What is your 'favorite' memory from MEPS?

Capt Brandon Charters — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 11:33:53 -0400

I know we all entered MEPS before we really knew what the military life was going to be like. What is your MEPS story?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2017 11:34 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 11:34:57 -0400

Wait! There was good memories at MEPS???!!! Which one did you go to hahahaha

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made Sep 25 at 2017 11:36 AM

Capt Brandon Charters — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 11:36:24 -0400

I had a MEPS staff member (pushing 70) hook me up to an EKG, told me there would be electric charges sent through the wires, then left the room. At 21, needless to say my readings were off the the charts.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Sep 25 at 2017 11:39 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 11:39:42 -0400

My favorite memory was leaving MEPS. My second favorite memory was leaving the Reception Station at Ft Jackson.

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Sep 25 at 2017 11:40 AM

Maj Marty Hogan — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 11:40:28 -0400

That was 1984 and don't recall any of it

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Sep 25 at 2017 11:41 AM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 11:41:50 -0400

Capt Brandon Charters for me MEPS was a great experience over all. It meant that I had really lost enough weight, and gotten myself into good enough shape to pass the tape test and go into the Navy. So despite doctors with cold hands, the fear of answering a question wrong and being sent home, and my oath of Navy enlistment being conducted by an Air Force Major, I loved the whole day spent at MEPS.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2017 11:41 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 11:41:54 -0400

Just before taking the oath I was pulled out of the formation. I had to wait until the next day because of a paper work problem.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Sep 25 at 2017 11:45 AM

LTC Trent Klug — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 11:45:01 -0400

I was pulled out of the ASVAB testing two times to have a chest x-ray done. The first two times the x-ray tech thought he'd botched the thing. On the last one, they finally figured out my L4 and L5 vertebrae were fused from birth. I had to do tons of different exercises to prove I would be okay in Boot Camp. Then I went back to finishing the ASVAB.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Sep 25 at 2017 11:53 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 11:53:32 -0400

After We took the oath all those that enlisted in the Marine's were put in a formation right away and right there a Gunnery Sergeant went to work on them. One recruit turned around to look at the gunny and He gave him a quick kick in the butt and responded with the phrase, "What are You looking at Boy ?" Right away at that point I was glad I enlisted in the Air Force. They gave one of our guys the records to carry, each of us got a token to take the subway to the airport and a ticket for a free meal at a restaurant at the airport. We were free until one hour before departure we had to be at the gate.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Sep 25 at 2017 11:57 AM

SGT Dave Tracy — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 11:57:54 -0400

ooh, ooh, ooh! I got one.

We had this really intense Naval Officer monitoring the "Whiz Quiz" that a bunch of us had to take. Now, I've done that rather unpleasant task for urinalysis testing in the years since, but never was I so engrossed in the process. Never had I know ANYONE so engrossed in the gross.

This guy was at business level (you know what I mean), and so damn close to the guy at the far end, that his "pornstache" HAD to be in danger of brushing the trainee's leg. Thank God it wasn't me on that end, but here he was, fists on hips, doubled over at the waste, furrowed brow and a look of pure zealous determination in his eye. It's a wonder we all didn't get stage fright for this singular audience!

Talk about Danger Close! One sneeze; one shoulder bump from the Number 2 guy in line; one minor distraction by the pee-shooter on the firing line, and this Naval officer's face would get washed.

This was a man born to take his job too seriously. I have to believe this; that or he either did something really bad once or was bucking for something much bigger in the future to take this crappy task to new heights of seriousness. It's one thing to do the task correctly, no matter how uncomfortable it may be, but its another to go to his extreme. I don't know if I can convey just how intense his meat-gaze really was, but it's about the only thing I remember from MEPS.

Response by SGT Jim Arnold made Sep 25 at 2017 12:05 PM

SGT Jim Arnold — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 12:05:38 -0400

i visited the MEPS station all the time. i went delayed entry.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2017 12:17 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 12:17:48 -0400

On my very first visit/physical for the Army, the doctor was clicking a flashlight on and off, he said to me "bend over and spread the cheeks."

