What are your Top 5 suggestions for MEPS candidates?

2018-10-09T15:48:38-04:00

If you served, ypu’ve been to MEPS. Everybody seems to have pointers, tips. and critical information to help recruits demystify the process. What are your Top 5 tips you can share with new recruits to help their day go smoother there?

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Oct 9 at 2018 3:55 PM

2018-10-09T15:55:43-04:00

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.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 9 at 2018 5:12 PM

2018-10-09T17:12:13-04:00

Fifty years ago I spent 12 hours processing before boarding a plane for San Diego. I would offer the following tips:

1. Get a good nights sleep the night before, so that you are alert at MEPS. You need to be at the top of your game for this important day.
2. Make sure you have all of your paperwork together so that you are not missing something critical.
3. Have a good attitude and listen closely to all instructions. If in doubt, ask for clarification.
4. Be a planner, goal setter, and squared away. As a planner, plan to be a little early for every appointment. being late is unacceptable.
5. Help out others as time permits.

Response by SPC Cathy Goessman made Oct 9 at 2018 5:56 PM

2018-10-09T17:56:58-04:00

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.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Oct 9 at 2018 7:59 PM

2018-10-09T19:59:15-04:00

1. Relax. Relax. Relax. You are not a recruit until you sign the dotted line, raise your hand and take the oath. Until then you are John or Jane civilian just going through a long job interview. Don't worry about the other guys or gals that are there with you. They each go through the same thing, gender specific, as you do. Relax.

2. See above. Get a good nights rest. This means not staying up late kicking it with anyone else that is there for MEPS. Eat right the night of, get plenty of rest, hydrate and eat right the morning of. Set your alarm, have a backup alarm and as a fail safe, call down to the front desk and have them do a wake up call.

3. See 1 & 2. Follow instructions of your recruiter. They are very specific and will tell you exactly what to bring and what NOT to bring. Period. If you have a question on if you should bring something, ask your recruiter before you do.

4. See 1-3. Leave the attitude at home or in the hotel, anyplace but there. When a staff member tells you to do something it is not for their amusement or jollies. There is a plan, there is a reason and you throwing attitude only gets you treated like an idiot, then set to the side while you wait on your recruiter who will then square your crap away, and then if lucky, you MIGHT be allowed to return to MEPS another time to complete the process.

5. See 1-4. You will learn the overriding rule of the military before ever joining. Hurry up and wait. You will experience brief periods of high activity, followed by periods of mind numbing boredom as you sit and wait, and wait, and wait, and wait some more. Per #3 follow instructions and see about bringing something to relieve that, like a book... a thick book. You are going to be at MEPS all day. Plan on it.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 10 at 2018 9:19 PM

2018-10-10T21:19:04-04:00

Stop smoking dope at least 30 days prior to MEPS...

Response by SFC Dan Sorrow, M.S. made Oct 11 at 2018 8:38 PM

2018-10-11T20:38:58-04:00

Same as others have mentioned. But also, don’t drink orange or other fruit juices at the hotel or elsewhere for breakfast. The extra sugar content can give elevated glucose levels on lab results and cause retesting or a consult.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2018 4:51 AM

2018-12-25T04:51:02-05:00

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.