The Delayed Entry Program (DEP, also called the Delayed Enlistment Program or Future Soldiers Program in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
), is a program designed to accommodate new enlistees into the
United States Armed Forces
The United States Armed Forces are the Military, military forces of the United States. U.S. United States Code, federal law names six armed forces: the United States Army, Army, United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps, United States Navy, Na ...
before they ship out to
basic training
Military recruit training, commonly known as basic training or boot camp, refers to the initial instruction of new military personnel. It is a physically and psychologically intensive process, which resocializes its subjects for the unique dema ...
. Enlistees first enter the DEP as inactive reservists, then make a commitment to report for training on a specified date. However, they do not become active-duty servicemembers until they formally enlist as such on that date.
Enlistees may use the period between signing up and shipping out to complete tasks such as graduating from high school or college, preparing physically and mentally for military life, and putting their personal affairs in order.
DEP members who change their mind and decide not to enter the military before they begin active duty will be separated with no adverse consequences. The Army DEP regulation, as an example, states that "under no circumstances will any member of
he recruiting forcethreaten, coerce, manipulate, or intimidate FSs
uture soldiers nor may they obstruct separation requests" (USAREC Reg. 601-56, 3-1c).
While the DEP enlistment agreement states that the military can technically order any DEP recruit to active duty in the event that they do not fulfill their commitment by reporting to training on their specified date, no recruit has been involuntarily ordered to active duty in decades.
Enlistees in the DEP are encouraged to spend a significant amount of time at a local recruiting office and receive training from their
recruiter before they ship out to begin recruit training and active service. Areas that are covered during this phase include
drill and ceremony,
first aid
First aid is the first and immediate assistance given to any person with a medical emergency, with care provided to preserve life, prevent the condition from worsening, or to promote recovery until medical services arrive. First aid is gener ...
,
chain of command
A command hierarchy is a group of people who carry out orders based on others' authority within the group.
Military chain of command
In a military context, the chain of command is the line of authority and responsibility along which orders ...
,
rank structure, and
physical training
Physical fitness is a state of health and well-being and, more specifically, the ability to perform aspects of sports, occupations, and daily activities. Physical fitness is generally achieved through proper nutrition, moderate-vigorous physica ...
.
Notes
References
External links
About the DEP{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702094202/http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/joiningup/a/dep.htm , date=2012-07-02
United States military policies