I'm 14 and still in high school at the moment but I have no idea what I want to do with my life afterward. I'm thinking about a career in the military since I have no idea what I want to do/can do and maybe it would be a cool experience. How does going to university during the military work (even though I don't know what I'd major in anyway, lol)? Can I sign up, complete school first, get benefits, etc, and then go into active service or whatever? Also I need a list of MOS that colorblind people can do. As far as I know I can't do infantry, be a pilot, mechanic, etc.
You can join the Army Reserve in the SMP program. As long as you're a full-time student at a college, you can't get deployed. You train in ROTC to get your 2LT commission. You also do monthly drill shadowing a platoon leader.
Join the Army Reserve then train for ROTC? How does all this work though and what's the SMP program?Hurricane2k9 wrote:
You can join the Army Reserve in the SMP program. As long as you're a full-time student at a college, you can't get deployed. You train in ROTC to get your 2LT commission. You also do monthly drill shadowing a platoon leader.
Live, then risk dying.
Our country is currently not worth fighting for.
Our country is currently not worth fighting for.
SMP = Simultaneous Membership Program
Basically what you do, AFAIK, is you go to Boot Camp during the summer (between high school and college, or any of your college years). Your contract has to say that you're doing SMP. You then simultaneously do ROTC in college.
The Army Reserve is supposedly "one weekend a month, two weeks a year." That's been far from the truth the past few years because of how the Army is stretched thin, but for SMPers it's still true. Anyway, you just go to college like a normal student, do ROTC (which in a nutshell involves working out a few times a week, having a class once or twice a week, and a leadership lab once a week where you learn drill, customs and courtesies, maybe go shoot some guns), and drill once a month with your Reserve unit. Like I said, you shadow a platoon leader so you better learn how to do so once you commission.
Then you graduate and get commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant.
Basically what you do, AFAIK, is you go to Boot Camp during the summer (between high school and college, or any of your college years). Your contract has to say that you're doing SMP. You then simultaneously do ROTC in college.
The Army Reserve is supposedly "one weekend a month, two weeks a year." That's been far from the truth the past few years because of how the Army is stretched thin, but for SMPers it's still true. Anyway, you just go to college like a normal student, do ROTC (which in a nutshell involves working out a few times a week, having a class once or twice a week, and a leadership lab once a week where you learn drill, customs and courtesies, maybe go shoot some guns), and drill once a month with your Reserve unit. Like I said, you shadow a platoon leader so you better learn how to do so once you commission.
Then you graduate and get commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant.
Oh, that's pretty cool. Thanks. So when you graduate you're active duty or whatever right? Or are you still basically in the reserve?Hurricane2k9 wrote:
SMP = Simultaneous Membership Program
Basically what you do, AFAIK, is you go to Boot Camp during the summer (between high school and college, or any of your college years). Your contract has to say that you're doing SMP. You then simultaneously do ROTC in college.
The Army Reserve is supposedly "one weekend a month, two weeks a year." That's been far from the truth the past few years because of how the Army is stretched thin, but for SMPers it's still true. Anyway, you just go to college like a normal student, do ROTC (which in a nutshell involves working out a few times a week, having a class once or twice a week, and a leadership lab once a week where you learn drill, customs and courtesies, maybe go shoot some guns), and drill once a month with your Reserve unit. Like I said, you shadow a platoon leader so you better learn how to do so once you commission.
Then you graduate and get commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant.
But why the heck would I do boot camp like say between high school and college or between two college semesters (can you choose when to do it?) and then just go dead for like 4 years or whatever until I'm outta college?
@ATG, why do you say that?...
Last edited by androoz (2010-01-29 19:48:06)
He's not talking about dying. He's talking about taking an opportunity to use government money to get qualifications and experience. He did say he was colourblind which rules him out of a lot of combat roles in most western armed forces.ATG wrote:
Live, then risk dying.
Our country is currently not worth fighting for.
Whoa... Can't believe these forums are still kicking.
^^Flecco wrote:
He's not talking about dying. He's talking about taking an opportunity to use government money to get qualifications and experience. He did say he was colourblind which rules him out of a lot of combat roles in most western armed forces.ATG wrote:
Live, then risk dying.
Our country is currently not worth fighting for.
I'm fairly certain that you get commissioned into the active duty Army, but you can choose to go into the Reserve. It could be the other way around though, I can't remember.androoz wrote:
Oh, that's pretty cool. Thanks. So when you graduate you're active duty or whatever right? Or are you still basically in the reserve?Hurricane2k9 wrote:
SMP = Simultaneous Membership Program
Basically what you do, AFAIK, is you go to Boot Camp during the summer (between high school and college, or any of your college years). Your contract has to say that you're doing SMP. You then simultaneously do ROTC in college.
The Army Reserve is supposedly "one weekend a month, two weeks a year." That's been far from the truth the past few years because of how the Army is stretched thin, but for SMPers it's still true. Anyway, you just go to college like a normal student, do ROTC (which in a nutshell involves working out a few times a week, having a class once or twice a week, and a leadership lab once a week where you learn drill, customs and courtesies, maybe go shoot some guns), and drill once a month with your Reserve unit. Like I said, you shadow a platoon leader so you better learn how to do so once you commission.
Then you graduate and get commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant.
But why the heck would I do boot camp like say between high school and college or between two college semesters (can you choose when to do it?) and then just go dead for like 4 years or whatever until I'm outta college?
@ATG, why do you say that?...
Why would you go to boot camp? To learn how to function in the military.
Just read this (it talks bout the National Guard but it also applies to the Reserve) http://www.military.com/Resources/Resou … ership.htm
No I meant like why go to boot camp like 4 years before you even go active or whatever.Hurricane2k9 wrote:
I'm fairly certain that you get commissioned into the active duty Army, but you can choose to go into the Reserve. It could be the other way around though, I can't remember.androoz wrote:
Oh, that's pretty cool. Thanks. So when you graduate you're active duty or whatever right? Or are you still basically in the reserve?Hurricane2k9 wrote:
SMP = Simultaneous Membership Program
Basically what you do, AFAIK, is you go to Boot Camp during the summer (between high school and college, or any of your college years). Your contract has to say that you're doing SMP. You then simultaneously do ROTC in college.
The Army Reserve is supposedly "one weekend a month, two weeks a year." That's been far from the truth the past few years because of how the Army is stretched thin, but for SMPers it's still true. Anyway, you just go to college like a normal student, do ROTC (which in a nutshell involves working out a few times a week, having a class once or twice a week, and a leadership lab once a week where you learn drill, customs and courtesies, maybe go shoot some guns), and drill once a month with your Reserve unit. Like I said, you shadow a platoon leader so you better learn how to do so once you commission.
Then you graduate and get commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant.
But why the heck would I do boot camp like say between high school and college or between two college semesters (can you choose when to do it?) and then just go dead for like 4 years or whatever until I'm outta college?
@ATG, why do you say that?...
Why would you go to boot camp? To learn how to function in the military.
Just read this (it talks bout the National Guard but it also applies to the Reserve) http://www.military.com/Resources/Resou … ership.htm
So that you can be in the Army Reserve. They're not gonna let any retard just go into the Reserve and get paid.
PM a couple vets on here. Get whatatever you sign on for in writing.
I stood in line for four hours. They better give me a Wal-Mart gift card, or something. - Rodney Booker, Job Fair attendee.
I'll be the first to say this. You are 14 years old. Of course joining the military will fulfill a childhood dream. But believe me, in 4 years time, a LOT will have changed for you. So dont lock your future in just yet. Live your life and see what happens.