Scholarship to Reserve - QUESTION

[JMessmer]

Hey all, Im a HS Senior applying for a Scholarship, and me and my dad (AD Lt.Col. Army) have a plan, and I want to run it by some of you guys. My dad is active duty, had a break in service in reserves, but he was never scholarship, so we have questions about ROTC Scholarships.

I understand the entire obligation, requirement, and committment, with one exception. Can I get an Army ROTC Scholarship, and go straight into the reserves for all 8 years? OR could I go straight into reserves for 4 years, then do my second 4 active duty?

The reason I ask is because I want to get my Law Degree, and I would like to branch JAG (I will have to compete to re-branch after I graduate, b/c I will likely branch MP after undergrad)

So what my idea is to go into the Reserves, and use my GI Bill to pay for Law School. Is this possible?

Can I get an ROTC Scholarship and do all 8 years in the Reserves, or do I HAVE to go active duty?

[Rumple_Manskin]

You can absolutely get an ROTC scholarship and do all 8 years in the reserves. In fact, from what i've heard from other cadets, you can actually get a more lucrative scholarship (called the GRFD scholarship) if you commit to the reserves or guard right off the bat. I'm not sure about the GI Bill/Law school situation, but I would assume you would be able to. Other members would be able to get you squared away in that regard.

Good luck!

[JMessmer]

Awesome! I was just looking at the GRFD Contract, and it (From what I saw) is only a two-year contract for SMP students, and you have to go SMP, which means I would enlist. SMP will probably (Almost certainly) be my back up plan if I do not recieve an ROTC Scholarship, however I feel very strong about my application.

[Rumple_Manskin]

Also, if you receive an ROTC scholarship and decide to not pursue the GRFD you can still be guaranteed reserve duty for 8 years. You have to APPLY for active duty your senior year in ROTC I believe. It's not guaranteed. It is the RESERVE officer training corps after all.

TLDR: Just don't apply for active duty if you don't want it.

[JMessmer]

Ok, that does make more sense. However, if I am a Scholarship cadet, dont I have to sign a Contract with the Army as soon as I accept the contract? Does that Contract specify whether or not I am active/reserve, or does the contract merely say that I will be, in some capacity, serving them, and not how as far as AD/IRR. The reason is because If I do four years active after graduation, THEN go back and use the GI Bill for law school for my second four years in the reserves, I am a 28 year old out of college, 4 years done in the Army, with a Law Degree, and no guarantee that Ill ever be a JAG. Id rather do all 8 active, get the Law Degree, and be an English teacher in the Reserves, or do Corporate Law while in the reserves.

[morganbr]

When I was a gold bar recruiter we had a similar situation with a prospect. You can get a Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty scholarship and serve 8 years reserve. However, you would need the Reserve to release you to transfer to the Regular Army, which they would be much less likely to do if they fronted your entire tuition.

[JMessmer]

Also, I am looking up the qualifications for the GI Bill. For the Post 9/11 GI Bill, I wont be eligible right out of college, I need 90 days Aggregate service. Would I fill the 90 days by the time I finish Officer Basic Course? (I want to branch MP)

Otherwise, I would just go for the MGIB-SR, and sign on for another six years, meaning I will to 14 years. (Which I have no problem doing)

Honestly, I have no problem with the MGIB SR, but I want you guys input before I decided anything. Is Post 9/11 better or...?

[Sammy Sandbag]

You'll need more than 90 days from what I recall. If you receive an ROTC scholarship, you can't use your ADSO time towards a Post 911 GI Bill. You can only accrue time once you have fulfilled your obligation. From what I remember it was 36 months active to receive the full bennies. So if I'm serving a 4 year ADSO for my ROTC scholarship, I would have to serve a total of 7 years IOT receive the GI Bill. If you go to the FAQ section of the GI Bill website it answers these exact questions.

[rkam98]

There are other ways to persue a law degree through the Military, that I think would make more sense for what you seem to be trying to do. I will discuss at length later. However, I feel I would be remiss if I did not tell you that law is no where nearly as fun or "cool" as it may seem to be for you right now, especially since you stated you want to do "corporate law". The realitiy is that there are to many law schools in the U.S. I dont want to be a debby downer, but I think you should watch this video and know that it is a very realistic depiction of what could await you in a few years.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhjhHuMKqgs

[JMessmer]

Well, Im on the debate team, and Ive been invariably successful over the years at it, and I went to nationals and hope to do it again. Its literally my school passion, so I always thought continuing on as a lawyer is something I would excell at. I honestly dont plan on a life of thrilling Law and Order stuff, but more of handling personal claim cases, protecting corporations from being sued by clients, such and such.

I also never really figured I would be a lawyer my entire life, I also thought of going into politics....Lord knows we need some new people in office.

What are the other, better methods of getting a Law Degree?

[JMessmer]

Lol...that video was entertaining, but it wasn't very moving. I still want to go to Law School and become a JAG. If I dont get a job, Ill be a teacher with my English degree, or I'll go active duty.

