I'm in the DEP and if i miss/get out of my ship date can i join the army?

Question

I'm in the DEP and the Marines recruiter is telling me BS. I would have never known except an ex marine i know just got back from Iraq and told me most of what my recruiter says isn't true. The army is offering me a better life and i want to get out of the Marines and take it.

Answer 1

Army's not much better. Recruiters lie. It's thier job.
Either way, as I told someone else, you can get out of the Marines before you ship out because they don't want people who aren't committed. And since the Army is missing manpower goals they'll most likely take you now. Double check with an Army liar... er... Recruiter...

Answer 2

I answered your other question before reading this and was a little hard on you. I thought you just wanted out of your commitment. I didn't realize you had changed your mind about branches. I'm sure you can easily do this. To be quite honest though (and this is going back to the '60's) army recruiters promise a lot...even guarantee a lot that is never delivered on. I explained this before in a previous answer and I hate to be redundant but...they will guaranee you a certain school for example. After basic you go to the base where that school is and as a new recruit you'll get KP first thing. Then assorted work details. They will tell you that you WILL get your school but there is no opening yet. The assorted work details may continue for months until you complain. Then they will tell you that they want to honor their commitment to you but there still isn't an opening...but if you REALLY want out...we just happen to have an opening in.......so you accept something you never wanted just to end the frustration of temporary duty. Aside from that, I am a former Marine and I've never been sorry. I have my preferences and biases but I would never put down a soldier or any unit in the army. They serve bravely and honorably. A Marine recruiter shouldn't be promising a whole lot of anything. The only guarantee they can make is an aviation guarantee if the air wing is your thing, but no specific school. The only promise a Marine recruiter should be making is that if you bust your *** every day you'll get a chance to join a select few with a proud tradition...and that should be enough.

Answer 3

I have served in both, and enjoyed both. Yes you can join the Army. I was a recruiter, and can tell you that you are in the DEP (delayed entry program), you are not in the Marines yet. By all means if the Marine recruiter is handing you a line talk to the Army. As an Army recruiter I never lied to a recruit (though I didn't always tell the whole truth either). Talk to others in both branches who have nothing to gain by your enlistment.

Answer 4

They can not make you ship. On the other hand you have given your word that you will ship to boot camp. I am in the Army and would tell you that you should have joined the Army but you have joined the Marines. If you do not ship then join the Army, nobody in the Army will ever know or care. I have had soldiers that did not ship for other services or even the Army, then later joined the Army or signed with the Army again. My advice, follow through wtih your commitment. It is the right thing to do. It will not be the end of the world. After you have finished your enlistment with the Marines, then go and join the Army. If you have further questions, email me at [e-mail].

Answer 5

Yes, you can join the army instead of the marines. DEP loss is something every service deals with. The army recruiter will have to do a spiff change to transfer your scores over.

The marine corps recruiter's job is to sell the marine corps. The army recruiter's job is to sell the army. They're going to tell you anything they legally can to get you to join their respective branch, especially since you're on the fence.

I'm willing to bet that the army recruiter told you about e-army-u. But I can guarantee that he didn't tell you that you have to be stationed at one of about five bases to participate. He probably also told you that you would have your own room. You probably won't. In Germany, we had four meen living in two-man rooms. Then the army forced us to move, and then we had two men in one-man rooms.

He probably also told you about army health care, but failed to mention that army health care consists of a medic taking your temperature, and in most cases nothing more.

I can't tell you that the marine corps is any better, but it sounds like you're scrutinizing everything the marines say, but taking everything the army says at face value. In the last 3 and a half years, I've worked with two former marines. Both of them hated the marines, but they hate the army more.

Answer 6

what ever they told you; recruiter or "former" Marine, you have to take it all with a grain of salt, you enlisted in the Marine Corps for a reason, Or else you wouldn't have done it! You have to remember that reason when you go to boot camp!

You can however get out of the DEP and no longer be a poolee, but you have to remember that all of your COs in the army, and that MEPS station know that you switched branches, it wont necessarily hurt you , but it will follow you!

Only you know why you wanted to be the Few And The Proud, And you have to stick with your decision, and be an adult about it, you can not be fickle!

Your recruiter must be a nasty marine if you can not trust him, but it was you decision to join! And now you have a obligation to your self, to see if you can go through boot! I gran-damn-tee you that if you were to Pass In Review on the Parade Deck of Parris Island, or MCRD San Diego you would be better for it!

If you have any questions feel free to email me, I am an Army wife to be and I enlisted in the Marine Corps. I received a Medical discharge, and was not allowed to graduate...I then came home and applied to go in the Army, I have experience with both branches, and would be proud to serve in which ever one.

I have experience with both and can offer you a positive and objective opinion on both!

Answer 7

All you have to do is write a letter to your station commander. You wont get a discharge, because your technically not in yet. The Army recruiter cant talk to you until your out of Marine DEP, or he isnt supposed to. Just write a letter telling them about your change of heart, they will threaten all kinds of penalties and jail time, but they cant do any of it. No one has been prosecuted for dropping from dep in over 20 years.

Answer 8

Why do you want to join the Army. I am a Marine that is currently serving (attached) with the Army in Iraq and to tell you the truth they do not know what they are doing out here, they are lazy and undiciplined; all they think about is chow even when one of their own is hurt. So you are better of joining the Marines.

Answer 9

the total procedure is specified on your settlement. the in person-friendly words questions maximum have is the timeline of each and every thing. usually, you commence with the MEPs actual, then a date is determined for person-friendly (6-8 weeks), after person-friendly you would get a week or as a way to flow homestead. then you definately're off to AIT, which will variety counting on your MOS. you're searching at 9-12 months of teaching earlier being despatched to a reserve unit. From the recent youthful ones I truly have in my unit, lots of them gripe about the total bonus payout. If that's an concern, then ask about it. each and every thing else is noticeably instantly ahead, you receives you head shaved, you'll study what to positioned on, even as to eat, etc. They truly own you, besides the undeniable fact that that is all area of the tried and real technique of making a battling guy. no longer something to be stressful about.

Answer 10

If you leave DEP, you'll get a General Discharge....which won't be good for any attempt at a military career.

Edit: I answered this before. Allow me to elaborate: a general discharge is BAD. Don't screw around with that if you want to have a military career.