Response by SSG Keven Lahde made Sep 25 at 2017 12:23 PM

SSG Keven Lahde — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 12:23:19 -0400

Ummm favorite??? I wouldn't sy favorite, but being scared as all hell of the unknown!!!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2017 12:42 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 12:42:37 -0400

Which time? The last 2 times it was that I performed better than those roughly half my age, but still got denied a waiver...lol

Response by Sgt John Steinmeier made Sep 25 at 2017 12:44 PM

Sgt John Steinmeier — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 12:44:15 -0400

Only thing I recall about MEPS was my second trip there for my actual day to leave for Basic Training. It was the wee hours of the morning and my mom, step-dad and I where driving to the MEPS station when my step-dad asked me what exit do we need to get off at. I had no idea. I had driven myself there close to a year before for all the initial processing but had never returned since. It was somewhere in downtown Columbus, OH. Fortunately it was right off of an exit and somehow I recognized the area as we came to it.

Response by PO3 Donald Murphy made Sep 25 at 2017 12:52 PM

PO3 Donald Murphy — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 12:52:30 -0400

I joined the Navy in England so there was no MEPs. I joined under delayed enlistment in March and was told that my departure date would be sometime later in the year. Not one day later I get a phone call telling me I'll be shipping out in April. I flew out of London's Heathrow Airport on April 24th and arrived in Orlando where I was met at the airport by the USO "greeters." They put me on a bus and a few minutes later I was at the boot camp in Orlando, Florida.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Sep 25 at 2017 12:55 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 12:55:55 -0400

MEPS was well after I joined. My younger brother went through though, he had no issues.

Response by GySgt William Hardy made Sep 25 at 2017 1:02 PM

GySgt William Hardy — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 13:02:22 -0400

My favorite memory of MEPS? Well, I had gone through a day-long processing at the Memphis MEPS center back in early 1967. I was waiting in this one area as I was told to do. This guy came out and called out my name and escorted me into the doctor's office. The doctor looked at me with a great big smile and said, "Good news, you are underweight and will not be drafted!" I just looked at him for a moment and then I said, "I wasn't drafted. I volunteered for the Marines!" He gave me this strange look and then said OK and signed a waiver. I guess he thought he was doing me a favor. LOL

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2017 1:05 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 13:05:16 -0400

My first time through MEPS, in 1995, ended with me signing my USMC contract. The Gunny there told me if my signature went outside of the box at any point he would break my arm. I believed him. Still do in fact.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2017 1:07 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 13:07:44 -0400

They told us to drink a lot of water for the UA and I definitely did. I've never had to pee so bad in my life. To tell you the truth I may have peed my pants a little bit. When I went back through MEPS as an prior service/officer candidate it was a totally different experience. Everyone else was walking around and standing at parade rest while I pretty much had free reign of the place.

My least favorite memories are visiting MEPS as a recruiter. We knew if they called too early something went wrong on the floor and you may have lost an applicant to something.

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2017 1:29 PM

MCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 13:29:56 -0400

In 1981, I had discovered Arlo Guthrie. I was whistling, "Alice's Restaurant," and a Major came screaming out of his office to see who was doing it. Fortunately for me, he was also a fan.

The day I was in-processing at MEPS (shipping out in an hour or so), this kid was trying to get approved. Big kid... and nothing but muscle. He was crying his eyes out because he weighed too much and the medical personnel wouldn't approve the waiver (this was when weight and body fat were first linked for the service). The MEPS commander came out, got a brief, and personally signed the waiver. I hope he did well in the Corps!!

Response by SSgt Phil Sigman made Sep 25 at 2017 2:52 PM

SSgt Phil Sigman — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 14:52:23 -0400

My favorite memory happened the second time I went through MEPS when I joined the Air Guard. I had been out from active duty for about 9 months when I decided to join the Guard and had been working in a warehouse doing a lot of heavy lifting loading trucks and such. Anyway, when they put us through the strength test of lifting the weight over your head, several of the teenagers struggled with it. When it was my turn, I just walked up there and lifted it up like it was nothing, no struggle at all. A 30 year old man just showed up a bunch of teenagers, LOL!

Response by MSgt Marshall Schiller made Sep 25 at 2017 3:18 PM

MSgt Marshall Schiller — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 15:18:47 -0400

September, 1969, and I was enlisting in the Marine Corps. The Army Staff Sergeant who was telling everyone how to fill out their paper work made this announcement:
"Listen up! The Marines are taking draftees this month. How do we select those going to the Marine Corps? Mess up anything on this paperwork, and you'd better start learning the words to the Marine Corps Hymn!"

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Sep 25 at 2017 5:00 PM

PO1 Brian Austin — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 17:00:54 -0400

Doing the duck walk with a couple other dozen guys in our tighty whitey's.
Going through the interview for my drug waiver.

