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Direct Procurement Enlistment Program (DPEP)

Navy DPEP Program Information

DPEP provides for the enlistment of applicants with civilian acquired postsecondary vocational or technical training and significant work experience. DPEP requirements apply to both Active and Reserve Component applicants except where component-specific criteria are identified.

Vocational or Technical Training

Applicants who have completed accredited civilian vocational or technical postsecondary training at an accredited institution comparable to the rating enlisting into, but have no significant work experience, may be eligible for enlistment in paygrade E-3 as a designated striker.

Training or Experience

Applicants who have completed accredited civilian vocational or technical training and have one or more years of significant work or supervisory experience in a civilian field may be eligible for enlistment in paygrades E-3 through E-6 in critically manned ratings or NEC's. The applicant's training, work or supervisory experience must correlate directly to the rating for which enlisting.

Documentation of Self-Employment

  1. Applicants must include at least two letters of reference documenting skills and experience comparable to the requested rating (using a DD Form 370). Additional letters may be required to address the minimum time period for the requested paygrade. In addition, at least two of the following must accompany the application:
    1. Current business or state license.
    2. Advertisement in telephone directory.
    3. Billing statement addressed to the applicant’s business address.

Documentation of Employment

  1. Document rating related civilian employment as follows:
    1. A resume detailing the training, work and supervisory experience required for the requested pay grade.
    2. References from a minimum of three employers listed in the enlistment application that are applicable to the rating for which applying (using DD Form 370).
    3. Billing statement addressed to the applicant’s business address

Navy Rating and Civilian Occupation Equivalency Resource

The Occupational Information Network (O*NET Online) provides access to four occupation classification systems: Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT), Military Occupational Classification (MOC), Registered Apprenticeship Information System (RAIS), and Standard Occupational Classification (SOC). O*NET Online is accessible at https://www.onetonline.org. The MOC system allows entry of either the rating abbreviation (AE, etc.) or the rating long title (Aviation Electrician’s Mate, etc.). If there is a corresponding civilian occupation, the system will return a listing of occupation(s) coupled with the respective SOCs. Additionally, each listing contains an associated link for occupation details encompassing tasks, knowledge, skills, abilities, work activities, work context, job zone, interests, and work values. Applicants can compare occupation qualification levels with rating and paygrade requirements to help get an idea of what Navy Rate one may qualify.

All applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. The mere listing of occupations does not mean the applicant is qualified for the rating. Each individual’s training and work history must be reviewed closely to determine the exact nature of the job and the rate and paygrade for which they may be best qualified.

DPEP Basic Eligibility

Applicants must meet all basic enlistment and specific program/ rating eligibility requirements.

  1. ASVAB
    • Applicants must meet ASVAB line score eligibility for entry into the requested rating.
  2. Physical
    • Meet prescribed physical standards for Navy service and rating entry requirements.
  3. Prior Service
    • Open to non-prior service and prior service. Personnel currently under a Navy Selective Reserve (SELRES) contract are ineligible. Skills obtained through previous military training and experience will be considered.

Personnel who have served in the USN/USNR or other branches of service whose MOS, AFSC, or NEC directly converts to a Navy rating are not eligible for enlistment under the provisions of the DPEP Program in the same rating unless they have been discharged for more than two years.

Training and Work Experience Requirements

Work experience and vocational or technical training compensation.
Pay Grade Minimum Years Work Experience Minimum Years Supervisory Experience Minimum Vocational or Techical Training Hours
E-3 1 0 1,080
E-4 2 0 1,080
E-5 4 2 2,160
E-6 7 4 2,160
  1. Every two additional years of work experience may be substituted for one year (1,080 hours) of vocational or technical training.
  2. Every additional 1,080 hours of training may be substituted for one year of work experience.
  3. College Compensation:
    • 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours of college credit earned in qualifying courses may be substituted for 1,080 vocational or technical training hours. College credit compensation may be substituted for vocational or technical training hours only for those credit hours earned in courses that are specifically related to the occupational field or rating in which the member is enlisting. For example: If a member is applying for the HM rating and has 3 semester credits in each of the following courses (English 100, Humanities 101, Biology 120, Emergency Medical Technician-EMT1, Statistics, Basic College Study Skills, Anatomy 100, and World History), then only the nine credits earned for the Biology, EMT, and Anatomy courses can be applied. The other credits were earned in subjects that are not specifically related to the HM rating.
  4. Supervisory experience cannot be substituted.

