Earn money through the Army Reserves while you’re a cadet in Army ROTC. If you qualify, there are many options to choose from, such as the Montgomery GI Bill, Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty Program, and more.

Simultaneous Membership Program 

The SMP is a program in which ROTC contracted cadets simultaneously serve as members of the US Army Reserve (USAR) and ROTC as officer trainees. The program is available for all non-scholarship cadets and mandatory for all Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty Program (GRFD) Scholarship recipients.

Cadets with “campus-based” scholarships are not eligible to participate in the program unless they convert that type of scholarship to a GRFD Scholarship. Cadets who participate in the program also receive credit for time in service that will be applied toward pay and retirement. The SMP Program is also an excellent opportunity for cadets to receive on-the-job training, leadership, and unit experience.

Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty Program 

The GRFD Program is designed to attract cadets who are interested in obtaining a commission in the USAR by allowing them to receive an early guarantee for such an assignment. The program is open to all non-scholarship contracted cadets and mandatory for all GRFD Scholarship recipients. Cadets with “campus-based” scholarships are not eligible to participate in the program unless they convert that type of scholarship to a GRFD Scholarship. Participation in the SMP is mandatory.

The GRFD Scholarships pay full tuition and fees per year and include an additional annual book stipend of $1200. Cadets must be willing to enlist in the USAR for no less than eight years to be eligible. If currently enlisted, there must be a minimum of four years remaining on their enlistment contract. Cadets must also agree to serve in the Reserves after commissioning for no less than eight years.

Go here for more information on Army Reserves and special programs it has to offer.

For more information, contact: 

Mr. Thomas Atkinson
Phone: (540) 464-7680
Email: atkinsonte@vmi.edu