Expert: Aaron Shifferly - 11/28/2011

Question
QUESTION: ok i just enlisted in the army as a 89b which is ammunition specialist i have been told this is a very safe job in the army cause ur not out on the front lines but anyway my basic training is in fort benning georgia and my ait is at fort lee my friend has the same job we are both active duty and he got sent to basic someplace else and his ait is at fort lee also so i thought fort benning was for infatry? why would i be sent their for basic? do i have to worry about being attached to a infantry group since iam being sent their? whats the risk of this job combat wise? is this a safe job? is their a special way they choose who goes where for basic? is fort benning a good location for basic training? i have been told iam lucky to go their for basic thats why i ask any info would be great ty.

ANSWER: First.. if you're looking for a safe job or something 'not on the front lines' you need to consider another career type.  The Army, by definition, is an organization dedicated to combat which is inherently unsafe.  In today's combat landscape there is no 'front line' and all Soldiers, from cooks to ammunition specialists to infantrymen, are subject to combat and its stresses.  There are 4 locations in the Army for basic training: Fort Jackson, Fort Benning, Fort Sill, and Fort Leonard Wood.  Unless you are going into an MOS such as Military Police, where Fort Leonard Wood is the home and therefore you'd go for basic training, you'll go to wherever there is space.  You will be used as the Army sees fit during your time in, to include doing things that may not be in your MOS.  I honestly suggest you reconsider joining at all if you're worried about being 'safe' and seeing combat.  You and the Army won't make a good fit.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: ok so since i was lied to and got told this job was on a base handing out ammo and i would not see combat also i had a bad run in with the recruiting boss down here at the recruiting station and you sound like a i will tell u how it is kinda guy maybe you can help answer this question about dep active duty here it is is the following true? and if so i dont have to tell a navy recruiter i was ever in dep and that i was never in the army? i ask cause the navy requires a waiver for dep losses.

The discharge must be characterized as an "Entry Level Separation," for "Performance and Conduct." An Entry Level Separation is not characterized. That means it's not "honorable," it's not "general," and it's not "Other than Honorable." It has no characterization at all.

So, how is this different from an active duty DEP Discharge (other than it's more complicated)? Well, an active duty discharge from the DEP is not really a "discharge," because it creates no military record. Recall that I said a person discharged from the active duty DEP can legally and morally state on any form that he/she has not served in the military. However, members of the Guard and Reserve, are entitled to drill pay, even if they haven't been to basic training, which means they were *IN* the military, and a military record is created, and filed at the National Military Personnel Records Center, in St. Louis.

That means, if you are ever asked if you have ever served in the military, you must (legally and morally) answer yes. This could possible affect future employment opportunities (some employers may put great weight on whether or not you "quit" the military, and other employers may not care, at all). It will also definately affect your eligibility to join any branch of the military in the future.


http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/joiningup/a/dep_5.htm
here is the link to military.com

Answer
I'm not quite sure. I talked to a recruiter I know and he's even more sketchy about some of the details.  All I get is that you should tell the Navy about your contacts with the Army because they'll likely find out anyways.  As for the type of discharge you'll get you shouldn't get one in DEP but if you join and get booted from basic training you'll get an ELS one.  That triggers a barrier to service for a while.  Hope this helps clear up your dilemma a bit..