[rkam98]

Lol...that video was entertaining, but it wasn't very moving. I still want to go to Law School and become a JAG. If I dont get a job, Ill be a teacher with my English degree, or I'll go active duty.



Ok Thats great, you seem like a good kid so I am not going to really rip into some of your ideas here. I am just saying that you should be carefull as you move forward with your decision to go to Law School, and where you go... I only say this is as someone who has done a couple of the things you are looking to do ( I am not going to get into my biography because it is not very relevant and not very impressive, espcially compared to some of the people on this board who you would be well advised to listen to).


Any way in regards to some options of getting the Army to pay for Law School.

1. FLEP- you stated that you dont mind serving as a MP officer. If that is is the case, this might be something to consider, you serve on AD as a MP or whatever branch you are assigned by Cadet Command for a few years and then put in a packet to do this. If selected, you get sent to law school at the expense of the Army and get paid with BAH (based on where you are going to school). You also get guaranteed JAG internships, which is a great expereience. Upon completion you are able to attend the JAG Course and become a AD JAG, and serve 6 years on AD as a JAG (2 years for every year of Law School). I understand this may not allow you to do "corporote" law as quickly as your Reserve idea, but as Sammy stated that route probably wont work out for you any way.


2. Go to ROTC in Undergrad then Eductional Delay in Law School. If you get the scholarship you get under grad paid, and get to go to Law School right after Undergrad. However, you must still apply for JAG like people with no Military background. If you are selected for JAG you can then take advantage of the 65K in loan repayment that the JAG currently offers, and if you are frugal with Law Student your student loans should not be that much more.


3. ROTC in Law School- I know people who did this. It i s a lot of work, especially your first year of Law School which is 10 times harder than Undergrad. But it can be done succesfully. Also no gurantee of JAG at the end.


4. Do well in College and LSAT and get a full scholarship to any accredited school. The JAG Corps and especially the RC JAG Corps does not care about your pedigree (Corporate Law does however).


5. Just take out loans like the vast majority of your classmates(but keep them as low as possible). Find a Good Reserve Unit, that will take you after School and may even let you help out while in school. Once you get accepted by a RC JAG Unit getting into the RC JAG Corps is a lot easier (no gurantees though). Then volunteer for AD assignments, and try and save as much as possible to pay of loans or just consolodidate and make managable monthly payments.

[JMessmer]

Honestly, Im not heart-set in stone over corporate law, thats the reason I want to branch JAG, to have a taste of everything and see what I want to do. As far as those other plans, Ive looked into FLEP and its a very selective process, but I may resort to it. My main concern in finances. The school I have chosen gives free room and board for ROTC Scholarship cadets, so my undergrad is covered if I go scholarship contract. However, mounds of debt after Law School is something I want to avoid.

More and more though, Im thinking I may have to accept the fact that I'll graduate Law School with 50k+ debt, however much I want to not do so.


Now you mentioned JAG repayment...does that mean thaty if I branch JAG after Law School (after academic deferrment) that the Army will help pay off loans?


How unrealistic is it to go reserves, and then use the MGIB-SR for Law School? Granted I have to dedicate myself to 6 years extra, but I'll likely stay in for 20+ for retirement, or I may just decide to go active duty and stay active for a career.

[Un4given]

Ah, so many options and a big decision to make. Good times. First thing is first, you can't even think about a grad degree if you can't get a bachelor degree so how are you going to pay for that (ROTC scholarship? and if so, active? guard?).

I say this because you could get your feet wet in college and realize infantry is for you. Or some other branch, who knows? My buddy I went to school with is JAG, scholarship + ed delay and now he just assisted me in completing a SPOA and notorized it. Not exactly the life of a "few good men" he had in mind, but he's cool with it.

Great post, btw rkam.

[JMessmer]

I plan to go scholarship and into the reservces, and use the MGIB-SR for Law School. I have been on the debate team for 3 years and I love it. If I cant do the MGIB-SR, then I'll likely Ed Delay and take loans.

[rkam98]

More Now you mentioned JAG repayment...does that mean thaty if I branch JAG after Law School (after academic deferrment) that the Army will help pay off loans?

If you are selected for JAG then yes. Here is the info <https://www.jagcnet.army.mil/8525769A0049A118/0/2103456795C7D53D852576BF0058ED21/$file/Frequently%20Asked%20Questions%20SLRP.pdf>



Also, I am a bit unclear of as to your plans with the GI Billl are. Do you plan to become a 2LT in the Reserves, and then just automatically avail yourself of the GI Bill to go to Law School? Ultimatley the GI Bill is probably not the best route you should use if your aim is to attend law school shortly after Undergrad.




What I would urge is that you take Un4s advice and approach Undergrad, the Army, and I guess Life in general with an open mind because you never know what you might become passionate about.... and please try and see as much as you can about Law School before you commit to it. If your school (where are you going to Undergrad btw) has a law school then try and sit in on a first year Property Class or something, talk to current law students and weigh all the pros and cons.