Does Delayed Entry Program Count Towards Time In Service

What are Military Delayed Entry programs or DEP? For those who consider careers in the war machine but are too young to authorize, or who are one-time plenty to authorize simply don't however meet certain standards (concrete, education, etc.) the Delayed Entry Program of their chosen branch of military service may provide a way into the military experience while the bidder is even so trying to encounter the requirements for enlistment.

Each branch of the United States war machine has a delayed entry plan, which may be referred to casually equally a delayed enlistment plan, or depending on the co-operative of service in that location may be a specific "branding" type name; the Navy's Future Sailors program is ane every bit well as the Army's Future Soldiers program.

The Department of Defense Approach To Delayed Enlistment

In general, the DoD philosophy toward delayed enlistment programs includes ii basics; the individual services are tasked with developing their own programs, but certain guidelines inform them.

For example, in that location are strict rules that govern how recruiters can arroyo high-school age potential recruits. Ground forces regulations expressly foreclose recruiters from coercing high school students who idea they wanted to join a delayed entry program just later change their minds.

Recruiters may be able to help someone who isn't of legal age to commit to a military career by entering them into DEP, merely those who make up one's mind to back out cannot legally be forced or intimidated into doing and so.

Delayed enlistment policies respect the all-volunteer nature of the U.Due south. armed forces, and while this is no guarantee that an individual recruiter might not try to utilize pressure tactics to go an uncertain teenager to change their mind it DOES mean that parents and potential recruits alike have recourse with the chain of command should that actually occur in violation of the rules.

The Procedure

When y'all sign up for DEP, you accept committed to ship out to boot campsite on or past a certain date. You lot have signed legally binding documents that commit you to bones training, but until you lot really graduate from basic preparation or boot camp, you accept the option to change your listen at whatever time.

The chain of command does non brand it hassle-free to quit (from their perspective the time and effort invested in you requires them to try to talk you into staying if they can up to a sure point) but as long every bit you oasis't graduated from kicking camp, y'all do have the power to change your mind.

DEPers Are Non Notwithstanding Military Members

When inbound DEP you are NOT however on active duty, you lot are non still an official member of the uniformed services but ARE considered a member of the Inactive Reserve. Military enlistees are considered in trainee status, which is why you can change your listen virtually serving prior to graduation day at basic training.

As mentioned higher up, the specific procedures for getting into a delayed enlistment program will depend on the branch of service you are joining. If you have non talked with a recruiter yet information technology'south entirely possible that you might need to consider DEP in some cases but you may not have to bother with it in others. The following circumstances are of import factors in whether or not DEP is required for you:

Yous aren't old enough to make a legally bounden commitment to the armed services withal
You have non graduated loftier school however
You did y'all graduate high schoolhouse and are currently working on a GED or similar alternative
You do not yet meet weight standards or fitness standards to enter basic training
You wish to commit to the armed forces but cannot transport out to basic training as soon every bit you would like
You have commitments (legal or otherwise) that may require you to set a later on date for boot camp. These commitments can include college classes, changes in family status (weddings, divorces, childbirth, etc.) and other variables
You come across the qualifications to enter military service but the job you want is not even so available

Entering into a delayed entry or delayed enlistment requires you to commencement encounter with a recruiter and begin the basic screening and interview process for enlistment. Yous will accept meetings with your recruiter earlier you lot are asked to commit to DEP.

You are non automatically enrolled in DEP, and you are non obligated to any military service simply for discussing DEP-related matters with the recruiter. Once you have committed in writing to a delayed entry plan you volition take an official first meeting with your recruiter equally a newcomer to DEP.

Those who sign upwards for these programs are sometimes referred to as "DEPers" and you may, depending on circumstances, be asked to assistance your recruiter every bit part of your DEP commitment. You may fifty-fifty be asked to refer others who might be interested in joining; those who practice so may earn recognition from the recruiting command for operation-based results in areas similar these.

DEP Regulations and Processing

DEP rules and procedures are always subject to change depending on current guidance, federal law, mission requirements, etc. By the very nature of these programs, what you lot find printed about them online is likely non the entire moving-picture show due to such variables. You'll need to enquire a recruiter what the virtually upwardly-to-date features of the program are to be fully informed. Not every co-operative of the service publishes (for public consumption) the same level of details well-nigh their delayed entry policies; ask a recruiter in any example.

The Army Future Soldiers Program

Those who commit to a delayed entry program with the Army are provided with an orientation program that includes a welcome kit, review of the enlistee's commitments to the program and to basic training plus chore assignments and other important details. But those interested in this program accept some commitments to make.

