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Enlisting in the Army, Step-by-Step

By , About.com Guide

10 of 10

Getting On with Your Career

Soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade, U.S. European Command, prepare for a low-altitude training jump from a UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter near Maniago, Italy.

Official Army Photo

The time will finally come when it's time to ship out! You'll return to MEPS to process out of the DEP and onto active duty. The folks at MEPS will have you fill out some forms to ensure that nothing has changed (medical, criminal history, etc.) during your time in the DEP, which could affect your enlistment qualifications. You'll then review and sign your active duty enlistment contract, take the enlistment oath again, then be put on a plane to your basic training location (the Army has several basic training bases).

Following Basic Training, you'll proceed to AIT to learn your Army job (or, you may attend OSUT, which is basic training and job training, all rolled up into one course). When you graduate AIT, you'll be granted a week or two of leave (vacation time), and then it's on to your first duty assignment. Good luck with your Army career!

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