A Day At MEPS - Final Hour, Swear In, Ceremony Room

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**The Evaluation**

The primary job of MEPS is to determine whether or not you are qualified to serve in the United States Armed Forces, and -- if so, what jobs you may qualify for. The first step in that process, of course, is obviously the ASVAB which determines what jobs you qualify for.

MEPS personnel also determine whether you are medically qualified to serve. Additionally, representatives of the service branch you're joining will be at MEPS to determine your job and security qualifications. While these individuals "work" at the MEPS location, they are not actually part of MEPS. They are actually assigned to the indivdual service recruiting activities. So, while the person giving you your ASVAB Test and medical physical are assigned to MEPS, and work jointly for all the services, the people doing your enlistment contracts, job selections, and security qualifications are not assigned to MEPS, and are representing only their individual services.

At most MEPS locations, one of the very first things you'll do when you arrive in the morning is take a breathalizer test to ensure that you are not currently under the influence of alcohol. Any trace of alcohol in your system will stop your processing, on-the-spot.

**The Medical Evaluation**

The physical begins with the completion of the Medical Questionaire. You're required to answer "Yes" or "No" to questions about whether you have ever had any of the medical condtions listed. Note that there is no "I Don't Know" on this form. You've either had the conditon (i.e., diagnosed by a medical professional), or you haven't. Every item marked "YES" must be fully explained in the remarks section of the form. If there are descrepancies between answers on this form and the answers you gave on the Medical Prescreening Form, your enlistment process will stop, and you'll be returned to your recruiter to obtain additional medical records and information. This is why it is very important to make sure that you're completely honest on both forms.

After completing the Medical Questionaire, you'll start the "process."

You will take a blood and urine test (including a test for drugs). Females will be tested for pregnancy.

Your blood will be tested for HIV, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, RPR, and Alcohol. There are also two different urine tests, one is the legal drug urine and the other tests for pH, blood, protein, and specific gravity.

You'll take a hearing test, and an eye exam, including depth perception and color vision. You'll undergo a weight check. If your weight exceeds the standard listed by the service you are trying to join, you'll undergo a body-fat-measurement. If your body-fat exceeds the standard set by the service you are trying to join, you'll be temporarily disqualified.

**Job Selection**

At this stage, you work with your Service counselor/liaison to select a "military job." Depending on the needs and wants of the Service and your desires, this can be a very short or long process.

**Pre-Enlistment Interview**

Once you have "selected a job," the Service counselor will complete their required paperwork and bring you, (and your paperwork) to the MEPS Control Desk to initiate the enlistment processing.

At this time, you will undergo a Pre-Enlistment Interview (PEI). During the PEI, the MEPS Military Processing Investigator (MPI) sits with you, "one-on-one" and in private. The MPI will fingerprint you and ask you questions concerning possible law violations, drug/alcohol abuse, and other issues that may affect your entry into the Armed Forces.

During the PEI, if you have an additional disclosure (a potentially disqualifying item not already reported), it must be resolved before further processing continues. Once the PEI is completed, the MPI prepares your enlistment contract for you to review and sign with your Service counselor.

**Enlistment Oath Ceremony**

After you and your Service counselor sign the contract, you will return with the contract to the MEPS Control Desk for the Oath of Enlistment Ceremony.

MEPS personnel will teach you to stand at "Attention" and review with you the Oath of Enlistment. Once you're prepared, a commissioned officer will report to the Ceremony Room to conduct the Oath of Enlistment. After the ceremony, the MEPS control desk will check-out the applicant to his/her service who will check-out the applicant for the day. At this point you're done and will usually be taken home or to the recruiters office, either way you're in the military now. The next step is to wait for your day to ship to Basic Training.

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[carson0524]

When I swore in I thought it was funny watching all of these kids fail at drill, because I was in marine corp junior rotc for 3 years and I was on the drill team. So watching them go to attention with their feet at a 60 degree instead of a 45 and looking around when they should have been looking forward.

[iguardcalifornia]

@carson0524 Im sure you'll look just as funny when you're in boot and their are others who watch you fail because they know things that you haven't learned yet. Next time, how about helping those who may not have had the benefit of the training you've had. After all, were all brothers and sister in arms and one day you may serve side by side with any one of these patriotic Americans. Lead by Example.

[StreamingKnowledge]

Why didn't they come to attention when they responded to her?

[iguardcalifornia]

@StreamingKnowledge Well, You have to remember, no one knows what they're doing yet. Before the officer walks in an NCO gives them a quick class on how to come to Attention and Parade Rest. The NCO will ask the applicants if anyone has any questions and if everyone understands what they are supposed to do. Guess how they answer, you got it, everyone nods yes that they understand. After the officer walks in, attention is called and.... there you go! This will all change in Basic Training!

[evenhead1]

MEPS - the only time I've ever been told in my life to "bend over and spread them"

[carson0524]

@JewelOriginals every branch has a jrotc, i don't know if the coast guard has one though. college rotc does not have a marine corp rotc because it falls under navy rotc due to the fact that the marine corp is under the department of the navy.

[JewelOriginals]

@carson0524 i thought there was only navy, army, and air force ROTC? including JROTC?

[Rupert69Bear]

Isn't north Korea have the strongest military in the world becuz they spend more money on their military more than anything, plus Obama cutting back our military??**

[ratchetingclank]

@907mountainman haha funny, was me and some other kid for me :S

[907mountainman]

i was alone when i swore in lol, akward

[IMissNewYorkCity]

Oh, they in Cali? What the fuck about NY? In New York do we have to do the same thing? Like stand the way they did?

[firestonegraywolf]

why the fuck she talkin so fast

[TheMrlucky510]

When I swore in at San Jose MEPS there was only like 9 of us there lol

[evenhead1]

I actually swore in twice, once at MEPS and once at a Air Force Thunderbirds show

[Viking445]

@evenhead1 sure sure. ;)