OSUT, GRFD w/National Guard and Law School on the way to SF?

[Kilotango]

Gents,

I apologize if I am posting this in the wrong spot. I'm finally wrapping up undergrad and looking at my options to serve while in law school (limited capacity obviously). The most beneficial option to me financially (supposedly pays for full tuition) that the recruiter has told me about follows something like this:

> Graduate 4-Year in December
> Enlist in the National Guard
> Go to BCT+AIT or OSUT
> Get back and prepare for Law School and apply/hopefully get a GRFD scholarship
> Begin Law School with GRFD and drill with ROTC until graduation and earn my commission

My question is, what MOS should I seek for OSUT or AIT? The end goal in all of this is to position myself in an opportunity with the Guard to put my packet in for SF when I reach the necessary rank. I've read on here that Infantry and Intel are the two big groups, but what about 19D's (Cav Scouts)? Second, I'll be in law school the following August... drilling with the ROTC unit at my college. I could be wrong, but once I get into ROTC they're going to change my MOS aren't they? So, should I not worry about what MOS? I'd much rather learn something, but if it doesn't matter in the long run would you recommend me going with the shortest AIT time?

Any wisdom or pieces of knowledge are appreciated.

Thank you

 

[Marauder06]

If you're doing simultaneous membership or something equivalent, you'll retain whatever MOS you earned before you started ROTC. When you get commissioned, your branch/area of concentration may or may not be something similar to what you held while enlisted.

 

[TLDR20]

Dont be a Cav scout. I can't think of a worse MOS.

 

[Kilotango]

I assume that the GRFD scholarship they told me about is similar to SMP, but restricts me to serving in the guard after graduation. The recruiter mentioned that I should just go for something with a short AIT time because I'll compete with the rest of the O-1's upon graduation for another MOS. It would make sense that it would be something similar to when I was enlisted though, I'll keep prodding for information. Thanks for the info Marauder.

 

[Kilotango]

cback0220,

He just threw out Cav Scout in our conversation. What would you recommend?

 

[Marauder06]

I assume that the GRFD scholarship they told me about is similar to SMP, but restricts me to serving in the guard after graduation. The recruiter mentioned that I should just go for something with a short AIT time because I'll compete with the rest of the O-1's upon graduation for another MOS. It would make sense that it would be something similar to when I was enlisted though, I'll keep prodding for information. Thanks for the info Marauder.

I see. I'm not as familiar with the way the Guard does things. But there are recruiters and Guard officers here who may be able to help out.

 

[Kilotango]

I see. I'm not as familiar with the way the Guard does things. But there are recruiters and Guard officers here who may be able to help out.

Awesome. Thanks for replying! I'm making a list of questions to ask the recruiter when we talk on Wednesday. I'll definitely ask about the differences between SMP and GRFD and if my MOS really is relevant.

 

[LimaOscarSierraTango]

The recruiter mentioned that I should just go for something with a short AIT time because I'll compete with the rest of the O-1's upon graduation for another MOS.

I may be wrong (others here should know for sure), but I think the Infantry is the shortest school at 14 weeks. Then, if you end up being an 11C (Mortarman), you can tack on another 2 weeks. Also, if you get invited to Airborne school, you can add on another 3 weeks (maybe a little longer if you are a hold over). Again, there are other people on the site that may have better information than this, but hopefully this gives you and idea of what to look at for planning purposes. Also, your recruiter should have all of the updated information to help you with your timeline.

 

[AWP]

Re: Guard Commissioning. I can't speak to ROTC, but here's how the Guard OCS program handles your branch assignment.

While at OCS you contact the S-1 of whatever BN you wish to join. Want to be an Infantry O? Find the local battalion (or one further away if you want to drive) and speak to their S-1. At some point an interview or two will occur and if the unit accepts you they "sponsor" your slot. Essentially, they list you against an empty slot in that unit. If there are no empty slots, tough cookies, you find something else. If more than one candidate is fighting for that slot the unit will make a determination based on whatever criteria they want. It is their slot, the state doesn't force them to accept one candidate over the other unless political considerations apply.

So, my semi-educated guess is that as an ROTC Cadet you'll contact the state HQ with your intent and they will provide you with some contacts. For OCS the schoolhouse did it, maybe your ROTC dept. will do the same. If not, hit up your state's G-1 and go from there.

