THE OLD CAPITOL GUARD BATTALION

THE OLD CAPITOL GUARD BATTALION ARMY ROTC

Georgia Military College Welcome to the Army ROTC The Old Guard Battalion! the Army ROTC Department at Georgia Military College (GMC). GMC is one of the five Military Junior Colleges in the U.S., which has the Army ROTC Early Commissioning Program. The main campus of GMC is located in Milledgeville, GA, almost in the center of the state. GMC is a semi-private school, where the cost to attend per year is around $22,000 and it is Open Enrollment. The Commandant s Office consists of prior military service personnel and some college employees that work for the college. The Army ROTC Department consists of Active Army, GS employees, contract employees and one college employee. GMC has the Corp of Cadets and commuter students, with the Corp of Cadets being around 250 cadets and commuter students around 1100. Army ROTC is the only military commissioning program on campus. Go to GMC website for more information about the college: www.gmc.edu Introduction to ROTC Welcome to the Army ROTC The Old Guard Battalion, please feel free to contact any member of the office staff in Jenkins Hall at Georgia Military College: Brian Hamilton Recruiting and Operations Officer Department of Military Science Georgia Military College 201 E. Greene Street Milledgeville, GA 31061 (478) 387-4931 E-mail: bhamilto@gmc.edu rotc@gmc.edu Facebook: GMCArmyROTC Internet: www.gmc.edu & www.gmc.edu/rotc 2

ROTC Program The ROTC program is taken in conjunction with your regular classes in a selected major field, plus other general education requirements you need to complete to earn a commission. The main focus is on management and leadership skills development with increasing responsibilities as you progress through the program. At GMC you move directly into the Advance Course by either attending the ROTC Basic Camp (Ft. Knox, KY) or being prior service (completed Basic and AIT). The Early Commissioning Program (ECP) is a two-year commissioning program that only resides at a Military Junior College, Georgia Military College being one. Requirements are listed below. At the Military Junior College the student does not start in first year of Army ROTC, they start as freshmen in the third year of Army ROTC. So to be ROTC qualified, the student has to be either Prior Service, have attended Basic/AIT for Army National Guard/U.S. Army Reserves, or attend the Army ROTC Basic Camp (more information on camp below). The student obtains their Associate s Degree, completes the third and fourth year of Army ROTC, along with successfully completing the Army ROTC Advance Camp (Ft. Knox, KY). Upon completing all of the requirements, the Cadet is commissioned into the Army Reserves or Army National Guard as a Second Lieutenant. The student then attends a 4-year college to complete their Bachelor s Degree at a University/College that has Army ROTC, but the student does not take ROTC due to having completed this at GMC (see Below for ECP Lieutenant). During the senior year of college, if the student is allowed to compete for Active Duty, their file will be reviewed as part of the Accessions Process. To compete, the ECP Lieutenant has to have their GRFD Scholarship control number (see scholarship below) revoked (see Change of Service Obligation Revocation below). Students have money available to them to assist in completing their Bachelor s Degree. See below under Educational Assistance Program. Not going into the Accessions Process in this paper. Requirements for the Army ROTC Early Commissioning Program -US Citizen -Age of 17 or older to contract -High School graduate or established college GPA -Be Military Science III Qualified (Army Guard/Reserve, Prior Service, attend ROTC Basic Camp -Academic Requirements 2.5 GPA required to compete for an ROTC Scholarship based on 4.0 system (GED = 2.5 GPA) 920+ on SAT or 19+ on ACT to compete for an ROTC Scholarship. On the SAT, the score is determined by adding up only the Math and Critical Reading -Meet physical standards (Meet Army Height/Weight Standards and pass the Army Physical Fitness Test) -Meet Medical Standards 3