Ane such commitment is acknowledging the restrictions on DEP enrollees required when you sign upwardly for DEP and fill out DD form 2983, Recruit/Trainee Prohibited Activities Acquittance. Regular army Time to come Soldiers/DEPers volition create a GoArmy account and admission training modules provided on that portal. The recruiter will also hash out with DEPers:

The importance of maintaining mental, physical, and moral eligibility
Requirements for and scheduling of an Occupational Physical Cess Exam or OPAT
A requirement for Future Soldier to contact the recruiter every 2 weeks
A requirement to hold 1 office meeting with the Future Soldier monthly
Discuss Future Soldier training schedules
Talk over basic training requirements, packing lists, etc.

In most cases, recruits may exist in delayed entry status every bit a Future Soldier for a few months to every bit long as one year. In general, you may not exist on DEP status for more than 365 days. DEP enlistees tin can look to participate in Army fitness programs while they await to transport out.

Navy Future Sailors Delayed Entry Program Personnel

Navy literature for the families of those inbound the Hereafter Sailors program are informed that new recruits are "considered Navy Hereafter Sailors from the time they contract until they study to their start permanent duty station."

In this DEP program, recruits "may qualify for recognition if, during a rolling 12-month period, they refer the required number of applicants to a Navy recruiter" and those referrals plow into signed contracts.

The U.S. Navy says of this process, "The Navy needs skilful leaders at all levels. Even as a recruit you lot volition have the opportunity to step upwardly and accept a leadership part equally a Recruit Piddling Officer or other designated recruit job." The purpose of putting DEPers into these roles? The Navy official site, when addressing delayed entry, reminds, "Leadership is the practical application of the Navy's Cadre Values."

The Navy'south Delayed Entry Program, like the others, places an emphasis on preparing the recruits for basic training. In this case information technology's via something called the Navy START Guide which all DEP enrollees are required to go familiar with. START includes data on basic chain of command issues, military expectations, what to bring to boot camp, etc. Following review of the START Guide these DEP enrollees are entered into a 72-60 minutes orientation process.

Like the Army, Navy enlistees who are in DEP status may remain so for a few months up to a total year or 365 days total.

Marine Corps Delayed Entry Program

The Marine Corps official site for recruiting has some of the clearest and almost hands discoverable information near DEP. The Marine Corps approach to DEP is to allow every bit much as 410 days (nether certain circumstances, 365 days is the typical maximum) of delay with the express intent of that fourth dimension existence used for the recruit to graduate from high schoolhouse or college, or "generally get your affairs in order" earlier bones training.

Features of the DEP program as described on the Marine Corps official site include:

Earn a "guaranteed program in writing"
Earn the opportunity for accelerated promotion every bit part of the program
The Marine Corps "Buddy Programme" which allows recruits to ship out to bones training with a friend
The Marine Corps Recruiter is responsible for providing DEPers with "mentorship, guidance and support, while ensuring you lot are prepared for the rigors of recruit training"
The Marine official site advises those interested in delayed entry, "You will participate in a strenuous physical regimen, to set up you lot and your swain poolees for the recruit grooming battles ahead"
DEPers must take the "the Initial Strength Examination" which is the Marine Corps comprehensive physical test "that you must somewhen pass to begin recruit preparation"

Air Strength Delayed Entry Program

The Air Force official site is a scrap more succinct about the details of its delayed entry program and it'southward also one of the few services to directly address using DEP to enter the military one time a specific desired job becomes available. The Air Force official site states that DEP, "allows you to complete your application to the Air Strength and reserve your Air Force job before an assignment is available."

When enrolled in Air Strength DEP, the general requirements are to stay in affect with the recruiter on a weekly footing, perform cocky-paced or self-directed concrete fitness programs, and observe the basic rules of conduct for being in the program. Some Air Force recruiting units may or may non have organized fitness activities for their recruits; much depends on where you sign up, the proximity of the recruiter, etc.

Declension Baby-sit Delayed Entry Program

Of all the military branches of service, the United States Coast Guard has the smallest amount of information on Delayed Entry options published online. Basically, when signing up for the Coast Guard you lot have the choice of shipping out to bones training at the earliest available time or inbound into the DEP plan for upwards to 12 months in order to get personal affairs in order, graduate, etc.

If you need boosted information on the Coast Baby-sit'southward policies for delayed entry, it's best to speak to a recruiter.

Joe Wallace is a 13-yr veteran of the U.s.a. Air Strength and a quondam reporter for Air Forcefulness Television set News