Simply put: there is no order of merit and a politically connected guy or gal could beat you out for a slot. 1/4 of my OCS class went Signal, but only 8 platoon leader slots were vacant. So the remaining 2 were made BN motor Officer and....HHD XO or something silly until platoon positions opened up.

Enlisted: just be an 11B. If you're going to commission don't take an MOS which requires time and money to train you. While in ROTC you are basically non-deployable anyway, so take the 11B and be done with it.

 

[DA SWO]

Paralegal, MOS 27D; then become a JAG after finishing law school (MOS 27A).

 

[TLDR20]

cback0220,

He just threw out Cav Scout in our conversation. What would you recommend?

11B. You can't go wrong.

 

[enceladus]

There's a NG SF recruiter that's an admin at nationalguard.com/forums, along with several ROTC-commissioned O's

I'd poke around over there and post if you can't find the answers you're looking for.

 

[Buildanddestroy]

Starting with your endgame of wanting to go for SF and complete law school while drilling in the Guard, you are going to have more leeway than if you wanted to go active duty. In ROTC you are placed on an OML (order of merit list) to compete nationally with all the cadets, save the west pointers. If you want to go active duty, you better be in the top 10% of cadets or you won't get the branch you planned on statistically. Going Guard or Reserve, you simply decide which branch you want to commission in and find a unit with an opening. The branch you enlist in is irrelevant (but choose something that is relevant to your endgame). If you are dead set on SF, go 11B and build off of that. Also, another thing to keep in mind is that you should definately enlist first. This ensures you get more training, experience, and time in service while earning your next degree.

 

[enceladus]

Going Guard or Reserve, you simply decide which branch you want to commission in and find a unit with an opening.

I believe that this is how it works with the USAR, but each state in NG does officer branching a little differently. For instance, I didn't find out my branch until about Week 10 of OCS (I did Federal program). I know with my state's OCS program, they do an OML and compete for slots as well.

 

[Buildanddestroy]

Ah, I'm not sure about the OCS route.

 

[JoesPizza11B]

Go 11B for sure. Im not an officer so I dont know how ROTC will effect all of this, but make sure you coordinate setting up your benefits with the VA Liason at your school (they should have one) and get in touch with the education service officer (invaluable resource for what you are doing) with the guard in your state. If you dont get your benefits set up early enough you might get screwed. (I ended up having to pay for a semester out of pocket). Try learn as much as you can about how the GI bill works. Good luck

 

[reed11b]

11B. You can't go wrong.

That's what she said! BAM.
Reed

 

[Kilotango]

Just wanted to check back in with everyone and give a heads up in case someone else is in my position and can benefit from what I've learned. Here in NC, it's looking like my options are somewhat limited to 2 pathways:

1) Enlist in NC ARNG in December after I graduate early, attend Basic/AIT then hopefully get accepted for a GRFD scholarship or at the least use GI Bill funds to help pay for Law School and begin Law School in the Fall.

or

2) Graduate in December, wait to see the status of my Law School applications, GRFD scholarship and hopefully enroll in the ROTC program in the Fall. (The only perk I can see here is that while a mobilization and/or hold is unlikely in the previous scenario... I would be guaranteed to start school in the Fall. I can work in the free semester, but I would think that being in Basic/AIT would make more than I could in the private sector.)

The only hiccup seems to be the lack of funding anymore for a GRFD. If I can't secure any funding for Law School I'm leaning towards just going Active and saving up my money. Guess I can always go to Law School at some point right?

 

[Diamondback 2/2]

Never mind

 

[DA SWO]

Just wanted to check back in with everyone and give a heads up in case someone else is in my position and can benefit from what I've learned. Here in NC, it's looking like my options are somewhat limited to 2 pathways:

1) Enlist in NC ARNG in December after I graduate early, attend Basic/AIT then hopefully get accepted for a GRFD scholarship or at the least use GI Bill funds to help pay for Law School and begin Law School in the Fall.

or

2) Graduate in December, wait to see the status of my Law School applications, GRFD scholarship and hopefully enroll in the ROTC program in the Fall. (The only perk I can see here is that while a mobilization and/or hold is unlikely in the previous scenario... I would be guaranteed to start school in the Fall. I can work in the free semester, but I would think that being in Basic/AIT would make more than I could in the private sector.)

The only hiccup seems to be the lack of funding anymore for a GRFD. If I can't secure any funding for Law School I'm leaning towards just going Active and saving up my money. Guess I can always go to Law School at some point right?

Wait until Oct to see what falls out.