National Guard/ Reserve SMP Program, Green to Gold

Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)

The objective of the ROTC Simultaneous Membership Program is to provide more ROTC graduates for the Selected Reserve. The ROTC SMP is an officer training program that requires Reserve Component (RC) enlisted status in a Troop Program Unit (TPU) for eligibility, either in the Army National Guard or the Army Reserve. Enlisted members of a TPU who contract in the ROTC Advance Course must assume SMP status, or be discharged from their unit. They cannot remain in a unit as a contracted ROTC cadet unless they assume SMP status.

Benefit Package at California University of Pennsylvania Army ROTC

• 100% tuition paid by the Pennsylvania Army National Guard
• Bonus $15-$20K
• Monthly ROTC Stipend $350 for MS II's/ $400 month for MSIII's/ $500 month for MSIV's
• Drill Pay (one weekend per month) $330/month
• Montgomery GI Bill $310/month (tax free)
• GI Bill Kicker/SMP Kicker $350/month (tax free)
• Monthly Total Benefits $1200-$1480/month *

*Note: This amount is paid directly to the student, not the University.

Eligibility Criteria

• Have an SMP Contract Agreement.
• Be contracted in the ROTC.
• Be a citizen of the United States.
• Attain sophomore standing, enroll as a full time student, and be in a program that leads to a Baccalaureate or Advanced Degree.
• Attain and maintain a cumulative GPA greater than 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Be of good moral character.
• Meet medical fitness standards.
• Meet height and weight standards.
• Except for the recipients of the GRFD scholarship program, who are required to participate in the ROTC SMP, cadets receiving financial assistance under the Army ROTC scholarship program are not eligible to participate in the SMP. SMP cadets that accept ROTC scholarships will be transferred from the TPU to Control Group (ROTC) prior to acceptance of the scholarship.

Green to Gold

The Green to Gold program seeks talented young enlisted soldiers who have decided to leave, or are considering leaving, active duty to attend college. Quality enlisted soldiers with officer potential, who have served at least two years on active duty, are allowed to voluntarily request discharge from active duty to enroll in Army ROTC. Upon completing the program, they can earn baccalaureate degrees and commissions as Second Lieutenants. Four, Three, and Two-Year Scholarships are available as well as a two year non-scholarship option.

Green to Gold Active Duty Option Program

The Green to Gold Active Duty Option Program is a two-year program which provides eligible, active duty enlisted soldiers an opportunity to complete a baccalaureate degree or graduate degree and be commissioned as an Army officer upon receiving the appropriate degree.

Benefits for Green to Gold Active Duty Option Program

• Soldiers selected to participate in this program will continue to receive their current pay and allowances while in the program (up to a maximum of 24 consecutive months).
• If qualified, Montgomery G.I. Bill / Army College Fund (MGIB/ACF) benefits.
• Normal PCS entitlements

Green to Gold Scholarship Option Program

• Scholarships are awarded for two, three, or four years.
• Soldiers with two years of college remaining to complete their degree are considered for Two-Year Scholarships.
• Soldiers with three years of college remaining to complete their degree are considered for Three-Year Scholarships.
• Soldiers without college credit who require four years to complete their degree are considered for four-year scholarships.

Green to Gold Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

• U.S. Citizen (non-waiverable)
• Age - Be under 31 years of age on 31 December of the year you complete all requirements for a commission and a college baccalaureate degree. This is a statutory requirement and there are no waivers authorized.
• Cannot have been convicted of a Domestic Violence Crime
• Have a minimum of 2 years Active Duty as well as 3 months of active duty for every one month of specialized training (waiver can be requested)
• Have favorable recommendations from Chain of Command
• GT score of 110 or greater
• Pass the APFT within the last 6 months with score of 180 or higher, minimum of 60 points in each event
• Be a High School Graduate or equivalent
• Cumulative High School or College GPA of 2.5
• Letter of Acceptance to School of Choice offering Army ROTC
• Letter of Acceptance from the PMS of that Army ROTC Battalion
• Favorable National Agency Check (or have initiated the action)
• DODMERB Medical Qualification
• Be eligible to reenlist
• Not be a conscientious objector
• No more than 3 dependents including spouse (waiverable)

Green to Gold Scholarship Military Service Obligation

All scholarship Cadets will be required to serve in the military for a period of eight years. This obligation may be fulfilled by serving four years on active duty, followed by four years service in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). The IRR requires you to remain on the Army “rolls” for a period after the Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) is complete, in this case 4 years. During this time you are, in effect, a civilian.

Benefits for Green to Gold Scholarship Option winners

• Tuition or room and board support.
• Additional money for textbooks, supplies, and equipment.
• Monthly ROTC Stipend
  • $350/month for MSIs
  • $400/month for MSIIs
  • $450/month for MSIIIs
  • $500/month for MSIVs
• Pay for attending the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) between the junior and senior years of college.
• If qualified, Montgomery G.I. Bill / Army College Fund (MGIB/ACF) benefits.
• Additionally, many colleges and universities offer incentives to scholarship winners. The Professor of Military Science (PMS) at your college of choice can provide further information on what is available at the school.

Green to Gold Non-Scholarship Option Program

The Green to Gold Two-Year Non-Scholarship Option Program is available to soldiers who have completed two years of college, and who can complete their college degree requirements in two years.