Certain Medical Conditions are not waiverable for the ROTC Program. -All Legal issues must receive an approved waiver. All legal issues must be disclosed, regardless of status. - No more than three dependents -There is an age limit, contact us to discuss - At GMC, we don t normally take in student more than 25 years old, due to the majority of our students are much younger. Case by Case. -Must accept a commission in the U.S. Army Reserve, or U.S. Army National Guard -Be accepted by the college Application Process The Application is all inclusive in that it is for the program, for scholarship review and for those needing to attend the Army ROTC Basic Camp. Can find the application on the ROTC Website: www.gmc.edu/rotc. Click on Information/Application, then select Application. Fill out the application, print and send all required documents to the ROTC Department (see above for contact information). Keep in contact with the ROTC department during the Application process. We will notify you if we are missing any needed documents and update you on status. See below for information on Scholarship Process and Summer Camp. Scholarship Programs High School ROTC Scholarships (National Board) Majority of Army ROTC Scholarships are process at Georgia Military College, with a small number being issued directly from the National Scholarship Board. There are three National Scholarship Boards, one held during October of the students Senior Year, second held in January and the last in March. There are deadlines and requirements that have to be met for the students file to be reviewed by the National Board. Dates may shift some, so check with Cadet Command website for dates and also check for the requirements. Website: hs.usarmyrotc.com Ike Skelton ROTC Scholarships (Military Junior College ROTC Scholarship) This is the only ROTC Scholarship available at Georgia Military College. See above for requirements to compete for this scholarship. The majority of these scholarships are process at GMC, with an internal Board reviewing the ROTC Application submitted by the student. We usually start this process during October of the student s senior year. This scholarship is specific to those students who wish to attend GMC and compete for a Military Junior College Scholarship. Those receiving this scholarship must participate in Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) (see below). 4

At GMC the scholarship pays for Tuition/Fees/Books. Room/Board is covered by the college (see Performance Grant below). Scholarship awardees receive a book allowance of $900 per year ($300/quarter) (student pays the school for books) and receive a monthly tax-free stipend (Cadet Pay). The student has to be completely qualified to receive the scholarship which is at contracting. These cadets also receive weekend drill pay as participants in the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP see below). This scholarship is a Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) scholarship. Which requires the student to be SMP, which is in most cases in the Georgia National Guard (have unit on campus). The student is assigned a GRFD Control Number, which locks the student to the National Guard/Army Reserves. Under Title X law, the student can request the GRFD Control Number be revoked (Change of Service Obligation see below) so the student can compete for Active Duty. Active Duty is not guaranteed, it is a competitive process. Scholarships are an offer, you have to be fully qualified to receive the scholarship after you arrive to GMC. All students have to be completely qualified to contract (see Contracting below). Students will take the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) while here prior to camp and one at camp, which we expect you to do the best you can, but not required to pass. Student has to pass the APFT after report to GMC for Fall Term. Once a student is contracted, then the ROTC money will be issued (Scholarship, Cadet Pay). For those receiving a scholarship, the ROTC Scholarships will pay for Tuition, Fees, & Books. Room & Board is covered by GMC, for all ECP Cadets (scholarship or non-scholarship). Cadet Pay (Stipend) is $450/month (for all contracted Cadets) for ten months the first year and $500 for the second year. All students have to meet all requirements by the end of the Fall Quarter to remain in the ROTC Early Commissioning Program. Also all will enlist in the National Guard and be in the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP). You will not attend Basic/AIT and we have unit on campus for drills, with drill pay about $248 per month. All Cadets require a Security Clearance prior to Commissioning as a 2 nd Lieutenant. It is very important that you provide us with all the information pertaining to any and all Law Violations. This includes violation that where expunged (removed from your records); these offences are never removed from the eyes of the government. Some violations will not require a waiver, but those violations that do will require time to process. Regardless what parents, lawyers, or judge say, all law violations have to be disclosed. Performance Grant Army ROTC Scholarships will pay for Tuition/Fees/Books or Room/Board, BUT NOT BOTH. At GMC all ROTC ECP Cadets receive a Performance Grant from GMC that covers Room/Board. So, Cadets on an Army ROTC Scholarship have little to pay out for school. To obtain the Performance Grant from GMC, parents/guardians are required to complete the FAFSA process through GMC s Financial Aid Office. The Performance Grant will not be issued until this process is complete. Georgia Military College covers Room & Board of all ROTC Early Commissioning Program Cadets through a Performance Grant. To receive this Performance Grant, the college requires 5

