non-deployable

[Boon Doctor]

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I just graduated AIT as a 68W (combat medic / health care specialist) and I'm in the National Guard. My plan was to contract with ROTC at my college after I completed my training commitment so that I could get a non-deployable clause in my contract, but I just found out that my NG unit is deploying to Iraq on june 30th. My unit is a small ASMC (area support medical company) with about 60 soldiers ranging from doctors, to nurses, to PAs, and medics. I've talked with my unit Commander and he doesn't know my future goals so he's like, "start preparing to pack up for Iraq" even though I <i>just</i> graduated AIT. Is it possible to still contract with the ROTC this Summer before my deployment date so that I can finish my medical education w/o going to Iraq?

Do you think my Unit would be apt to releasing me so close to our immoblization date?

 

[MonkeyBread]

My thinking is that your unit commander really doesn't care about your future goals. His goal is to complete a successful tour in Iraq. He has a certain number of billets filled, and he has probably planned the mission with those billets filled. Even if you just got there, he's known someone was coming, and probably planned with those numbers.

Plan to go.

 

[IgD]

Why did you sign up for the National Guard and not just enter directly into ROTC?

 

[jeepgirl]

Why did you sign up for the National Guard and not just enter directly into ROTC?

Maybe because of the Simultaneous Membership Program and all the bennies associated with it ... Financially, you can come out better by becoming an SMP cadet than by being a nonscholarship ROTC cadet or even a scholarship cadet.

To the OP,
Talk with your ROTC cadre. See what they recommend. Did you speak up back when you originally enlisted about your desires to be in SMP? It might not be too late, but you need to contact your ROTC detachment ASAP and find out your options. If you're not able to get released now, you'll at least be able to get the ball rolling for when you return from your deployment.

Good luck 🙂