To view or download the complete regulation, click on the the link to it in the box above these comments.




The SMCR is the Selected Marine Corps Reserve.


What this part says is that entering into the DEP puts you in the SMCR.











Here it says not going to boot camp gets you discharged from the DEP.

“IADT” is “Initial Active Duty Training”, also known as “boot camp”.


Here it says requesting release from your enlistment contract...

...gets you out.

Here it says that your discharge is an Entry Level Separation and is uncharacterized (that is, neither Dishonorable nor Honorable). Moreover, you normally do not get discharge papers.

MCO P1100.72C MILITARY PERSONNEL PROCUREMENT MANUAL, VOL 2 (18 Jun 04)

2203. DELAYED ENTRY PROGRAM (DEP)

1. General Information

a. This program permits the Recruiting Command to enlist male and female applicants into the Regular Marine Corps or SMCR and delay their departure for recruit training. Regular and Reserve non-prior service applicants are eligible to participate in the program. See paragraph 4205, page 4-32, for additional information.

b. Individuals intending to enlist into the Regular Marine Corps and desiring to participate in the DEP must first enlist into the Marine Corps Reserve. The DEP is a component of the Marine Corps Reserve. These individuals remain in the Reserve while in the DEP, do not become a member of a specific unit, are credited with inactive duty time against their military service obligation (MSO) of 8 years, are not required to attend any Reserve unit functions, and are not entitled to any pay or other benefits. These individuals are often referred to as poolees. On the date these individuals depart for recruit training, they are administratively discharged from the reserve component and enlisted onto active duty in the Regular Marine Corps.

...

4301. DISCHARGES

...

2. Disqualified Enlistees

...

c. When an individual is qualified, properly enlisted, and sworn in, but refuses to execute the order to recruit training or to the assigned command, the recruiting station commander will immediately notify the gaining command of the same. The gaining command will join the enlistee by service record only and make an appropriate unit diary entry reflecting “unauthorized absence”, and process for discharge.

...

3. Other Situations Involving Members of the DEP and SMCR Awaiting IADT Where Discharge is Appropriate
...

d. Desire for Release or Intent Not to Report. Cases will arise in which members express a desire to be released from their enlistment contract. This may have been expressed through letters to a congressional representative via chain of command. Their intention is to not report to the MEPS for enlistment in the Marine Corps, or to not execute their IADT orders. Whenever commanding officers of recruiting stations are confronted with the above situation, the following action will be taken:

(1) The individual will be interviewed and counseled about fulfilling the contract. Individuals will be reminded that their enlistment contract is legally and morally binding.

(2) If the interview and counseling session fails, and the individual insists on being released from the enlistment, the individual will be discharged as soon as possible.

(3) Letters advising individuals of their discharge from the DEP should not chastise or degrade the individual. Rather, we should offer our best wishes for success in their future endeavors so as to maintain a cordial relationship.

4. Procedures for Discharge of Members of the DEP/SMCR Prior to IADT

a. District commanding officers may effect discharges for members of the DEP and members of the SMCR awaiting IADT under the provisions contained in the current edition of MCO P1900.16. At their discretion, they may authorize recruiting station commanding officers to effect the requested discharges. Entry-level status begins upon enlisting in any Reserve component and terminates 180 days after the beginning of entry-level active duty training. Therefore, these discharges will be categorized as “uncharacterized entry-level separations.” Under normal circumstances, these discharges do not require a DD 214, or discharge certificate (DD Form 256). The letter format in figure 4-3, page 4-65, will be the only correspondence used to effect an “uncharacterized entry-level separation”.