that all students have completed the Free Application for Financial Student Aid (FAFSA) process. This is an Annual Requirement, which is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Please check with GMC s Financial Aid Office to verify your status. Ensure you have completed the FAFSA process, the college will not allow the student into the dorms (barracks) if not complete Conditional Scholarship recipients must meet all requirements by Mid-Term of Fall Quarter or they will be billed by GMC for that quarter. If the student meets all requirements by the end of the quarter, then their scholarship will be activated and the school will reimburse them money paid. Students, who do not meet the requirements by the end of the Quarter, will be responsible for the cost of that quarter ALL STUDENTS ARE TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID Go to: www.fafsa.ed.gov Medical Examination Students will be scheduled for a medical examination, which is managed by the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DODMERB). Depending on the route of your scholarship, will determine who submits the student for the Physical. If the student has a file on the National Board, then Cadet Command will send the student information on the Physical, but if we process your scholarship then we will send the student information on the Physical. Student do not have to be Medically Qualified to be offered and ROTC Scholarship nor to attend Basic Camp, but the student has to be Medically Qualified to receive the Scholarship after arriving at the school. There are doctors contracted throughout the U.S. to perform the exams at no expense to the student. For students who have a MEPS Physical less than 2-years old, we would use this as the Medical Physical. The MEPS Physical consist of the DD Form 2808 and DD Form 2807-1. We would need a clan copy of all pages of each form. It would be scanned, then forwarded to DODMERB for processing. Army ROTC Basic Camp This camp qualifies students for the first two years of Army ROTC. Students coming to GMC into the Early Commissioning Program will attend the Basic Camp unless the student is prior service or Basic/AIT qualified. Camp takes place during the summer after student has graduated High School at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. Camp usually starts in mid to late June. After the student has been accepted into this program, we will send information on the camp and notify the student if any other documentation is needed. Exact dates of the camp are usually 6

available late February. Once dates are set we will notify the student. First event, which will be four to five days, will be the student coming to GMC for issue of equipment, complete paperwork and some training. Students living in Georgia will need someone to drop them off, but if the student lives outside of Georgia and cannot get a ride, we will schedule the student for a flight into Atlanta Airport, which the Army pays for flight. Once complete here the students are bused up to Ft. Knox, KY for the Basic Camp which is about 28 to 30 days long. Family can attend the Basic Camp Graduation and student can ride home with family. Flights home are scheduled by us and the Army pays for flight. Also, the students receive one month s pay. This camp does not commit the student to the Army, ROTC or GMC. Any commitment happens at contracting once the student come to school in the Fall. Contracting Students have to meet all requirements to contract to become a Commissioned Officer. Contracting is when the student signs the required documents and takes an Oath of Office, hopefully at the beginning of the Fall Quarter. All issues (Medical and Legal) have to be resolved before contracting. Send any paperwork in immediately pertaining to any issues. It can take several months to get a determination on these types of issues. Once a student is contracted, then the ROTC money will be issued (Scholarship, Cadet Pay). For those receiving a scholarship, the ROTC Scholarships will pay for Tuition, Fees, & Books. Room & Board is covered by GMC, for all ECP Cadets (scholarship or non-scholarship). Cadet Pay (Stipend) is $450/month (for all contracted Cadets) the first year and $500 for the second year. All students have to meet all requirements by the end of the Fall Quarter to remain in the ROTC Early Commissioning Program. Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) A program in which Senior ROTC (contracted) Cadets simultaneously serve as members of the Army National Guard/Army Reserve and ROTC. SMP is required of all Cadets who receive an ROTC Scholarship at GMC. Cadets participating in this program are non-deployable RC Unit assets. This program is open to all contracted non-scholarship Cadets and mandatory for all MJC Scholarship Cadets. Money available to SMP Cadets is E-5 Drill Pay. For Montgomery GI Bill money soldier has to have completed Basic and AIT. Students will enlist after they have contracted. 7

Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) - Standard at 60% for Age group 17-21 Push-ups Males -42 Females 19 Sit-ups Males & Females 53 2 Mile Run Males - 15 minutes 54 seconds Females 18 minutes 54 seconds Army ROTC Advance Camp The Advance Camp is a paid four-week leadership course conducted at Fort Knox, KY during the summer following their freshman year of college. At the Advance Course cadets take on various leadership roles and are evaluated on their performance and leadership abilities in those positions. Cadets must attend this course to earn an Army commission. Physical Training Physical fitness and leading a healthy lifestyle in general is an important part of being in the military. Cadets at GMC conduct Physical Training (PT) five times a week in the early morning, but if the Cadet does well on the Army Physical Fitness Test, then they only have do PT three times a week. Cost to Students on ROTC Scholarship There are several fees that have to be paid by the student (amount subject to change): Application Fee: Housing Fee: Uniforms Fee: $35 to College $75 to College, reserves room in barracks $925 to college, see following GMC requires that the student pay the uniform bill prior to end of the students 1 st Quarter, so be prepared to pay approximately $925 at the beginning of the 1 st Quarter. Cadets in ROTC at GMC receive a uniform allowance called Commutation, with 2/3 being paid during their second quarter of attendance and have passed the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). The final 1/3 of the commutation is paid first quarter of the students second year. 8

Commissioning Requirements The goal of the ROTC program is to commission quality cadets as second lieutenants in the United States Army Reserve upon completion of the ROTC program and graduation from college. Depending on their status, cadets may elect to serve on active duty or stay in the National Guard or Reserve and serve their obligation of 8 years. In order to be approved for commissioning, cadets must complete the following: Graduate with an Associate Degree in the Early Commissioning Program. Requires follow Bachelor Degree for branch accession. Finish the ROTC course requirements. Complete all Professional Military Educational (PME) requirements. Meet all medical requirements. (DODMERB & Commissioning) Pass Army Physical Fitness Test. Meet height/weight standards. Successfully complete Army ROTC Advance Course Have LOA (Letter of Acceptance) to a National Guard or Army Reserve Unit. Acceptance to a 4-year college Take HIV Blood Test Change of Service Obligation (Revocation of GRFD Control Number) All Military College Early Commissioning Cadets that receive an Army ROTC Scholarship are assigned a GRFD Control Number, due to this being a GRFD Scholarship. Under Title X law, the ECP Cadet can request a Change of Service Obligation to revoke the GRFD Control Number so they can compete for Active Duty their Senior Year of College. The process changes every several years, but to be competitive, the student needs to do well in everything (Academics, Training, Camps, and ROTC). At this time the process is a request to goes from the Professor of Military Science, to Brigade Commander, to Cadet Command Commander, TRADOC Commander, then to the Secretary of the Army. The Army Reserves and National Guard have input. Educational Assistance Program (EAP) This program is money that is available to all scholarship and non-scholarship MJC Cadets who have commissioned and attending a 4-year college to complete their Bachelor s Degree. The program provides additional scholarship dollars for completing of a baccalaureate degree at a Senior ROTC institution. The funds are available for two years, and will cover Tuition/Fees or 9

Room/Board ($10,000). The student completes required paperwork at the MJC (see Admin staff), with the remainder of the process completed at the gaining school. Student must possess a minimum of a 2.5 CGPA and maintain a 2.0 for each term, pass the APFT each term, and meet with PMS each term for counseling. Breach of the contract could result of the student losing benefits and possibly lose their commission with recoupment of benefits. NOTES: The following are items you need to verify that you have completed or working prior to reporting to GMC: Application complete with GMC Admissions Office Application complete with ROTC Department Housing Deposit paid to GMC (check with Admissions) FAFSA coordinate through GMC Financial Aid Office Pell Grant process completed under FAFSA Loan Application complete (even if on scholarship) GTEG (for Georgia residents) Hope Scholarship (for Georgia residents) Immunization records Final High School Transcripts and College Transcripts, verify with Admissions WEB Sites National Army ROTC Georgia Military College Georgia Military College Army ROTC College Info Financial Aid Financial Aid Financial Aid (FAFSA) www.goarmy.com/rotc www.gmc.edu www.gmc.edu www.collegereview.com www.ed.gov/studentaid www.fastaid.com www.fafsa.ed.gov 10

