<p>My son really wants to join the Air Force and either fly planes or be a weather officer. We've been doing a lot of research into ROTC and the Air National Gurad to see if he could get his schooling paid for. </p>
<p>ROTC has a program for guard personel called the ROTC SMP program. Basically, you join the guard after your freshman year in college. Do basic training and job training during the summer. Then contract (now committed to finishing ROTC)to join ROTC just before you start your Sophomore year. You do your one weekend a month and 2 weeks a year as a guard member. Take the ROTC classes and training in college. The benefits are great. Better than an ROTC scholarship and easier to get into.</p>
<p>Federal tuition expenses: $4500 a year
State tuition expenses (guard units) Varies from state to state most pay 75% to 100%
and can be combined with federal
$20000 in student loan repayment at the time of signing up. Won't pay any loans after you sign up.</p>
<p>GI Bill $329 month
Kicker $350 month
Drill Pay $200 month
Rotc stipend $350 month
Total $1229 month tax free</p>
<p>Best benefit is that you are non-deployabe while in college. No worries about your guard unit getting called up and having to delay schooling.</p>
<p>Also, a lot of guard jobs pay a bonus. However, if you do the ROTC SMP program the bonus is cut in half. </p>
<p>Once you graduate then you can be comminshed into regular military, reserve, or guard. Part-time(one weekend a month and two weeks a year) reseve and guard require 8 years of service. Full-time reserve, guard, and regular reguire 5 or 6 years of service.</p>
<p>Not a program for everone, but for some it's a great deal. Also, don't talk to guard recuiters about this. They are clueless. Called the ROTC unit at the college you want to attend. They are more informed about this program.</p>