It might not be as big of a concern as you might imagine...right now so many people who are signing up are not going to Basic training for a long time...theres like a waiting list to go, depending on what MOS you choose...but you'll definately get a ship out date before the end of 2010. only way to find out is by going to talk to a recruiter...you don't get your ship date or anything like that from the recruiter, that will happen at MEPS.