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Sep 25 at 2017 5:07 PM

SFC Jim Ruether — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 17:07:04 -0400

Being told that in no uncertain terms that I should consider OCS after my Basic Training is complete because of an outrageous ASFAB score.....gosh did I even spell that right? ha ha ha

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Sep 25 at 2017 5:29 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 17:29:19 -0400

My MEPS story... I think my favorite part about the whole MEPS experience was when they were trying to take my biometrics. Emphasis on trying. They were scanning every finger and they couldn't get a useable print. The Marine trying to get my prints literally told me that if I wasn't joining the military, I might make a decent bankrobber because I wouldn't leave any fingerprints behind. It was one of those moments that kinda blew me away because I couldn't tell if they were just messing with me or not.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2017 5:31 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 17:31:28 -0400

I walked out of 2 MEPS when they told me info that was unacceptable. The first time, the Career Counselor came chasing me down. The second time my Recruiter came chasing me down.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2017 6:03 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 18:03:43 -0400

Since MEPS for me was in New Orleans: Free bus ride, free night in hotel room and Bourbon Street the night before enlisting!

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Sep 25 at 2017 6:39 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 18:39:33 -0400

Since I enlisted in 1965 long before MEPS had come about I find the following posts very interesting,my memories of the induction process must sound prehistoric to current Service members

Response by SGT Tony Clifford made Sep 25 at 2017 7:05 PM

SGT Tony Clifford — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 19:05:24 -0400

I don't think anyone has a favorite about when a 200 year old doctor stared at their butthole, or made them wait in their draws in a surprisingly cold room. How about waiting for 8 hours to finish all of their testing? No? Well then, I guess the whole experience sucks.

Response by SFC Orville Harless made Sep 25 at 2017 9:30 PM

SFC Orville Harless — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 21:30:51 -0400

When I enlisted in 1976 it was called the Armed Forces Entrance and Examination Station (AFEES). My favorite memory was watching my recruiter putting his face in his hands and shaking his head after I said I probably wasn't going to enlist. You see, I wanted to be a helicopter pilot, but I had a medical Specialist 8 that was being an ass about my eye test. He was one of those "the regulation says..." guys and was flunking me on eyesight because my right eye registered as "20/15". You see, the regulation stated that your eyesight had to be "20/20" in both eyes, and he had the "power" to nix me from becoming a pilot. I let my recruiter sweat it out for two days before I decided to ask for a different MOS; 93E - Meteorological Observer. This MOS had nothing to do with the artillery; it was a smaller MOS that was strictly related to Army research and development programs. This made him hang his head again. It turned out there were only about 200 or so in the Army, and they never saw many openings for it. But he ran it through and there were seven slots, so I took it. The rest is history. They civilianized the MOS seven years later and I became a 97B - Counter Intelligence Agent. Never really missed not becoming a pilot!

Response by LTJG Richard Bruce made Sep 25 at 2017 9:55 PM

LTJG Richard Bruce — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 21:55:59 -0400

In 1979, guys for all five services were getting checked out in Indianapolis. Hernia inspection came up. All the guys, about 30, lined up and drop trou. A middle age female doctor walked in and grabbed her way down the line with the coughs in rhythm with her stride.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2017 10:23 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 22:23:29 -0400

My haircut. I love getting my head shaved. Usually just the sides but it was reception. Pink Floyd was playing on the radio, and the woman was digging that buzzer into my cranium just the way I like it. I almost felt like the sheep in the family guy skit.

My mistake I misread it as reception. How can anyone have a good memory from MEEPS? In that case it reminded me of the family guy episode where peter gets a prostate exam.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Sep 25 at 2017 10:59 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 22:59:28 -0400

In 1953, It was an ‘Induction Center’ in the ‘Mode O’Day’ building on ?Main Street about 9th in downtown Los Angeles. I seem to recall, we were then bused to the train station and disembarked at Ft Ord about Zero dark thirty; in Ord’s infamous fog!

Response by SGT John Flint made Sep 25 at 2017 11:04 PM

SGT John Flint — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 23:04:25 -0400

I remember my first week and one situation come to mind
Drill Sgt to me “are you a f***ing idiot (right off the Bus) yes drill Sgt I am

Response by SPC Casey Ashfield made Sep 26 at 2017 2:19 AM

SPC Casey Ashfield — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 02:19:19 -0400

My MEPS was at Westover Air Force base in Western Massachusetts. I have several fond memories of the place. At the time I had been going to a military school and was used to a floor of cadets sharing a bathroom. When I arrived the night before my MEPS appointment I was put up in an "Air Force hotel" for the night. I asked the enlisted airman "Where is the bathroom for this floor?" He looked at me like I was some sort of savage and responded "There is one in your room."

