Enlisted Soldiers

Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)
Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty
Dedicated Guard
Green to Gold

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.

SMP Cadets, scholarship and non-scholarship, receive:

• Experience working with an officer during drill, learning the job of an officer
• Drill pay as an Sergeant (E-5): $319.17/mo for calendar year 2019
• ROTC stipend of $420 per month during the academic year while contracted

Other benefits SMP students may qualify for:

• Federal Tuition Assistance: $250 per credit (for 12 - 16 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: $3,200 per semester (PA Army National Guard only)

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.

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 31 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

The Dedicated Army National Guard and Dedicated Army Reserve Scholarships

• 2, 2.5 or 3 year scholarship
• Pays full tuition and mandatory fees or room and board
• Pays $1200 per year for books
• ROTC Monthly Stipend: $420 per month during the academic year while contracted
• Awarded by the Army National Guard and Army Reserve
• Must become an SMP (see above)
• Must be aligned in both academics and military science courses to graduate and commission in 2-3 years
• Must actively drill as a Cadet with a National Guard or Army Reserve Unit (where the Cadet will receive drill pay as an E-5 or above, $287.92/mo for calendar year 2013)
• Must serve 6 years after college actively drilling in the Reserve Component, the Army National Guard or Army Reserve, that awarded the scholarship
• CANNOT use Chapter 1606 or Chapter 1607 Montgomery G.I. Bill benefits while receiving a Dedicated GRFD scholarship
• CANNOT revoke Dedicated GRFD scholarship nor request active duty immediately after college

Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) scholarship

• 2-year scholarship
• Pays full tuition and mandatory fees or room and board
• Pays $1200 per year for books
• ROTC Monthly Stipend as an MSIII or MSIV: $450 or $500, respectively during the fall and spring semesters
• Awarded from both the Army National Guard and the US Army Reserve
• Must become an SMP Cadet (see above) within the respective Reserve Component that awarded the scholarship
• Must be aligned in both academics and military science courses to graduate and commission in 2 years
• Must actively drill as a Cadet with their chosen Reserve Forces Unit (where the Cadet will receive drill pay as an E-5 or above, $319.17/mo for calendar year 2019)
• Must serve 6 years actively drilling in the Selected Reserves with service in either the Army National Guard or US Army Reserve upon commissioning.
• Entitled to any and all earned G.I. Bill benefits
• CANNOT revoke GRFD scholarship nor request active duty immediately after college

The Army Green to Gold Program

If you are an enlisted Soldier interested in pursuing a college degree and a commission as an Army Officer, USI Army ROTC can help! The Army Green to Gold program is designed to offer Enlisted Soldiers in the Army the opportunity to earn commissions as Army Officers.

This program offers enlisted Soldiers two unique ways to earn a baccalaureate degree:

• Green to Gold Scholarship Option: For Soldiers who are considering leaving Active Duty to attend college
• Green to Gold Active Duty Option: For Soldiers who want to remain on Active Duty and attend college

Green to Gold Scholarship

The Army’s Green to Gold Program was designed specifically with you in mind, helping enlisted Soldiers get college degrees and become Officers.

• Scholarships are awarded for two, three or four years.
• Soldiers with two years of college remaining to complete their degree are considered for two-year scholarships.
• Soldiers with three years of college remaining to complete their degree are considered for three-year scholarships.
• Soldiers without college credit who require four years to complete their degree are considered for four-year scholarships

Green to Gold Scholarship Option winners receive:

• Tuition or room and board support
• Additional money for textbooks, supplies and equipment
• A monthly stipend for up to 10 months each school year that increases each year based on your Military Science Class
• Pay for attending the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) between the junior and senior years of college
• If qualified, Montgomery G.I. Bill / Army College Fund (MGIB/ACF) benefits
• Additionally, many colleges and universities offer incentives to scholarship winners. The Professor of Military Science can provide further information on what is available.

In addition to the financial incentives, Soldiers receive additional benefits as ROTC Cadets. These benefits include:

• Leadership training
• Responsibility and Practical Experience
• Mentorship of the PMS/APMS
• Camaraderie

Requirements:

• U.S. Citizen (non-waiverable)
• Age – Be under 31 years of age on December 31 of the year you complete all requirements for a commission and a college baccalaureate degree. This is a statutory requirement and there are no waivers authorized.
• Cannot have been convicted of a Domestic Violence Crime
• Have a minimum of 2 years Active Duty as well as 3 months of Active Duty for every one month of specialized training (waiver can be requested)
• GT score of 110 or greater
• Pass the APFT within the last 6 months with score of 180 or higher, minimum of 60 points in each event
• Be a High School Graduate or equivalent
• Cumulative High School or College GPA of 2.5
• Letter of Acceptance to USI
• Letter of Acceptance from the Professor of Military Science of USI Army ROTC Battalion
• Favorable National Agency Check (or have initiated the action)
• DODMERB Medical Qualification
• Be eligible to Reenlist
• Not be a conscientious objector
• No more than 3 dependents including spouse (waiverable)