 Green to Gold Non-Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

• U.S. Citizen (non-waiverable)
• Age - Be under 30 years of age on 30 June of the year you complete all requirements for a commission and a college baccalaureate degree. This is waiverable. -- PMS can grant waiver up to 32 years -- For those over 32, waiver requests are forwarded to HQs, Cadet Command
• Cannot have been convicted of a Domestic Violence Crime
• Have a minimum of 2 years Active Duty
• Have favorable recommendations from Chain of Command
• Pass the APFT within the last 6 months with score of 180 or higher, minimum of 60 points in each event
• Have completed 2 years of College and be accepted as an Academic Junior
• Cumulative College GPA of 2.0
• Letter of Acceptance to School of Choice offering Army ROTC
• Letter of Acceptance from the PMS of that Army ROTC Battalion

Green to Gold Non-Scholarship Military Service Obligation

Non-Scholarship graduates may serve three years on active duty and five years in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). The IRR requires you to remain on the Army “rolls” for a period after the Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) is complete, in this case 5 years. During this time you are, in effect, a civilian.

Benefits for Green to Gold Non-Scholarship Option

• Monthly ROTC Stipend $450/month for MSIIIs $500/month for MSIVs
• Pay for attending the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) between the junior and senior years of college.
• If qualified, Montgomery G.I. Bill / Army College Fund (MGIB/ACF) benefits.
• School / State / Reserve Forces Duty Benefits.
• Green to Gold Non-Scholarship Option members can also participate in the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP, see above). SMP Cadets are entitled to Reserve Component pay of E-5 under this program.
• Also, Pennsylvania offers tuition assistance to Reserve and National Guard SMP Cadets.

Early Discharge

If you are selected for Green to Gold, you may obtain early release from active duty. Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 16-2, provides for the honorable, early discharge of soldiers so they can enroll in an Army Senior ROTC program. The Early Discharge may be up to 30 days prior to the start of school. Terminal leave is NOT authorized.

To Qualify for Early Discharge

You must meet the requirements (see above) of the Green to Gold program. The separation authority must ensure that you meet the criteria, have served honorably, and possess officer attributes. You must agree to the stipulations of the terms of the USAR enlistment contract or ROTC student contract. Otherwise, you will be in breach of your contract and subject to involuntary order to active duty to complete the prior service remaining and/or the scholarship contractual obligation. If you are a scholarship cadet, you may be required to repay the scholarship benefits received in lieu of active duty service.

Green to Gold Programs Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I enroll, and when?
You enroll in Army ROTC the same time you enroll at California University of Pennsylvania. Because we are a partnership school with the University of Pittsburgh, you will process your Green to Gold Packet through that “host” school. The advantage of enrolling at California University of Pennsylvania is that your classes are taught here on campus, the same place you take your other classes towards your degree.

Can I enroll in ROTC while on active duty?
There is a new Green to Gold Active Duty Option Program (see above). If you meet the qualifications for this program, you may apply.

Can I apply for a 4-Year Green to Gold Scholarship if I already have some college credit?
Yes, as long as the college accepts you as an academic freshman and you have four years remaining in your course of study. If I reenlist, how much time must I complete on my second enlistment? There is no minimum requirement. If you are selected for the Green to Gold program, you may be released from active duty regardless of the amount of time remaining on your second enlistment.

Can I apply for a 2- or 3-Year Scholarship if I do not have the proper number of credit hours but expect to have them prior to Fall enrollment?
Yes. You must have a letter from California University of Pennsylvania stating that you are conditionally accepted as an academic junior or sophomore contingent upon completing the required number of credit hours. If you win a scholarship, you are a conditional winner pending acceptance at California University of Pennsylvania. You must provide proof of the required number of credit hours and unconditional acceptance by the university prior to your discharge.

Can a soldier who previously won an ROTC scholarship, and who was disenrolled from it, apply for a Green to Gold Scholarship?
No. Cadet Command Regulation 145-1 paragraph 9a clearly states that scholarship winners who disenroll for any reason are ineligible to re-compete in any ROTC scholarship program.

Can I take terminal leave with my early discharge?
No. Terminal leave cannot be taken in conjunction with early discharge IAW AR 600-200.

Where can I ship my household goods?
Your entitlement for the shipment of household goods is back to your home of record. If the cost to ship your goods to the Southwest Pennsylvania area is more than to ship it to your home of record than you will be responsible for the difference.

I understand that veterans are not required to take the freshman and sophomore level ROTC classes. Will I have to take these courses if I get a 3- or 4-Year Scholarship?
Yes, you will have to take these courses. As a scholarship winner you are a contracted cadet and must enroll in and successfully complete the basic course IAW the contract. As a 2-Year Scholarship winner or non-scholarship cadet your prior experience satisfies the basic course requirements.

I am in the Marines (or Navy or Air Force). Can I apply for a Green to Gold Scholarship?
No, the Army does not have authorization to discharge members of sister services therefore, members of sister services are not eligible for Green to Gold scholarships.

Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD)

The Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty Scholarship program (also known as the GRFD) is designed to attract cadets who are interested in obtaining a commission in the United States Army Reserves or Pennsylvania Army National Guard by allowing them to receive an early guarantee for such an assignment. To be eligible for this scholarship you must be at the minimum a sophomore with 6 semesters remaining until graduation or a junior with 4 semesters remaining until graduation. These scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis. If the interested student is currently enlisted in the USAR or Pennsylvania Army National Guard, there must be a minimum of four years remaining on their enlistment contract. Recipients of this scholarship must also agree to serve in the Army Reserve or the Pennsylvania Army National Guard after commissioning. Students must contact SSG Minor at (724) 938-1679/1680 for details concerning this scholarship program. Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty also refers to a type of contract signed by a Cadet that guarantees them an assignment in the United States Army Reserves or Army National Guard upon commissioning from the Army ROTC program. t to come ...

To find out more, please contact us with any questions.