Reserve Officers' Training Corps 2014 summit

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (11/19/2014)(readMedia)-- Reserve Officers' Training Corps 2014 summitSPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Army National Guard (ILARNG) Recruiting and Retention Battalion hosted the 2014 Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) summit at the Illinois Military Academy in Springfield, Illinois, Nov. 18.

Soldiers in the ILARNG who may not meet the minimum college credit hours to apply for Officer Candidate School (OCS) are often eligible to join ROTC at one of the 10 host programs across the state. The ROTC Summit is an opportunity for cadre and ILARNG leadership to come together and identify ways to increase the number of ROTC scholarships given to ILARNG Soldiers.

Illinois has 10 host ROTC programs located on college campuses across the state. Directorates from the National Guard and ROTC leaders from colleges met to discuss ways to increase Guard ROTC scholarships.

"The National Guard continues to build relationships with ROTC programs to continue to develop and train future ILARNG second lieutenants," said Lt. Col. Daniel Reichen of Springfield, Illinois, Recruiting and Retention Battalion Commander. "We want to ensure our ILARNG Soldiers are aware of opportunities to receive Guard scholarships by joining ROTC early on in college."

The ROTC summit is a way to synchronize efforts between the ILARNG and ROTC leadership to educate Soldiers about attending college and ways to become a commissioned officer in the ILARNG, said Capt. Joseph Harris of Rochester, Illinois, Recruiting and Retention Battalion.

The simultaneous membership program allows an ILARNG Soldier to contract with ROTC, receive financial incentives and serve as a cadet on drill weekends. This program provides many more incentives than using the Guard grant alone. A Soldier can make up to $18,000 an academic year for up to three years, plus tuition and fees, if awarded the Dedicated ARNG scholarship.

"The program better leverages Guard scholarships for Soldiers to complete school and ROTC," said Harris. "Soldiers get paid to become an Officer in the ILARNG."

Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Bowman of Plainfield, Illinois, Illinois Army National Guard Command Sergeant Major; Col. Joseph Schweickert of Peoria, Illinois, Illinois Army National Guard Chief of Staff; and Col. Tim Pheil, Army National Guard Assistant Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Cadet Command; give opening remarks during the Illinois Army National Guard (ILARNG) Recruiting and Retention Battalion 2014 Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) summit at the Illinois Military Academy in Springfield, Illinois, Nov. 18. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Aleah M. Castrejon, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)