". . . Let's get it all out into the open: If a recruiter (or anyone else) tells you that you can't get out of the DEP, they are lying to you. If they tell you it will be a "dishonorable discharge," they are lying to you. If they tell you that you will go to jail, they are lying to you. If they tell you that you will be fined, they are lying to you. If they tell you that it will keep you from getting student loans, or jobs, or anything else, they are lying to you. If they tell you that MPs will come and drag you away to basic training, they are lying to you. Don't laugh, but one recruit was even told that the DEP discharge would go on his "social security record," and remain there for 53 years. Obviously, that, too, was a lie (remember when teachers used to tell you that your behavior/grades would go on your "permanent record," and follow you for life?).
A DEP discharge is officially known as an "Entry Level Separation" (ELS). An ELS is not characterized. It's not "Honorable," it's not "General," it's not "Under Other Than Honorable," it's not anything. DEP Discharges do not result in an RE (Reenlistment Eligibility) Code that will prevent joining the same (or another) military service in the future.
A DEP discharge has one, and only one negative effect: If you are discharged from the DEP, and later want to enlist in that SAME service, you will require a waiver. While waivers are usually granted, you may lose certain benefits, such as the ability to chose what job you want, or what date you will ship out to basic training. For example, one Air Force Recruiter told me that his commander would only approve a waiver for someone with a voluntary DEP discharge, if the recruit agreed to ship out to basic training within 30 days (which, in turn, limited what job choices the recruit would have). On the other hand, an Army Recruiter told me that she made it a routine habit to contact DEP discharges six months or so down the line to see if they had changed their minds and now wanted to join. Apparently, her particular commander approved these type of waivers routinely.
DEP Discharge Procedures
All requests for discharge from the DEP need to be in writing (See Sample Letter). The letter must clearly state that you are requesting to be discharged from the DEP, and state your reasons why.
http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/joiningup/a/dep_2.htm Page 3
While one can use any reason at all, it's best to use one of the reasons that are specifically mentioned in the recruiting regulations. These reasons are: . . .
Recruiters themselves do not have the authority to discharge individuals from the DEP.
Only Recruiting Commanders have that authority. So, your letter needs to be addressed to the Recruiting Commander (but you can give the letter to your recruiter). Your recruiter is required by regulation to forward the letter to his/her commander.
The Recruiter is required to try and talk you out of it. This is known as "re-selling." However, regulations prohibit the recruiter from using threats, such as "You'll go to jail." (That doesn't keep some recruiters from using this tactic, however). It's unfortunate, but true, that most of the complaints I hear about such tactics usually come from Marine Corps Recruits (See Gerald's Story on the GI Rights Web Site for an example). I guess that Marine "Gung-Ho" attitude sometimes gets out of hand.
http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/joiningup/a/dep_2.htm 
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