1. Split Option Enlistment to Early Commissioning Program Officer
MAJ John E. Crews
Senior Army Instructor
Lafayette High School

2. Agenda MAJ Crews’ Plan Summery
Enlistment Split Option Program / Back Up Program
Military Junior Colleges
Early Commissioning Program (ECP)
2YR Ike Skelton scholarship
Educational Assistance Program (EAP)
ECP vs. 4YR ROTC Program
Questions

3. MAJ Crews’ Plan Join NG/AR at 17 enlisted as E2, Private (Back Up Job)
NG/AR Basic Training between Jr/Sr Year (Split Option)
2 yr Ike Skelton MJC Scholarship
Attend Military Junior College (Associates Degree)
Commission as Officer at Age 20 in NG/AR
EAP Pays for last two years of College for (Bachelors Degree)
Serve in NG/AR until completion of Bachelors then you have choice to stay in NG/AR or go on Active Duty.
Undeployable to combat until 22 years old and then you would be officer not enlisted.

4. Split Option Program Enlistment
Join Army National Guard or Army Reserves (Non- Deployable)
Must be at least 17 years old, must be on track for high school graduation.
Parental consent must be given.
Goes to Basic training the summer between Junior and Senior Year in High School ($ per month while in training during summer)
Drills with a Unit one week end a month their Senior Year in High School (Pays $ for weekend)

5. Military Junior Colleges
Marion Military Institute (Marion, AL)
Established 1842
Georgia Military College (Milledgeville, GA)
Established 1879
Wentworth Military Academy & College (Lexington, MO)
Established 1880
New Mexico Military Institute (Roswell, NM)
Established 1891
Valley Forge Military Academy & College (Wayne, PA)
Established 1928

6. Early Commissioning Program
The Early Commissioning Program is a special program only offered at the 5 MJC schools.
Designed to be a feeder for the Reserve Component. However, in some cases a Cadet may request revocation of their Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) Control # in order to compete for Active Duty.
This program allows qualified cadets who complete the program to be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant (2LT) in the US Army in 2 years instead of 4 years.
MJC Cadets attend the Cadet Initial Entry Training formerly known as Leadership Training Course at Fort Knox, KY upon graduation from high school in order to qualify for entry into the advanced course.
Upon entry into the program, the MJC Cadets take Military Science III their freshman year, go to the Cadet Leadership Course, formerly known as Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) between their freshman and sophomore year, complete Military Science IV their sophomore year.
While the Cadet is enrolled and contracted with the MJC, they are actively drilling with an ARNG or USAR unit with a 50 mile radius of the school. Upon receiving an associate’s degree from the MJC, the Cadet receives a commission as a second lieutenant.

7. 2YR Ike Skelton Scholarship
The funding of Early Commissioning Program (ECP) scholarships (2YR Ike Skelton scholarships) is specified in US Code
Title 10 code states that each MJC will receive 22 scholarships per year.
2YR Ike Skelton Scholarship Offers
National board applicants that express an interest in attending a MJC.
Upon completion of board, the remaining scholarships are offered on each campus.
Minimum eligibility requirements for an Army ROTC scholarship are:
Cumulative 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Combined math and reading score of 920 on the SAT or 19 on the ACT
Pass a specific Department of Defense medical exam (DoDMERB for officers accessions)
Be at least 17 years of age and less than 30
Be a U.S. citizen of good moral character

8. Educational Assistance Program
The EAP for Military Junior College officers is available to all scholarship or non- scholarship MJC Cadets who have commissioned and are now enrolled at their follow on school.
The program provides additional scholarship dollars for completion of a baccalaureate degree at a SROTC institution.
These funds are in addition to any previous funds received at the MJC. Funding will be provided for a maximum of two (2) academic years, i.e., 4 semesters or 6 quarters.
Summer terms and mini terms are not reimbursable.
No extensions are authorized.
The Cadet, with assistance from the MJC, must apply for EAP scholarship benefits to complete their 4 year degree during their last semester at the MJC.

9. ECP vs. 4-Year ROTC Program
Early Commissioning Program
8-yr service obligation
Before freshman year starts
Freshman Year
Sophomore Year
Junior Year
Senior Year
2-yr EAP service obligation
Basic Training, LTC, or JROTC
Contracting No Later Than
LDAC
Accessions
Graduation
Commissioning Second Lieutenant
EAP Contract
Promotion First Lieutenant
Promotion
Captain
About this time
Major
Non-Deployable
4-Year ROTC Program
8-yr service obligation
Before freshman year starts
Freshman Year
Sophomore Year
Junior Year
Senior Year
No Requirement
Contracting No Later Than
LDAC
Accessions
Graduation
Commissioning Second Lieutenant
Promotion
First Lieutenant
2 yrs after 2LT
Senior Captain
About this time
Captain
Non-Deployable

10. Active Duty Pay Enlisted
Basic Training Pay

11. Drill Pay Enlisted and as College ROTC Cadet
Cadet Drill Pay
Highschool Sr Year Drill Pay

12. Junior/Senior College Drill Pay Per Month
2LT Officer Drill Pay

13. Active Duty Pay Per Month
Active Duty Pay at 40 Yrs Old
Active Duty Retirement for LTC with 20 yrs is ~ $4, per month. This is not factoring 1 to 4% pay increase per year every year until retirement .
Active Duty Pay Right After College
Active Duty Retirement is normally 50% of Base Pay for 20 Yrs of service drawn at Age 42 until Death.
NG/AR retirement is 50% of final base pay after 20 yrs but isn’t paid until 62 years of age.

14. Questions?

15. Final Slide