One more thing...

[acreekmo]

What exactly is DEP? I read on here that most people recommend doing that first to get a feel for the Navy and then if you choose not to sign up you don't have to? Please can someone clarify what this is for me? This may help us on our decision.

[NavyMomx2]

Wow, first of all - WELCOME to our site, we are glad you've stopped by. I don't have the answers to all your questions, but not to worry, someone will be along shortly to help you with all your questions.

I can tell you that DEP is awesome - it is the Delayed Entry Program. Once you've decided Navy is for you, you have up to a year to leave for boot camp. My kids entered the program, for a very simple reason...so they wouldn't have to go to Great Lakes in the winter! LOL They were so spoiled.

As you said, the Navy can provid you with much more than a nine to five job, that is for sure. I don't think anyone can tell you honestly that there wouldn't be times that the two of you wouldn't be apart - for what length of time....no one knows until orders are in hand. You also asked if he would have the possiblity he would see combat...as the very wise Retired Navy Chief just said in another post (I hope you don't mind if I quote you Pistol) "the US Navy takes the fight to the enemy. We can't do that very well if we don't leave homeport once in a while."

My take is, all things are possible in the Navy - I hope this has helped in some way. Please keep reading and posting and someone much wiser than I will come along shortly and help you will all your questions.

Again, Welcome to our site.

[Retired Navy Chief]

Hello,

DEP or Delayed Entrance Program serves as a way for you to sign up in the Navy and get a guaranteed technical school and specific job skill. If the job field that you are interested in is a very popular one and lots of people want that job as well, this program allows the Navy job classifiers to look at the school quotas up to a year away to find you and opening. If there are none .... then you will not be offered that specific job (provided that you are qualified for it to begin with).

There are many benefits to this program. The most important one, I have already mentioned. DEP also provides you enough time to get your personal affairs in order so that you can focus on your new life in the Navy. This is a totally different world and too many distractions will slow your progress.

Another benefit to DEP is the general military training that you will get from your recruiter. You may learn basic rank structure, military terminology & "Navy Jargon" as well as some rudimentary marching skills (some people really struggle with this).

Now ..... you need to understand that the DEP is NOT under any cir***stances, the place where you get to "try out the Navy" to see if it is what you want to do. You should have your mind made up by this time with the exception of what job you plan to sign up for.
When you go to the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS), you will be seeing if you are mentally and physically qualified to join the Navy. If you are among the qualified applicants, then you will talk to a job classifier who will tell you what jobs you are qualified for as well as what jobs are available at that particular time. When you find the job that meets your interests and they let you know when they can bring you in (to go to bootcamp) then you will take the oath of enlistment. This is the important part .... this is where you are actually enlisting in the Navy and it is a binding contract. Please don't take this lightly.

My advice for you is to speak with your local recruiter and even if it takes you several visits before you have all the information .... don't agree to go to MEPS until you are certain that you want to join the Navy.

Good luck with your research and decision. Don't hesitate to ask lots of questions ... both here on this site as well as at the recruiters office.

Cheers,
PISTOL

[Kristie]

Pistol....you are a great asset to this site.....thank you!