How much would I make if I go on active duty? Consider this pay and benefit scenario for a UTM ROTC scholarship cadet who will graduate in the year 2006: The four-year scholarship could pay nearly $60,000 in tuition, fees, book money, stipend and travel. Let's say you plan to stay on active duty for four years and then enter the Army Reserves or National Guard for the remaining four year commitment. If we divide the scholarship benefits by four, that's like receiving a bonus each year while on active duty of $15,000. Add this to the starting pay for a Second Lieutenant in 2006 of around $38,500 per year and you have an equivalent starting pay of $53,500.
You can add several more thousands of dollars to this in benefits such as tax-free shopping and free or very low cost use of athletic facilities, free military aircraft flights around the world, etc. By the time this officer decided to leave the service after four years, the pay and benefits package would be at around $71,000 ($56,000 pay package and the last year of the $15,000 "scholarship bonus"). In the Reserves or Guard, this officer would receive around $475 per weekend drill period.
Non-scholarship, Basic course students incur no service obligation, and no uniform or haircut requirement. Once you accept a scholarship or enter the Advance Course, you make a commitment to serve as an Army Officer when you graduate. Depending on the needs of the Army and your preference, you may have the opportunity to serve on active duty, or you can request a Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty commission in the National Guard or or U.S. Army Reserve.
For more information contact CPT Jeff Crawford at wcrawford@utm.edu |