I'm currently a sophomore in college but I'm a non-traditional student, im currently 28 years old. I'm thinking of joining ROTC at my university. I graduate with my bachelors in 2023 (when im 31) and I plan to go straight to a two-year Masters degree at my same university so I'd get my Masters by 2025 (when i'm 33).

I've always considered the military (both dad and grandfather were in the army) but i was never serious about it until recently but maybe I'm too old now. I'm leaning towards the ROTC route, but I'm having reservations about it that when I commission I'd be put into active duty. Which would probably ruin my immediate plans for staying put and doing my Masters at the same university. So correct me if I'm wrong but do you HAVE to go into active duty after ROTC or can you be an officer in the Gaurd? Being in the guard i think is the better options for me due to being able to stay put for my Masters, though I understand you could potentially be federalized and deployed.

I have some other questions about ROTC such as having to be <30 years old when you commission and being in ROTC during grad school, but that's probably better for the r/ROTC sub.

Now if I forgo doing ROTC, how do I become an officer in the Gaurd? I assume I'd just goto OCS? I'd consider just enlisting, but at my age and future education, I'd feel being an officer is more worthwhile. Also for those who have done it, how hard is it to goto college and more so, grad school while in the Gaurd?