Another fond memory was the very next morning. A few minutes after walking in a class room, no one was asked their name or any questions. Everyone was immediately given a breathalyzer test. Anyone who blew a number other than 0 was sent away. Not sure if they were allowed to join the military when sober or kicked out. Out of 55 in that class room, 9 were drunk and set out.

Response by SPC Rob Lewis made Sep 26 at 2017 1:40 PM

SPC Rob Lewis — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 13:40:36 -0400

Was sitting around in our underwear waiting for some test and a MD came running in to the room followed by another pissed off looking MD. They were hunting for an applicant that had been passed thru the eye test but was legally blind. MD #2 just stamped his paperwork as passed and sent him on his way. This was in 82 at the St. Louis MEPS

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Sep 26 at 2017 2:52 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 14:52:42 -0400

Our in-processing was done at Medina AFB; the only thing I remember before that was testing done at the recruiting station (AFOQT). My clearest memory of the process was being assigned a service number and the clerk looking up and saying "Damn, that's a great number!"
And it was. 03 for the month of March; 223 for the caliber of the M-16; and 777 which I just had to memorize.

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made Sep 26 at 2017 7:07 PM

SP5 Peter Keane — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 19:07:13 -0400

Getting a free TAB with my box lunch. jk

Response by SGT Mark Halmrast made Sep 26 at 2017 8:13 PM

SGT Mark Halmrast — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 20:13:21 -0400

Two memories.
First, the duck walk.

Swcond...I was last in line (125 of us at MEPS) for last event -- actually signing up. I acored well on ASVFAB, and when NCO asked what I was interested in I said, "Airborne infantry."

After his double take, he said, "You want that?!"

"Yes"

So he took me to the front of the line before I could change my mind, and boom, I was signed up.

Response by Sgt John Ervin made Sep 27 at 2017 1:13 AM

Sgt John Ervin — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 01:13:57 -0400

Meal consisted of a single cheeseburger, fries and a drink at Burger King. NOT a Whopper, NOT a chicken sandwich. The equivalent of a kids meal... I had a 2 hour bus ride to the station and a 2 hour bus ride home..basically an all day physical, and tests. Yes, folks in 1983, the USAF recruiter would not give anyone a ride to the MEPS station, so I had to go to the BUS station and get a ride to the MEPS office. I remember the rejection rate was about 80 to 90%... you would have been amazed what kind of people tried to enlist, back in those days. I seem to remember only about 1 in 20 in high school actually passed the ASVAB test.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 27 at 2017 9:13 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 09:13:58 -0400

I worked the Dallas, TX AFEES as a clerk typist on my first enlistment as saw draftees cry as a Cpt and myself lined up draftees, and Cpt would walk to each man laying a hand on their shoulder and calling off the branch of service they were being drafted into. Saw many a college student headed for the MARINES, breakout in uncontrollable shakes. LOL. You should have volunteered!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 27 at 2017 9:23 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 09:23:28 -0400

In 1990 I was assigned to MEPS Jacksonville, FL as a PSSP. My job was to interview any applicant enlisting into an MOS that required Secret and above clearance. Some of the stories I could tell about applicants I disqualified were amazing!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 28 at 2017 10:58 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 22:58:39 -0400

I went to MEPS to take the ASVAB. Got a good score. The kid sitting next to me was straight out of high school. He kept telling his buddy how relieved and proud he was after taking the ASVAB for the third time. It was his highest score ever.
He had a 35.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2017 12:41 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 12:41:18 -0400

I am at the whatever it was called back in the days of dinosaurs... a couple hundred guys all running around is boxer shorts carrying a folder, going from station to station. I am connected to the EKG, enjoying life when my buddy pokes his head in the room and says, you wont believe who is out in the lobby, Leslie Fair. I start laughing. Leslie fair was a buxom blond, and the daughter of MG Fair. I am imagining her wandering around this WWII facility in the same attire as the rest of us.

As it turned out, they turned her away at the front desk, I settled down and completed my induction physical.

