US Army Reserve Program

Be a Soldier in the Army Reserve while you are a Cadet at North Georgia!  Over 100 Cadets in the Boar's Head Brigade are Reserve Soldiers.  They are using the pay and benefits of being Reserve Soldiers and Cadets to pay most of their college expenses.  Most will commission as second lieutenants in the Regular Army upon graduating from North Georgia, and some will commission in the Reserve.

Reserve soldier/Cadets who are members of Reserve units that are in relatively close proximity to the campus will normally conduct their battle assembly weekends with their Reserve units. For Reserve soldiers who are from out-of-state, or whose Reserve unit is too far to travel for weekend battle assemblies, our Reserve representatives at North Georgia will find a Reserve unit in closer proximity to campus with which those soldiers/Cadets can train during the academic year.  In addition, opportunities exist for many Reserve soldiers/Cadets to get credit for battle assembly training by participating in weekend training that the Corps of Cadets conducts a few times each semester.

 The primary benefit for the soldier/Cadet is the increased credibility, competence, and confidence gained before they commission and pin on their lieutenant rank.  In addition, you can use the pay and benefits that you receive from the Reserve, Army ROTC and the Veteran’s Administration to pay most of your college bills.  

Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)

When you become a sophomore, you can sign an agreement to commission as a second lieutenant in the Army.  When you do this, you become a "contracted" ROTC Cadet.  Simultaneously, you are a soldier in the Reserve, entering the Simultaneous Membership Program, or SMP.  Your pay and benefits jump to $1,300 per month your sophomore year, $1,400 per month your junior year, and $1,450 per month your senior year.  On the day you graduate from college, you get an honorable discharge from the Reserve, your degree from the president of the university, and your commission as a second lieutenant from the President of the United States.  You can choose to commission into the Regular Army or stay in the Army Reserve.  If you commission into the Regular Army, your starting salary is nearly $66,000 per year.

Army Reserve Pay and Benefits

• $345 per month in GI Bill benefits, plus up to an additional $350 per month kicker.
• Tuition Assistance - The Army Reserve pays up to $4,500 of your tuition and fees.
• Enlistment Bonus - You may be eligible for an enlistment bonus of up to $20,000 (depending on the needs of the Army Reserve).
• Guaranteed Reserve Force Duty Scholarship - Scholarships provide financial assistance towards college tuition and educational fees of up to $17,000 annually.
• Pay - You receive monthly pay for weekend drills and annual training.
• Employment assistance is available after you graduate.   Go to the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve link:  http://www.esgr.net/

FAQs

Will being a Reserve soldier cover all my college expenses?

The pay and benefits you earn as a soldier in the Army Reserve will cover most of your college expenses (Tuition, Room and Board, Fees, Books, Meal Plan, Uniforms, etc) during your first year at North Georgia.   You will still need a couple thousand dollars to help pay the costs that you can't cover with your Reserve pay and benefits during your freshman year.  Starting your sophomore year, your monthly pay and benefits will cover most of your college expenses. These benefits include the Selected Reserve Montgomery G.I. Bill, the Selected Reserve Montgomery G.I. Bill Kicker, US Army Reserve Tuition Assistance Program, and the Selected Reserve Incentive Program (SRIP) which includes bonuses up to $20,000 for selected MOS’s. You will also receive a monthly ROTC stipend once you contract into the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP), along with the Selected Reserve Montgomery GI Bill Kicker which is $350 per academic month.  The ROTC stipend amounts are: Sophomore year = $350/mo, Junior year = $450/mo, and Senior year = $500/mo. You can also apply for federal financial aid to help you pay for college by going to our financial aid web site www.northgeorgia.edu/finaid  

When will I attend Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training?

For high school seniors, you have three options.  (1) Attend Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) immediately upon graduating from high school and enter North Georgia in January, (2) Use US Army Reserve Alternate Training Program (Split-Option).  This is where you go to basic training in the summer after your senior year of high school, attend a full year of college, and then do AIT the following summer, (3) Attend North Georgia College for one semester, and then go to Basic and AIT. Note that you will not receive the GI Bill or bonus money until you complete Advanced Individual Training (AIT).

What is the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)?

The Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) is a US Army Reserve Commissioning Program designed to produce officers for the US Army and Army Reserve. Once you are enrolled in college, have accumulated 30 semester hours of college credit, and attained at least 2.0 GPA, you are eligible to contract into the SMP.  Once contracted into this program, you are no longer an enlisted member of the Army Reserve.  Instead, you become a Cadet in the Army Reserve, and remain a Cadet until graduation from the university.

What is a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)?

Simply put, it is a job.  You choose the job you want to do in the Army Reserve.  Jobs range from driving trucks to vehicle or weapons maintenance. There are over 200 jobs the Army Reserve offers.

When I enlist in the Army Reserve, what Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) are available and which one should I choose?

When enlisting into the US Army Reserve, you must choose a Military Occupational Specialty.  It doesn't really matter what job you pick. 

If I join the US Army Reserve am I obligated to remain in the Army Reserve as an officer upon commissioning?

No.  Most SMP Cadets upon graduation go on to serve on active duty as lieutenants.  However, you are eligible to serve in the Army Reserve if you choose.

How do I become a member of the US Army Reserve at North Georgia?

The first step is to apply for admission to North Georgia College & State University as a Cadet.  After you gain acceptance to the university as a Cadet, contact your local Army recruiting station and ask for the Reserve Recruiter. Your recruiter will do the work necessary to enlist you into the Army Reserve.
  What are the academic requirements?

You must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher from high school; be on a college prep curriculum; score 480 on the Critical Reading and 440 on the Math component of the SAT, or If you take the ACT we require a composite of 20, with a minimum of 18 in Math 18 and 20 in English.  Meeting the minimum academic standards does not guarantee you admission.  To determine your chances for being accepted for admission, visit:  www.northgeorgia.edu/chance

How do I locate my local Army Reserve Recruiter?

You can type your zip code in on this web site:   www.goarmy.com/contact/find_a_recruiter.jsp?hmref=cs

What happens to my Army Reserve obligation if I withdraw from North Georgia?

If you withdraw from North Georgia College you are still obligated to fulfill your US Army Reserve commitment.

If I want to attend North Georgia College do I have to be in the US Army Reserve?

No.

How many Cadets are currently in the US Army Reserve at North Georgia?

About 120.

While I’m enrolled at North Georgia can I be deployed to Afghanistan or other real- world missions?

As a Cadet, if you are enrolled as a full time student (12 semester hrs or more), taking Army ROTC, and if you have successfully completed one semester of college, you are not deployable. 

For more information about the Army Reserve at North Georgia, please contact our office at 888 413-9366.