Posted on Dec 29, 2020
Who do I contact about my MEPs process of enlistment for a medical waiver?
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I have spent a little over 7 months trying to enlist into the Army. I have gone through 4 or 5 recruiters. I have seen 2 or 3 personal doctors.
I understood that they needed my surgery documents, but my hospital decided that they were not important and got rid of them, but kept half of the post-surgery documents. So the Army said give us a letter from a doctor.
So I see a doctor, and they do a physical on me and say nothing wrong with you and write a letter to MEPs. Army says no, we want more, give us an Xray.
So I get an X-ray and the technician's rights saying nothing is wrong with his arm. The Army says no, we want a doctor to look at the x-rays.
So I go and get a doctor to look at them, and he had to write three different letters cause the army didn't like the way he wrote them. I thought I was good. The doctor told me that my arm was in great condition and then even did a full physical and said I was healthy. Then the army decided to say they want a specialist to look at me.
Now I have been waiting on the military to say anything. Just a week ago, after not hearing from MEPs for 3 months or more, they decided to send me to MEPs and get a physical before I see a specialist. Then my recruiters were confused if I even have to see a specialist now.
I want to join before I am 30 (I'm 23 and graduate college back in May).
If anyone could help me, that would be great. I want to serve this country. I plan on enlisting into the Army as a 35L.
I understood that they needed my surgery documents, but my hospital decided that they were not important and got rid of them, but kept half of the post-surgery documents. So the Army said give us a letter from a doctor.
So I see a doctor, and they do a physical on me and say nothing wrong with you and write a letter to MEPs. Army says no, we want more, give us an Xray.
So I get an X-ray and the technician's rights saying nothing is wrong with his arm. The Army says no, we want a doctor to look at the x-rays.
So I go and get a doctor to look at them, and he had to write three different letters cause the army didn't like the way he wrote them. I thought I was good. The doctor told me that my arm was in great condition and then even did a full physical and said I was healthy. Then the army decided to say they want a specialist to look at me.
Now I have been waiting on the military to say anything. Just a week ago, after not hearing from MEPs for 3 months or more, they decided to send me to MEPs and get a physical before I see a specialist. Then my recruiters were confused if I even have to see a specialist now.
I want to join before I am 30 (I'm 23 and graduate college back in May).
If anyone could help me, that would be great. I want to serve this country. I plan on enlisting into the Army as a 35L.
Posted in these groups: 
Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS)
Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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I had a similar experience going through the MEPS the second time, let me explain. I originally separated from the Air Force in 2005 as a SSgt, and came back into the Air Force again in 2009. When i went to the MEPS the 2nd time, they asked if i had any major surgeries, and I had one for a cyst in my lower back during my first period of active duty. That set off a chain of events because the military never documented it in my health records (it was the military who completed the surgery). I had to keep seeing VA doctors to inspect the surgery scar and document that the issue would have no impact on continued military service.
Bottom line here is you just need to be persistent and not give up. I realize how frustrating it can be, but just do what the MEPS medical team asks of you until they make a decision on whether to bring you into the service or not. If you have provided what they have asked for, and you haven't heard anything, be the squeaky wheel. That is how we get alot of things done in the military, you have to keep requesting status updates until people do their jobs sometimes.
Bottom line here is you just need to be persistent and not give up. I realize how frustrating it can be, but just do what the MEPS medical team asks of you until they make a decision on whether to bring you into the service or not. If you have provided what they have asked for, and you haven't heard anything, be the squeaky wheel. That is how we get alot of things done in the military, you have to keep requesting status updates until people do their jobs sometimes.
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Elston Harris
Thank you for the advice. I keep telling my recruiters I am sorry for calling so much, but they usually tell me it's ok that they are as irritated as I am about Meps taking so long.
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MSgt (Join to see)
MAJ Ronnie Reams - Your telling me! I thought it wasn't a big deal but the MEPS thought otherwise.
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Ok so MEPS I know well. I went 3 times. Back story; I was a fat ass to be blunt. I weighed over 320 lbs when I walked into a recruiting office and said I wanted to join the army reserves. They said drop weight. So I did. I dropped a ton of weight. Started getting taped regularly at the local recruiting office. Miscommunication with my recruiter and thought I was at right body fat % to commission. Go to MEPS. Fail tape by less than 1%. Need to see opthomology for astigmatism. Told basically you can’t go to see the specialist until you make tape. You can’t come back for 2 months to lose the weight. Lose the weight go back and make tape. Then they schedule the opthomology appointment a few months later. Get the go from them. MEPS says ok we will put in for a waiver. Wait a few more months waiver gets approved. Then wait more time to get picked up for selection. Miss the window for the year and get put on order of merit list and wait almost a year. Then get boarded a second time. Then get picked up. Then I wait months for scroll approval. Then months later get orders finally.
So long story short. It took 3 trips to MEPS. Over 3 years from first meeting with a recruiter to commissioning. Bet your butt it was worth every moment of waiting.
So long story short. It took 3 trips to MEPS. Over 3 years from first meeting with a recruiter to commissioning. Bet your butt it was worth every moment of waiting.
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Elston Harris
I hope it is not another 2 years for me. My new recruiters who seem a little more persistent than the others are telling me it will be around March when I will be able to enlist. For right now I am just lifting and running while working.
Also, losing that much weight is impressive and encouraging for my own fitness goals. I have been thinking about just going to get my masters, but I would like to start my military career while I am in my early 20s.
Also, losing that much weight is impressive and encouraging for my own fitness goals. I have been thinking about just going to get my masters, but I would like to start my military career while I am in my early 20s.
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MAJ (Join to see)
Just keep working out to stay in shape and you’ll get your call. Officer direct commissioning is much more difficult than going enlisted. Go enlisted then use your GI bill to get your masters while in service and then go officer if you want. Elston Harris
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Elston Harris No one on here can help you unless they work medical processing at MEPS or are at the waiver authority level. Unfortunately from reading on here, if there are any medical issues, this is the wringer that they will go through. you have to unfortunately continue to respond to the process and I am sorry they can't seem to get all their crap in one sock. Before they ask you for the next thing: request that they put EXACTLY what they want in writing. Assuming just for a second you are not an MD and can't read their minds.
Did you recruiters mention that you needed a waiver? The medical fitness standards are in AR 40-501 and DoDI 6130.03. This is not made up BS. You'll need to ride this out as it is very simple for them to say no and move on.
Did you recruiters mention that you needed a waiver? The medical fitness standards are in AR 40-501 and DoDI 6130.03. This is not made up BS. You'll need to ride this out as it is very simple for them to say no and move on.
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Elston Harris
LTC Mackay, my recruiters at first said that Meps only needed my personal doctor and had it in email, but then covid happened and after they started letting people back they told me that i would need to see a specialist. I have two metal plates in my forearm that are permanent, but I have full range of motion and I'm stronger in that arm than my other.
I think they just had a new group of recruiters come in this month and they made it where i could go to Meps before going to see a specialist. They are telling that I will more than likely go to Meps for a physical in January then see a specialist in February and if everything is ok then i will enlist in March. I'm just skeptical cause i have went through multiple recruiters and all of them are optimistic.
I think they just had a new group of recruiters come in this month and they made it where i could go to Meps before going to see a specialist. They are telling that I will more than likely go to Meps for a physical in January then see a specialist in February and if everything is ok then i will enlist in March. I'm just skeptical cause i have went through multiple recruiters and all of them are optimistic.
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LTC Jason Mackay
Elston Harris I would only worry if they quit on you. The MEPS people never change though.
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