Marines Delayed Entry Program

Question

I am going into my senior year, and i want to go into the marines. I want to go to college but i do not want to miss out on this war.

What is the marines Delayed Entry Program? could you tell me a little bit about it? and what it entails? thanks

Answer 1

Don't want to miss out on this war?! As a veteran, I can tell you - it's just like Yoda says, "wars do not make one great".  

If you're just that plain darned bloodthirsty, there will always be war and armed conflict for you to participate in. Going to college and THEN the military will ensure that you can make a larger contribution.. at least get the service to pay for your school up front.

Answer 2

In DEP you wait up to a year to ship out.Once you have gone down to MEPS you sign a contract and take a oath.It isn't something you should consider lightly as a oath is a oath and you give your word.However you can back out with no consequences.

Being in DEP has advantages as you have a set date to ship out and can maybe choose your job(Marines go by aptitude area i believe).Sometimes you might have a chance to be promoted if you recruit friends.

Want my honest opinion though,I don't think you should sign.You obviously don't have your mind made up and the Marine Corp or any branch doesn't has any need for people who are indecisive.

Answer 3

The delayed entry program is where you would go to your MEPS, and then you would take the otah, and then wait until you graduate to go to boot camp.

The benefit is you would have less of a military commitment. When you sign up, no matter if you enlist for 4 years and get out, you actually owe the military a total of 8 years. So, you could get out, and a year later be called back to active duty. The DEP would start that clock from the day you enter the DEP. So, say you enter now, and a year from now, you go into basic training. You would owe another 7 years. Whereas, if you waited, and not did the DEP, you would owe 8.

The military obligation means nothing if you plan on staying in for more than 8 years though.

Answer 4

The delayed entry program is when you enlist befor high schoolol ends and you can be in it up to a year. It takes away a year of inactive duty. Its would not help you in your situation. You have dilemmama go to college or go to war.. I choose war. I leave january 11 for boot camp and i enlisted on june 11 so i have about 6 months taken out of my inactive duty. Dep is kinda like being in the reserves but your not a marine and you don't get any benefitsts.  

Answer 5

The Delayed Entry Program is a program where you enlist in the military, but don't enter active duty until a later date.  When you sign up for your initial contract, you sign up for a period of 8 years.  Generally 4 of those years are active duty, but depending on the job, it could be longer,  and the remainder are served in the capacity known as Inactive Ready Reserve.  Reservists generally have a 6 year active, 2 year inactive contract.  Upon entering the DEP, you begin your Inactive Ready Reserve time.  DEP is limited in that you must ship within one year.  If you intend to go to college first, you would wait until completion of college before you enter the DEP (or until shortly before graduation).  All enlistees, whether shipping this week or next year, enter the DEP unless they enlist the same day they ship.  During your time in the program, you attend all "poolee" functions, which are generally weekly meetings between the recruiters and all the people waiting to go to boot camp.  

If your intent is to complete college while in the military, you could enter the DEP right now.  If not, wait until you are within one calendar year of completing your degree.

Hope this helps!