What is the military recruiting process and how long is it?

It all depends on the recruit’s personal situation and what they are enlisting for. The first step is to talk to a recruiter. I started talking to a recruiter in December 1998 for the Army National Guard. I signed my enlistment papers in February 1999 and started attending drill with my unit that month. I was still a senior in high school, so I did not go to basic training until after graduation (June 1999).

I was in DEP (Delayed Entry Program) for over a year, so I have to say that it varies.