Delayed Entry Program (DEP)
Once you complete your junior year of high school, you are eligible to join the United States Navy as a member of the Delayed Entry Program (DEP). That means as a senior, you can go to school and be in the Navy at the same time.
It is highly recommended that you take the ASVAB test while you are still in high school. The high school version of the ASVAB is given at your school every year. The ASVAB is the military entrance qualification test, broken down into eleven different multiple choice categories. When you take the ASVAB, it is extremely important that you take it seriously and do the very best you can do. The ASVAB is not just a military test. There are some employers who are not involved with the military that require their employees to take the ASVAB before they are hired. Be sure to speak to the guidance counselor at your school to find out when the ASVAB will be given at your school.
Once you complete the ASVAB and earn a qualifying score, you can become a member of the DEP.
Between the time you enlist and the day you leave for recruit training, you will be in the Navy's Delayed Entry Program as a member of the Inactive Naval Reserve. Most Navy jobs require technical training schools and these schools have a limited number of openings every month. Consequently, you may have to wait to get into the school for the job you've selected. You may wait a few months or even up to a full year, but through the DEP you're guaranteed a seat for that school.
In the meantime, you can finish high school, take care of personal business, or just relax. It's a good idea to begin a physical fitness program while waiting to report just to be sure you're in shape for recruit training. Your personal training should include jogging, sit-ups, pull-ups, push-ups, and other aerobic exercises.
If you are under the age of 18 as a Senior, you will need parental consent to be a part of the DEP.