References USACC Regulation 145-1 USACC Regulation 145-9 USACC Pamphlet 145-1 USACC Pamphlet 145-4 ECP Lieutenant The following has been written by prior ECP Cadets who had gone through the program and have completed their Bachelor s Degree. ECP Lieutenant Guide to Success!!! ECP Lieutenant Defined as commissioned but not having successfully completed baccalaureate degree. Requirements to Commissioning: - Graduate with Associates Degree - Pass the APFT - Pass CWST - Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between yourself, losing PMS and gaining PMS. - Letter of Acceptance to follow-on school (LOA) - Letter of Acceptance to an NG or USAR unit NOTE: Check with your follow on 4 year college / university to see when you need to turn in your application for acceptance (all time lines are different for each college / university). During your follow on school search make sure you check to see how your credits will transfer over. It would be much easier to go and finish your degree at a school that accepted most of your college credits from GMC than if you have a timeline of 3 years, including summer courses, to finish your degree. There also may be a couple of class that your follow on school requires you to take (course that you did not take at GMC) to be able to start your major classes. We recommend that you find out what these courses are from your advisor when you are looking at your major and see if you can take any of those required course at GMC during the summer after you commission to make sure that you can start your major classes right away. For example, for the Criminal Justice major at GCSU, you are required to take a statistics course and a sociology course before you can start your major courses. If you go in the fall not having had those classes, all you would beable to take are those two courses and then you would have to fill the rest of your required 12 hours (full time student) with fill in course, that would not count for anything per your major requirements. The extra course that you may need to start your major program can be found in SECTION E of your degree course outline. 11

ECP Lieutenants must attend a 4-year college after graduating and being commissioned. You have to attend a college, not more than 25% of classes allowed to be online. The ECP LT is to start the next term after commissioning at the 4-year college (Fall/August or Spring/January). Sitting out a term is not allowed, except for the summer courses, which is solely the choice of the LT. MOU is an agreement with the gaining PMS at follow on college. Recommend that ECP Cadet make an appointment with the gaining college PMS prior to graduating for an interview. At this time we recommend you get the MOU signed prior to graduation/commissioning. Also NOTE, some PMS s want to meet with you in order for them to sign the MOU. Understand that the gaining PMS knows nothing about you and you are asking them to sign a MOU for you to be a part of their program. ECP LTs who decide to attend a 4-year college outside of their home state, may have to pay out-of-state Tuition/Fees, which can be twice or more than in-state Tuition/Fees. In some states, if you are in the State National Guard, there are benefits such as being considered in-state student or could have Tuition/Fees covered/waived by the state. ECP LTs attending Georgia College (Milledgeville) are considered in-state rate students, since they are in the military. NOTE: If you are classified as an out of state student at the time of in-processing, you must get a Military Tuition Exemption Letter (Business office at GCSU) signed by an E-7 or above (typically by your commander) to get in-state tuition per military exemption. ECP LTs at North Georgia College (now University of North Georgia) are considered instate students. ECP LTs at Mercer University (Macon, GA) has their Room/Board covered by the school. ECP LTs at Syracuse University has their Room/Board covered by the school. Update HRC on your actual graduation date with Bachelor s Degree. Senior Year at 4- year College, following Accessions, call HRC to inform them of your Branch (also if Detailed which branches) and Graduation Date with Bachelor s Degree. Currently contact person is Mr. Brad Smith, 502-613-6356. Tuition option at follow on school: Tuition Assistance up to $3000 available every fiscal year from the Guard or Reserve. New qualifying rules have been implemented in 2014 for TA. You may not be qualified. 12

