Provided by the Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay, Salinas Draft Alternatives and GI Rights Hotline Program.

Although recruiters and other military staff will imply that Delayed Enlistment Program (DEP) members are formally "enlisted" in the military, this is not so. The DEP agreement contained in a very official- looking section of the actual "Enlistment Contract," is only a statement of proposed intention to report for formal enlistment.

Although the military recruiter would like you to think you are "enlisted," the DEP section of the contract DOES NOT bind anyone to actual enlistment. Under military law any DEP member can separate from this intention by writing a simple letter to the commanding officer where the original recruitment took place.

Make copies of the letter for yourself. When mailing the letter, go to the post office and have them attach to the envelope a "Domestic Return Receipt" (certified Return Receipt Requested form) so that you will receive a signed record that your letter was received. Now you have legal documentation that your letter was received by the military command.

If you have any questions about the regulation or military law, consult with a GI RIGHTS HOTLINE counselor (1-800-394-9544); The Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay and Salinas Draft Alternatives and GI RIGHT HOTLINE Programs (831-359-0202); or, Study the appropriate regulations at: www.objector.org.