Posted on Jun 11, 2018
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My son Zach, Eagle Scout & VT Grad, is trying to enlist but requires a medical waiver because a physicians assistant prescribed him an anti-anxiety drug for 3 months in his Junior year at VT (3 1/2 years ago). He submitted his paperwork along with letters from our family doctor and a psychiatrist stating he does not need the meds back in February/March but has not heard back from MEPS. His recruiter also has zero information. How long should this process take? He is working as a waiter waiting for approval but is getting discouraged.
Medical
Waivers
Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS)
Enlisted
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 12
It can take a few months. There is a detailed workflow it goes through. You’d do better to try to contact the branch liaison at the MEPS as its not likely your son would be able to speak to anyone directly in the medical section.
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The first question is whether or not it actually a waiver at this point or if it is still a prescreen?
If he hasn’t taken the physical yet the medical documents are in the prescreen phase. MEPS has implemented a new prescreen procedure that is a challange at best. Frequently however- they will request the documents to go to the waiver authority for approval to take the physical. The recruiter doesn’t always know when it happens. A general rule of thumb in this area is that it takes 3 days to review the first 5 pages and then 1 day for each additional 5 pages. It’s not an exact science but it should give you an idea of how long a prescreen should take. If it gets sent up beyond that it could take a little longer.
If he’s gone to take the physical then it’s a true medical waiver. these can take 30 days or more. I’ve seen some things come back in 5 days and many others longer. No rhyme or reason behind it- it’s just how it goes.
I generally would not recommend contacting the MEPS directly. I would recommend either contacting the recruiting company headquarters or the recuriting BN so that they can have the liaisons check into it and make determinations as needed.
If he hasn’t taken the physical yet the medical documents are in the prescreen phase. MEPS has implemented a new prescreen procedure that is a challange at best. Frequently however- they will request the documents to go to the waiver authority for approval to take the physical. The recruiter doesn’t always know when it happens. A general rule of thumb in this area is that it takes 3 days to review the first 5 pages and then 1 day for each additional 5 pages. It’s not an exact science but it should give you an idea of how long a prescreen should take. If it gets sent up beyond that it could take a little longer.
If he’s gone to take the physical then it’s a true medical waiver. these can take 30 days or more. I’ve seen some things come back in 5 days and many others longer. No rhyme or reason behind it- it’s just how it goes.
I generally would not recommend contacting the MEPS directly. I would recommend either contacting the recruiting company headquarters or the recuriting BN so that they can have the liaisons check into it and make determinations as needed.
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Michel Babula
MSG, what are your thoughts on a Request to Physical going from the CMO at MEPS to the OTSG? It was sent up the day it was submitted to MEPS, don't know if that's a telling detail or not. Anyways, I'm about 4 months into the wait. Just looking to see i you could shine some light on the situation. Thanks, Mike
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MSG (Join to see)
All I can say is it is typical. I was told many moons ago that the MEPS docs like to push a large number of decisions to the various branches that way if something downrange doesn’t go right it’s on the branch itself and not on the MEPS doc.
Maybe it’s true - maybe it’s not. I’m personally willing to buy it for a quarter. Frankly we should all be glad that our branches have the final say otherwise no one would get to join.
Maybe it’s true - maybe it’s not. I’m personally willing to buy it for a quarter. Frankly we should all be glad that our branches have the final say otherwise no one would get to join.
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Michel Babula
MSG (Join to see) didn't know that OTSG was branch specific. Good to know. Idea being the Army OTSG would be more lenient? More willing to allow a candidate in? Also, I have to think CMO would send up somthing they knew would be denied?
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PFC (Join to see)
MSG. Good day! Please what goes on in the prescreen process? And what is the physical? It it the regular meps process? Thanks!
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SGT, sometimes (in cases like mine) it can take as little as a month (if I remember correctly, mine took about a six weeks), or it can take nearly a year. It just depends on how busy and/or efficient your MEPS BN is and the severity of the previous condition. Like the other comments say, don't be discouraged. It sounds like your son has covered all his bases, and there shouldn't be much in his way. I wasn't aware you can contact them directly, but that sounds like the best way to get info.
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DO NOT CONTACT THE MEPS FACILITY. The waiver has to go through a process. I've had applicants who have waited anywhere from 3 months to a year. All of the documents the MEPS Dr. Requested should be in there, if they are not as the approving authority wants them, it gets rejected. The Recruiter needs to look in the database and check. The recruiter CAN see the comments from the approval authority at each stage. Sometimes it has to go through several approvals before it reaches the final authority. Unfortunately, anxiety meds have to go all the way up..
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CPT (Join to see)
When I joined I was going into the guard while I was a cadet. I think we started the process around November and it was April when I took an oath.
Not sure if the state piece had any impact on the process.
Not sure if the state piece had any impact on the process.
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I had to get on for my hand after a ortho surgical repair involving metal plates and screws. Anyways all in all my medical waiver took about 2 months. But I’ve heard it can take way longer.
Should have withheld the information about pills tho.
Should have withheld the information about pills tho.
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CPT (Join to see)
Right answer SGT Joe Colby. Nondocumented is one thing, lying about medical records is another.
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Y’all should’ve just nit said anything. If he doesn’t need the medication and he has no life threatening problems or anything that makes him a liability, it didn’t need reported for his enlistment.
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SSgt (Join to see)
MEPs says that themselves. If it is no longer a problem, and no longer something that can come back and effect your mission readiness, and you get it cleared by a physician before you file paperwork it doesn’t need to be brought up. If a physician says it is no longer a problem at all, then it need not be brought to their attention.
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SPC Jeffrey Tamayo
SSgt (Join to see) that’s a facts! I had a circumcision and mine is going on 1 year now. Because that was reported
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He has not yet been to MEPS for a physical, all he has done is taken his ASVAB and submitted his records to the recruiter. He first looked into the Army a year ago only to find out he needed to wait for the 2 year mark.
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