New 2014 TA Requirements as of 01 JAN, 2014: o Enlisted Soldiers: Must complete Basic Combat Training (BCT) and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) with one year of service after your completion of AIT as of 01 JAN, 2014. o Warrant Officers: Must complete Warrant Officer School (WOC) and one year of service as of 01 JAN, 2014. o OFFICERS: MUST COMPLETE BASIC OFFICERS LEADERSHIP COURSE (BOLC) AND ONE YEAR OF SERVICE TO QUALIFY FOR TA. NOTE: UNLESS YOU ARE PRIOR SERVICE MEANING YOU HAVE COMPLETED AIT AND ONE YEAR OF MILITARY SERVICE AS OF 01 JAN, 2014 YOU ARE NOT ELGIBLE FOR TA. This was done because they want to be able to give you TA for your Master s Degree. You cannot use TA for your Undergraduate AND your Graduate school, its one or the other. Because you have many other ways to pay for Undergraduate school they have dropped you from TA, so they can give it to you for graduate school (master s degree). However if you do meet the enlisted requirements above, please follow the steps below to receive TA. o Steps to apply for TA (Guard/Reserves) -Soldiers must request TA through www.goarmyed.com prior to the course start date or before the school s later registration period. -TA is requested on a course-by-course basis. -GoArmyEd will notify the Soldier whether the TA is approved or not. If the TA requested is not approved, GoArmyEd will advise the Soldier of the reason and next step. -All drops/withdrawals must take place through GoArmyEd. Soldiers who do not successfully complete a class will be required to repay the TA. A successful class is one where you get a C+ or better grade, otherwise you will be left with the bill. -Soldiers who are unable to successfully complete a class due to military reasons must request a Withdrawal for Military Reasons through GoArmyEd and complete all required steps to ensure that they will not be charged. This step would be done under extreme circumstances. While an ECP LT you are not allowed to be deployed since you are not BOLC qualified and cannot be BOLC qualified until you complete your degree prior to BOLC. 13

-If the Soldier wishes to take a class with a school that does not participate in the electronic GoArmyEd class schedule, a TA Request Authorization form must be completed in GoArmyEd. The TA Request Authorization will be routed to an Army Education Counselor to be reviewed and approved. Soldiers should allow extra time for this process. If the TA Request for Authorization is approved, the Soldier will be notified by email. Soldiers must print the approved TA Request for Authorization form in GoArmyEd, provide it to the school and enroll directly with the school. -All Universities/Colleges go through a process for approval for TA. Most of the steps will be taken by you. You will need to provide paperwork IAW your specific school, so don t wait too late to do this. If you cannot contact the right people to get the paperwork you may have trouble getting TA done prior to your class start date. THINK AHEAD! Hope Scholarship available if GPA over 3.0 on 4.0 scale (Cannot withdraw TA and Hope together because they both are federal funds). If you return to your home state, your state may have similar program that uses Lottery Money. o Steps to apply for HOPE -Apply for the HOPE Scholarship either electronically through Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website or by downloading a printable form from the site. This is for students who are attending a public college or technical school in Georgia. -HOPE Scholarship has certain requirements for you to get it. Go research HOPE online to see if you qualify. For example you may need to be a GA resident for 2 years minimum or graduated from a Georgia High School. There is no reason for you to do paperwork if you do not qualify to receive funding. -Get additional financial aid on top of the HOPE Scholarship. If you are applying for additional student aid in addition to the HOPE Scholarship, the only form you must fill out is the FAFSA. You do not need to fill out a HOPE Scholarship application unless the specific college you are attending requires. -Fill out the HOPE Scholarship/TEG (Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant Application) form if you re attending a private school. This can 14