All DPEP accessions that are required to report to Recruit Training Command or Transient Personnel Unit Great Lakes will be administered a rating assessment prior to commencing their technical training pipeline (Class "A" School) and may have the training tailored based on their knowledge, skills, and abilities. In most instances, this accelerated training is to fill in the gaps between their civilian acquired experience and specific rating requirements.

See your local recruiter for additional application details!

Navy Rating Specific DPEP Requirements

The Direct Procurement Enlistment Program (DPEP) enlistment is restricted to only critical ratings or Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) codes. Ratings willing to accept a DPEP applications with just the basic information; however, both the Hospital Corpsman and Master-at-Arms ratings have additional information required as defined below:

Navy Hospital Corpsman (HM)

  1. Hospital Corpsman
    1. Civilian trained and certified surgical technicians, radiology technicians, laboratory technicians, pharmacy technicians, and cardio-pulmonary technicians may be enlisted under the following conditions.
    2. Must possess a current, valid certification in their respective field.
    3. Must have proof of training from an accredited institution.
    4. Must provide two letters of recommendation from a civilian medical facility.
    5. A vacant billet must be available with the NEC for which the applicant is enlisting (Under no circumstances will a technician be enlisted into a general duty HM billet.).
  2. Medical Assistants.
    1. Certified Medical Assistants (CMA) may be enlisted into a general duty HM billet. They must have a current certification in Medical Assisting from the American Association of Medical Assistants.
  3. Nurse Assistants.
    1. Certified Nurse Assistants (CNA) are not eligible for enlistment as an HM under the DPEP Program.
  4. Mortician (HM-8496).
    1. Must satisfactorily complete a mortuary science course at a school accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education, Inc.
    2. Must hold a current license to practice as a mortician from one of the 50 States or the District of Columbia.
    3. Applicants will be assigned the HM-8496 NEC upon successful completion of HM "A" School.
  5. Dental Hygienist (HM-8708).
    1. Must have completed an associate’s degree in Dental Hygiene (Associate’s in Science or Applied Science Degree (AS or ASS)). The institution must be accredited by an accrediting group, which is recognized by the commission on recognition of post-secondary accreditation (CORPA).
    2. Must have normal color perception and vision correctable to 20/20.
    3. If currently a student, provide the following:
      1. Letter of recommendation from the Director, Dental Hygiene program.
      2. Documented interview with two clinical supervisors. Phone interviews are acceptable.
      3. Copy of transcript prior to entering active duty showing program completion and award of degree.
    4. If working in field less than one year, provide a letter of reference from school program director or current employer.
    5. Applicants will be assigned the HM-8708 NEC upon successful completion of HM "A" School.

Master-at-Arms (MA)

  1. Master-at-Arms
    1. Law Enforcement Officer with Experience. The applicant must possess a certificate indicating graduation from a course of instruction by one of the following:
      1. Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Glynco, GA and not in a "recruit police officer" or "probationary police officer" status.
      2. State government law enforcement academy and not in a “recruit police officer" or “probationary police officer" status.
      3. Approved county and local government law enforcement academy and not in a “recruit police officer" or probationary police officer" status.
      4. Graduates of state, county, or local academies must possess a certificate indicating successful completion of Peace Officer Standards Test (P.O.S.T) at either the basic, intermediate, or advanced level.
      5. Certificates from a non-governmental, private, for profit, or non-profit academy (e.g., ABC Law Enforcement Academy, ABC Criminal Justice Academy, etc.) are not acceptable.
    2. Corrections, Probation, Parole Officer with Experience. Applicants must possess a certificate indicating graduation from a course of instruction by a government criminal justice, corrections, probation, or parole academy as listed below:
      1. Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Glynco, GA and not in a "recruit police officer" or "probationary police officer" status.
      2. Approved State governmental criminal justice, corrections, probation, or parole academy and not in a “recruit" or “probationary" status.
      3. Approved county and local governmental criminal justice, corrections, probation, or parole academy and not in a “recruit" or “probationary" status.
      4. Certificates from a non-governmental, private, for profit, or non-profit academy (e.g., ABC Law Enforcement Academy, ABC Criminal Justice Academy, etc.) are not acceptable.
    3. Security Practitioners with Experience. Applicants must possess a Certified Protection Professional certificate and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

This information concerning the Navy DPEP is for informational purposes only. Reference for this page COMNAVCRUITCOM INST 1130.8N, Chapter 7, Section 3, dated March 18, 2024. See your local Navy Recruiter for additional details and application for consideration.

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