Response by SSG Antoinette Azevedo Toscano made Oct 18 at 2017 2:37 PM

SSG Antoinette Azevedo Toscano — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 14:37:18 -0400

My most vivid memory from MEPS is not weighing enough to join the Army. On my third try, my recruiter had me eat a breakfast of champions on the way to the MEPS. It consisted of a quart of chocolate milk, as much of a gallon bottle of water as I could manage, a family-sized Tupperware bowl of mashed potatoes, and a re-heated hamburger that he bought the night before. I remember standing in line for my physical trying not to puke. I passed the weigh-in and all that I had to do was stand in front of the toilet for two seconds before all of that food came back up. It was horrible then but funny now.

Response by SSG Antoinette Azevedo Toscano made Oct 18 at 2017 3:28 PM

SSG Antoinette Azevedo Toscano — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 15:28:21 -0400

As an Army recruiter, a high school senior walked up to me at school and said something like--you recruited my cousin. He said everything you told him about the Army was true. I'm a senior and I want to sign up with you. Fast forward, we're at the MEPs, this athletic kid who just might be capable of becoming a rocket-scientist because he's that smart, said, "I'm not sure I want to join."

Okay, let's go home. You can come back another time if you change your mind."
Then he said, "Arent' you gonna talk me into joining?"
"No, if you don't want to be in the Army, I don't want you in a foxhole next to me someday."

This was my constant philosophy during my three years on recruiting duty. I was determined to never recruit anybody that I wouldn't want to serve with in the future. I turned to walk away but the kid didn't follow me. So, I walk back and say.

"Now what's the matter?"
"I'm trying to decide if I'm gonna join or not."
Well, I was snacking on some M&Ms because my lunch was interrupted when the MEPs called me to come talk this kid. I had a handful of M&Ms in the little slit of a pocket of my Army skirt. Without saying a word to the kid I slowly fished around in my pocket--making a show of it to the kid. Then I pulled out two M&Ms.

"Hold out your hand." I slapped the two M&Ms into his hands without saying a word.
"What's this for?" He asked.
"They're the balls you forgot when you left home this morning son--make a damn decision. Are you joining or not? Stop wasting my time. I'm not your mother and I'm not holding your hand."
Then I walked away.

He enlisted and I ran into him a few years later at a gym on Fort Bragg. We laughed about that day in the MEPS.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2017 3:31 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 15:31:41 -0400

I had a 5 year break in service and needed to go through MEPs at 34....let's just say it was a bit different than when I was 18!

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Oct 18 at 2017 3:46 PM

SFC Jim Ruether — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 15:46:56 -0400

I never thought much of MEPS? Do others have fond memories of this place?

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2018 3:10 AM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Jul 2018 03:10:40 -0400

Favorite memory, is telling testers and new recruits they needed get probed, so i wished them luck and hope they packed tons of lube.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2018 3:12 AM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Jul 2018 03:12:26 -0400

Great words of advice

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jul 7 at 2018 10:17 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sat, 07 Jul 2018 22:17:03 -0400

Walking down a double column of medics with air guns, giving vaccinations.

Response by SGT Morrison (Mike) Hogwood made Jul 23 at 2018 1:26 PM

SGT Morrison (Mike) Hogwood — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 13:26:45 -0400

I do not know if it is my favorite,but i'm probably the only one who flunked their first physical because of zit.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2019 4:25 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 16:25:12 -0400

Because I needed a flight physical, the recruiter arranged for me to go to the local Air Force base and get a combination entrance/flight physical instead of going to MEPS. I didn’t have to bend over, spread anything, or even get undressed. I think I owe that recruiter a bottle of scotch.

Response by SPC Donn Sinclair made Apr 6 at 2019 5:00 PM

SPC Donn Sinclair — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 17:00:09 -0400

April 1969. Marine draft was in full effect. We'd all heard stories about how they worked it. First, we were all taken into a room where each one of us was asked, "Army or Marine Corps?" Some said Marines, most said Army. After that, we fell out into a corridor, Marines needed eleven more guys. Two Marine Gunnys told us to count off. Soon as it got to eleven, they stopped us. Those eleven guys were off to San Diego. The rest of us went to Fort Knox. By the way, I was number 13.

Response by LCpl Douglas Landrith Jr made Apr 7 at 2019 1:03 AM

LCpl Douglas Landrith Jr — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 01:03:32 -0400

I got laid at MEPs. I had been talking to this cute little gal, she was going to the Airforce, on and off when we arrived the night before. We had been flirting with each other all through dinner and then we all got the "Boys and girls should stay out of each others motel rooms" speech.