be completed at Gacollege411.org and can be done electronically or printed and filled out. -Submit your application as early as possible. Apply for the HOPE Scholarship by January of every year. This will ensure that all forms are ready and waiting by the time of the new fiscal year. HOPE only pay for 90% of your tuition and TA pays up to $4,500 every year. If you are eligible for HOPE and additional grant such as PELL, take HOPE. Combining both HOPE and PELL Grant will entitle you to receive refund from the school. Refund could be used towards books and other school related material. Educational Assistance Program (EAP) available only to ECP LT s, pays for tuition/fees or room/board every semester. Room and Board is $10,000 per year. NOTE: Every year you withdraw EAP it may add additional year to your obligation to the Army. o Steps to receive EAP -EAP is process through GoArmyEd, see above under TA, more instructions to follow -Complete the DA Form 597-4 (Educational Assistance Program for Military Junior College (MJC) Commissioned Officers at GMC prior to leaving for new college. This form is to be processed at the gaining college ROTC Department. -Are required to pass the APFT as a prerequisite to be rewarded EAP. -To be able to receive EAP, you need to be considered as a full time student (12 credit hours at least each semester or as the school identifies as full time) -Get with your S-1 Shop (HRA), at your gaining college, 14 days after the school starts to apply for EAP. NOTE: Time is dependent on the school you are attending. -Sign the required Cadet Command paperwork and wait for the confirmation email. NOTE: (Subject to Change) EAP should come in around December during the Fall Semester and around February in Spring Semester. The first EAP deposit takes the most time to process. Your second fall semester, the money should deposit earlier during the semester. 15

EAP is not enough to cover for books and living expenses. You may need to take out student loans. If you do this then use you EAP to pay off your student loans. Find a part time job if time permits. Other immediate option to cover expenses is to take out a $25,000 Career Starting Loan from USAA. It is available to LTs who are one year away from obtaining their baccalaureate degree. Montgomery GI BILL: All ECP LTs that have completed AIT following Basic Training are eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill and possibly the Kicker if stated in their enlistment contract. Those who are eligible can also apply for the Post 9/11 GI Bill (have deployed prior to commissioning). If the LT has not yet applied for their GI Bill: 1. Must got to www.va.gov 2. Scroll over Veterans Services and click on the GI Bill bullet 3. Click on Apply for GI Bill 4. Click on the apply online selection *If the LT needs assistance it is recommended they either call 1-888-442-4551 or contact their schools Veterans Representative, ever school should have one. All Colleges will have a VA Representative who will handle the GI Bill paperwork. Usually they are located in the same building as the Registrar or Financial Aid. Typically there is a form specific to the college in which the LT must fill out every semester in order to maintain their GI Bill. The initial application will only need to be filled out once, but the college must certify the LT for every semester they would like to claim the benefit. Follow on school requirements: Contact the gaining PMS within 30 days of being accepted to the university and have MOU signed by the PMS, must provide the gaining PMS with your letter of acceptance. Physically report to PMS on given date, it would be MOST beneficial to meet with PMS prior to them signing your MOU. Find a unit, get letter of acceptance. Notify HRC. Start College the first full semester after graduating from GMC, no breaks unless between graduating from GMC in June and starting Fall Semester (August). Remain enrolled as a full time student at an institution offering an Army ROTC program until completing baccalaureate degree, that means at least 12 hours a semester. 16

Complete baccalaureate degree within 36 months. No exceptions! The only exception to this rule is if your degree takes 5 years to get instead of 4. Just because you may think you have some leeway to take a break or what not, YOU DON T! Getting your degree is your TOP priority. If you fail to meet the time requirements you could find yourself in a drop from program status, dis-enrolled, where you will no longer be a 2LT in the National Guard / Reserves. Attend Drill REMEMBER: Your rank is only truly yours when you have completed your 4 year degree! In school requirement: Maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on 4.0 scale (Cumulative and Institutional) to stay in the program. Maintain requirements of the Army Weight Control Program, as required by AR 600-9 and physical fitness standards as required by AR 350-15. Participate in organized PT with the ROTC unit and take semiannual APFT with height/weight verification that is to be administrated by the ROTC program cadre. Meet with the PMS at minimum once every month until graduation to provide academic and physical progress. Your PMS may put out different guidance for you, check with them. Participate in professional development requirements and technical proficiency training with the assigned ROTC unit as directed by the PMS to successfully prepare for and complete BOLC II and BOLC III. Competing for Active Duty: Revocation of GRFD. You have to request to have your GRFD revoked at GMC. Work with the HRAs at GMC to get this process completed. Due to changes, competing for Active Duty is getting more difficult, since the Military is in a drawdown, so the better you are at all things (GPA, PT, Camps, etc.) the higher your chance is to be able to compete for Active Duty. 17