896 Fax: (717) 477-1783