I would say 45 minutes later she knocked on my door, we kicked my roommate out and she stayed the night. When they came for us in the morning, we got all kinds of nasty looks and got a talking to by some officer once we got to the MEPs facility there in Oakland. They gave me a ton of shit for not following directions, except the Marines. That gunny seemed fond of me...

About a year or so later I was on a 96, and I ran into her at Nellis Air force base and we spent that 96 bumping uglies at the Mandalay Bay. We hooked up again a few years later when we ran into each other in Hawaii.

We still chat from time to time she is married now and so am I but we still have a good friendship.

Response by PO2 Nick Burke made Apr 7 at 2019 8:43 AM

PO2 Nick Burke — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 08:43:55 -0400

1982... Having to get a waiver because my body fat was too low. Not weight, body fat %.

Response by MAJ John Flanagan made Apr 7 at 2019 4:23 PM

MAJ John Flanagan — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 16:23:03 -0400

I recall on 3 Feb 66 standing in. A cold hallway in Whitehall Street induction station in socks shorts and t-shirt with a small cloth bag contains my valuables hung around my neck when two Marine sergeants counted off the twelve guys ahead of me and said take two steps forward. Congratulations you are now members of the Marine Corps.
13 has always been my lucky number.

Response by SPC Maurice Tillman made Jul 9 at 2019 8:03 AM

SPC Maurice Tillman — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 08:03:51 -0400

Waking up, after drinking myself stupid and my recruiter showing up a day early. I took my oath, while partially hungover. I functioned just fine. Not my proudest moment but that's how I knew I was cut out for the army...

Response by SGT Sarnt E made Nov 7 at 2019 10:38 PM

SGT Sarnt E — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 22:38:03 -0500

I barely remember most of it. Only things I remember are the medics asking me questions super fast, and us swearing-in before we rode out to the airport lol

Response by COL William Oseles made Apr 24 at 2020 6:09 PM

COL William Oseles — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 18:09:55 -0400

Was in Fort Lost in the Woods when the last Draftees reported to basic.

Response by SP6 Robby Pridmore made Apr 24 at 2020 8:48 PM

SP6 Robby Pridmore — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 20:48:17 -0400

My brother was my recruiter and when I went to MEPS I knew what I wanted to do in the army. When I sat down with the SP4 to discuss what my MOS was going to be he told me that he had the perfect MOS for me. 11b. I told him to wait just a second and I got up and walked right out side the door and told my brother that they was trying to make me a 11b. My brother walked into the room and told that SP4 that his brother was not going to be a 11b that he was going to be a 67v. Now my brother was a E-8 MSG at the time. I will never forget the look on that SP4 face . Needless to say I was a 67V.

Response by 1SG Thomas Jasak made Apr 24 at 2020 11:01 PM

1SG Thomas Jasak — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 23:01:47 -0400

When I joined in 1996 and I had a 98 on the ASVAB and a 132 GT score and was offered 23 different MOS's at MEPS but didn't have the 2 that I was interested in and was told the 2 of them were closed. I told my recruiter go ahead and take me home and he went to talk to the the Colonel station manager and next thing I know I am being offered both of the MOS's that I wanted after the station manager made a few phone calls....

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2020 2:35 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 02:35:21 -0400

My favorite memory, was when it ended . Why does it seem like everyone was always pissed off lol. I exhausted all my leave from my previous job to get in , luckily I had just enough.

Response by SSG Jason Penn made Apr 18 at 2021 5:08 PM

SSG Jason Penn — Sun, 18 Apr 2021 17:08:41 -0400

During the physical portion of the MEPS entrance process, the Doctor had a tray outside his office with a box of surgical gloves. He was taking one person at a time into his office. We were lined up to see the Doctor. The guy in front of me was the next to go in and the Doctor stepped out to call him in while reaching into the box and pulling out a large handful of gloves. The guy in front of me looked like he was going to faint and his eyes were as large as saucers.

Response by SMSgt Kevin Bishop made Apr 18 at 2021 7:22 PM

SMSgt Kevin Bishop — Sun, 18 Apr 2021 19:22:58 -0400

Doing my best to fail the DLAB. I knew the job i wanted. This was back in the day of guaranteed job. I showed up and the MSgt said, we want to give you a little test today. I guess it was due to my ASVAB scores. I needed to come up with a better failure technique. I didn't want to look like a non team player but still wanted to fail for I had an idea what was going on. I passed and then they pressured me. They backed off a bit when I countered with the Army had a higher bonus for the same job. They let me go sit an stew a bit after that.