is there an option to have the military pay for college or is there a non-military route one could go without going to the military afterwards? Obviously the latter route guarantees you paying for college yourself, but don't know exactly how it works.

How far are you into college? What are you studying? What branch are you interested in? What career field?

Corps membership does not require military enlistment or obligation. However, either of the above could lead to scholarships or tuition assistance.

Take a look at the Corps of Cadets web site, and you'll probably find your answers. Then check back here for specifics and more personal advice.

As ODBC said, it would help to know where you are on your academic path. If still in high school, step 1 is to qualify for admission to Texas A&M. Without that, it is a moot point.

And perhaps a little more to your question Linkeroonie

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The Texas A&M Corps of Cadets has produced some of the nation's finest military leaders. While membership in the Corps carries no military obligation, the Corps consistently commissions more officers than any institution other than the service academies.

All cadets select a Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and enroll in ROTC courses during their freshman and sophomore years.

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Also, if you're interested in the military but are not interested in the Corps, it may be worth your while to look into ROTC at another university. It's very hard to get an OTS/OCS slot post-grad, and transferring to another school gives you the opportunity to complete the traditional ROTC program.

But if you're scared of the Corps being hard, do it anyway.

If you are interested, the Texas National Guard has a simultaneous enrollment program that will pay your way. You actually get more money in the end if you commit to serving your obligation in the Guard instead of seeking active duty upon commissioning,

Being SMP in the Guard gives you some extra cash, but you still have attend monthly drills AND you are subject to your unit being activated. If you take the $, you take the risk, so weigh that option carefully.

With the Obama driven military drawdown, which appears to hit the Army end strength pretty hard, the numbers of Army ROTC scholarships will probably decrease, making them harder to get. Probably same for other branches, too. Sul Ross Corps of Cadet scholarships, however are still plentiful, and relatively easy to obtain if you submit in time.

Join up, if you make it thru you will forever cherish the experience. If you pass on it you will someday regret it and wish you had, especially if service in the military as an officer is something you are seriously considering. The best ROTC experience/preparation in America is Texas A&M. Always has been, always will be.

Actually, once you begin classes, you are non-deployable under the simultaneous enrollment plan. You still have to attend monthly drill and the two week summer session.

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Actually, once you begin classes, you are non-deployable under the simultaneous enrollment plan.

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This is a fairly new policy which didn't take effect until after the initial stages of OIF and OEF, when many students in the reserves and guard were yanked out of class to deploy.

A new unit was stood up for SMP members at A&M. Weekend duty if performed locally and the unit is non-deployable.