Kimberly C. Kilgore has joined the United States Army under the Delayed Entry Program. The program gives young men and women the opportunity to delay entering active duty for up to one year.

The enlistment gives the new soldier the option to learn a new skill, travel and become eligible to receive as much as $50,000 toward a college education. After completion of basic military training, soldiers receive advanced individual training in their career job specialty prior to being assigned to their first permanent duty station.

The recruit enlisted for four years and qualified for a $20,000 enlistment bonus.

Kilgore will report to Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C., to complete basic military training. Afterward, she will attend Petroleum Laboratory Specialist Advanced Individual Training at Fort Lee, Petersburg, Va.

She is the daughter of Sandra L. Marino of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.

Kilgore is a 2007 graduate of Daphne High School.