What are your Top 5 suggestions for MEPS candidates?

1. Follow the rules at the hotel the night before. (no fraternization with the opposite sex, no alcohol)
2. Set up a back up alarm so you don't oversleep and miss the bus in the morning
3. Leave your pocket knife at home (you won't get pass security and may be denied processing)
4. If you are hand carrying your documents, don't lose them or forget them at the hotel.
5. Drink water in the morning so you can provide your urine sample when prompted
One more: Don't argue or cop an attitude with MEPS staff. Quickest way to have your processing stopped and sit in the waiting area all day waiting on your recruiter.

1. Relax.
Seriously, MEPS isn't that big of a deal and when your brain isn't buzzing you are able to listen to and follow directions better. You aren't even a recruit yet. You are just an applicant. Nobody is going to start screaming at you and making you do pushups. Some people I went with thought that was how things go. It's not.

2. Drink water and eat well.
If your recruiter has you restricting water or food in an attempt to make weight realize that this can cause high blood pressure amongst other issues and high blood pressure in an otherwise healthy individual gets a huge eyebrow raise at the least and you disqualified at the worst. Don't do it. Your blood draws and pee test will also be a PITA when dehydrated. Stay home and lose the 5 lbs. The Army will be there next month.

3. Talk to people
Start a conversation with the people around you. It makes the day go by faster and some people have really interesting reasons for being there or taking a specific MOS.

4. CHECK YOUR PAPERWORK!
Especially dates and times. My ETS date was listed differently on one piece of paper versus another after getting a contract kicked back caused paperwork chaos. This later required a 2 star General's signature to correct it and a mad scramble on the part of my unit when I suddenly only had like 4 months left in. It also required a few threats to start climbing the chain of command as high as necessary to even get the paperwork started as an ETS date being wrong is not something that happens a lot. And if it's not on your contract you are NOT getting it. Airborne, station of choice, buddy program, bonus of any kind, Special Forces, whatev. Not on there? You are not getting it. 2 people raised their hands at my OSUT that they were going to Airborne or Ranger School. Guess what? Not in the contract and my Drill Sergeants were very quick to tell them that they were had by the recruiter.

5. Do your research
You all have a smart phone in your pocket and internet access at home(mostly). Arrive with a list of 5 MOSs THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED that you would be okay with. Only tell the recruiter/job guy the top one. They will happily tell you that the others are "unavailable" in order to sign you for the job that gets them a bonus or is easier to get. Your MOS really has the single biggest impact on your Army experience. I see a lot of people coming in that fail to understand this and so they make a "it sounds good" type decision rather than actually making inquiries into what that MOS is like.

Pay attention, follow directions, be honest, follow directions oh and umm follow directions.. It's pretty straightforward. You're gonna be nervous and the Doc is gonna get real friendly so be prepared for that.