The Delayed Entry Program, also called the Delayed Enlistment Program, is a program where individuals going into active duty in the United States Armed Forces enlist first into the DEP before they ship out to Basic Combat Training (BCT), or "boot camp". This is a legally binding contract, an enlistment into the inactive reserves, with an agreement to report to a training station (the ___location of one's BCT) by a certain date. Under the current regulations, an individual can remain in the DEP for up to 365 days, after which the recruit will either have to report for training, begin the enlistment process again, or request separation from the DEP. However, regulations governing the Army,[1] Navy, Marines,[2] Air Force,[3] and Coast Guard vary.
While in the DEP the member’s recruiter will spend time with them and begin training them in military fundamentals such as drill and ceremony, first aid, chain of command, and rank structure prior to active duty enlistment.