Expert: John L - 3/14/2011

Question
QUESTION: Mr. Lewis,

Back in December of 2010 I took a trip to MEPS in order to get some answers regarding student loan repayment questions and somehow ended up signing a Delayed Enlistment Program (DEP) contract for a 35N MOS scheduled to ship out in May, 2011.

I have since been working with my recruiter to complete my OCS packet. A security clearance/background investigation has been ongoing since the middle of February, 2011 and to the best of my knowledge has been expedited so that I can interview for OCS before my ship date. It is my understanding that the PT test results are the only remaining incomplete portion of my OCS packet - my job is travel-intensive and I am having difficulties arranging a time to complete the PT test.

I am currently working to complete my Masters thesis with an expected defense date in mid-April (giving me enough time to complete my degree before ship date). Unfortunately, due to scheduling conflicts of professors on my thesis committee (of which I am at the mercy of), my defense is now needing to be pushed back another semester to sometime in late July or early August, 2011.

Because I am determined to complete my Masters degree before I ship, am I correct to assume that I can/will need to renegotiate my DEP contract ship date to accommodate me earning my degree? If so, it is to my knowledge that October is the beginning/end of the Military's fiscal year - would it be beneficial to use October as the renegotiated ship date?

Please let me know if you need additional information or clarification.

Thank you for you time and service,
Matthew

ANSWER: The Army will not let you renogotiate your ship date.  If they do, i will be suprised.  OCS packet while still in DEP is fishy, not when you could have enlisted as an OCS option.

Good thinking of finishing your masters before going to training, but you will most likley have to refuse to ship and join again later after you gave completed your masters,  There is no waiting period usually, but will have to get a waiver from the Ary to rejoin, except for the National Guard, where you can enlist as an OCS option and ship later as soon as you are discharged from DEP.

They will try to talk you into shipping and they will give you time to finsih your masters,  THEY WILL BE LYING if they do that, 35N requires to much training to allow you to do anything else, including OCS.

If the Army was smart, they would renegotiate (reno) your contract, but you may lose the MOS you picked.

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

QUESTION: Thank you for your timely and informative response Mr. Lewis.

What about the OCS packet while under DEP is fishy? I was never informed about enlisting as an OCS option - what does that entail?

Could you please further explain the process of refusing to ship, obtaining a waiver, and the discharge from DEP? I apologize, I am not very familiar with DEP's or my options/rights regarding them.

To my knowledge I would lose my current MOS if I am accepted to be commissioned and placed wherever the Army needs my abilities/skills (I would ideally like to go into MI or ACE, but am willing to serve wherever needed), am I correct to assume this?

Thank you again for your time and service,
Matthew

Answer
There i sno discharge type for refusing to ship, you never actually serve, so there is no discharge type.  A waiver to get back in the Army after a DEP discharge is just a simple administrative waiver, you just have to explain why you didn't ship and show that the reason wont happen again, in your case, it is too simple.

Refising to ship is just that, not showing up the day you are supposed to ship, you should tell twm ahaead of time, and the reason why, they will hound you a bit, but there is no recourse for not shipping.  The Army is still all volunteer and there nothing can happen happen to you for not shipping.  Your degree outwieghs shipping in my opinion.

Since you already had your degree, there are OCS options for you to join directly into officer programs, though I am not vart familiar with their programs, while in the Guard, you can enlist to be an ooficer and never have an enlisted job though you do go to bootcamp.

As far as officer jobs, you have little input on what job you get.  You put your prefereces down, but in the end, the Army picks based upon needs of the Army.  So you are right on the money on that part.  The issue is, why would the army send you to an MI school, which costs a boatload of money, to let you go OCS and be a supply or infantry officer.

In the end, the Army will let you join later on after your degree is finished, you are well qualified and DEP discharges are normal in this business.