Odd Army dep situation?

Question

I enlisted into the army's delayed entry program about three months ago. After training like crazy, losing twenty pounds, and giving my final goodbyes to family, i returned to M.E.P.S to ship out on October 25th (the date on the contract). I was sent home because my recruiters never performed a P.T. test with me, which is required to go to the reception battalion. I was also told by my recruiters that i woudn't need a debit card or checks and that an account and routing number would suffice. This turned out to be false which is another reason i was sent home. I called my recruiter from M.E.P.S and he said there would be someone at the recruiter station back home that would run my P.T. test for me and no one was there when i showed up at the agreed time and place. Now, my recruiter wont take my phone calls. My question is, where do i stand with my contract? Is it still valid? How long before i can begin a new contract with a different branch? Am i in trouble since i never shipped?

Answer 1

Sounds like to me you have a very bad set of recruiters. You are suppose to be given a P.T. test 2-3 weeks before you ship. Even your bank account direct deposit form should be completed soon after you join. Sounds like to me you should still get out on time. You are not in trouble for not shipping. It is your recruiters that should feel the wrap. What I would do is try and contact their boss and see what they tell you about when you should be shipping.

GOOD LUCK!

SSG Schramm
US Army 15 years
OIF 2003
US Army Recruiter 3 years running

P.S. Let me know if you have anymore questions.

Answer 2

When you get to training, they don't care at all about the PFA. About half the people that show up can't pass a PT test, and mostly the paperwork is BS'd. However, you are still in DEP, and your contract is still in force. The only thing that's changed is your ship date, which wasn't guranteed in the first place.

You need to take a PFA & book a new shipping reservation as soon as you can. If you are having issues with your recruiter than take that up with their boss - not too hard to track down.

I don't know who told you what about finances, but you are required to have a bank acct that's linked to direct deposit, and some way to access that money while at training. Don't bother with checks, take a debit card. Make sure that's squared away or your pay will be all jacked up & you won't have time, access, or communications to do anything about it.

Your recruiter is obviously very busy. These were some rookie mistakes that hurt his team's averages and he's taking a hit from his boss on that you can be sure. You need to take your fate in your own hands and make it happen.

Answer 3

Your are not bound to any contract, until you swear in, the second time down at meps, the first time is into the inactive reserves, and have no moral or legal obligation to any branch. I was a navy recruiter, and I seen it happen a couple of times on my 4 year tour on recruiting, mostly to the Army and Marines. Guys just didn't show up, and yes, the recruiter does get slammed when this happens. So if your recruiter did in fact, screw you over, then the reason he may not be returning your calls, is that he is no longer recruiting, but I don't that. It was most likely your fault............sorry buddy, recruiters just don't let a perfectly fine depper or applicant, just walk away....

Answer 4

man, i am not sure where you are from but i am a recruiter and doing a future soldier pt test is common sense along with making sure you have all the required paper work. if you dont ship it is my a$$ that gets fried. i dont want to sound harsh but is this the real reason you did not ship? did you tell the dr. anything that may disqualify you? its only a couple days past your ship date, the recruiter may just have everything set up for sometime next week and just has not called to tell you. you need to call the recruiting station and talk with the station commander and find out what is going on. as far as you joining another branch, you have to wait for the army to formally discharge you in the system. did the guidance counselor tell you that they would move your ship date or anything? it sounds fishy to me.

Answer 5

You should not be in any trouble,you arrived on your ship out date as you supposed to.if there were glitches it isn't your fault.The contract you signed should be null and void.The processing center should've informed you of your options when they found the glitch.Keep working out and try back again.If you don't get any satisfaction try a different recruiter with a another branch. Good luck to you.

Answer 6

If you put your right hand in the air and took an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic then you are in the service. Since they didn't drive you to the airport and put you on a plane for wherever your basic training site is, then I suppose you didn't take that oath.
That being the case, the recruiter is not too thrilled to speak with you since you have been dropped from the rolls before even beginning.

Answer 7

that is odd. army recruiters will try to get any one. if that is the only reason why you were sent back then you need to contact the sgt. or commander in charge of that recruiting station. you could also try another recruiter. if you want to switch to another branch, you need to talk to that recriuter-tell them everything and they should be able to help you. if you choose another branch, go navy corpsman. :)

Answer 8

relatively retard, teamwork is the main mandatory asset in ANY conflict, and the Marines and military the two heavily concentration on the two teamwork and self-discipline, and military recruiters might desire to try this because of the fact maximum Marine wannabees fall for the Marine propaganda and already understand their going to connect it so there isn't as plenty convincing to do for Marine recruiters.

Answer 9

Call MEPS and ask to speak to a career counselor.