What was your experience at MEPS like?

Benjamin Alleman — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 14:38:16 -0500

Just curious to hear other people's stories. If you have a humorous one, please tell me!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2020 2:45 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 14:45:38 -0500

The first time I went to MEPS (Back in '93), as the doctor was checking the working function of the flashlight in his hands, he told me to turn around, bend over and spread my cheeks. Those were the only words he spoke.

Response by SGT Morrison (Mike) Hogwood made Mar 4 at 2020 3:35 PM

SGT Morrison (Mike) Hogwood — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 15:35:02 -0500

I flunked my first physical because i had zit on my face,serious stuff ,i asked why and they said it had puss in it,told me to reschedule and if i had a zit to just to pop it and put alcohol on it to dry it out.missed out on a bonus.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Mar 4 at 2020 5:08 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 17:08:59 -0500

Way back in my day 1965 we had the induction center, the precursor I think to MEPS different nomenclature same result,basic old time physical,doctor’s poking and prodding,standard stuff only a lot of the people standing in line were being drafted in an Army hungry for bodies,as I remember wasn’t a whole lot of rejects,not a humorous tale,sorry

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2020 5:32 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 17:32:44 -0500

Benjamin Alleman As with SGT Philip Roncari, I went to an induction center in 1968. Arrived at 6 or 7 a.m., and at 7 p.m., I was on a plane from Houston to MCRD, San Diego. If there was anything humorous that day, I do not remember it.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2020 8:08 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 20:08:17 -0500

I went Jan 2020. Easy peasy. Just do what you are told and you will be ok. Staff was chill it was Friday and people were ready to go home. Kinda funny that it truly is hurry up and wait. Freedoms front door aka MEPS. Wish you the best of luck

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2020 8:57 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 20:57:27 -0500

Which time? I went 3 times.

Probably most memorable thing was the nice hotel stay and meal the night before. They had these awesome Coca Cola bbq wings that were amazing.

Then probably the underwear olympics.

And then probably not being able to pee for the drug test and sitting around drinking tons of water and then when I finally was able to go 3 NCOs stood in the bathroom and cheered and clapped. It was a good time.

Just be prepared for a lot of hurry up and wait. Make friends. Get to know others there as they are in the same boat as you. Listen and do what you’re told. You’ll be fine.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2020 7:24 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 07:24:01 -0500

When I was an infant I had viral meningitis. I disclosed that both before I went to MEPS and when I was there for my initial physical, apparently any history of meningitis is a DQ, the first doctor I saw didn't say anything. Cue to three months later, going to MEPS to ship, I'm going through medical and the doctor notices that I had a history of meningitis with no waiver, he noticed this because he was reading the record of my first visit, when I told the doctor about it, was in his hand. The guy yelled at me and read me the riot act, you would have thought that he just caught me in a conspiracy to assassinate the Prime Minister of Malaysia, because I didn't have a waiver I didn't know I needed, for a condition that I had disclosed twice already. And that's the story of the time I stayed an extra day at MEPS while a waiver was processed.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2022 8:07 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 08:07:09 -0500

I originally joined active duty in 1992. I returned to AD in 2004. The same old flight doc that was there in 1992 was the same one to do my physical in 2004. The was a young man there as a new recruit entering the Army. As we all sat around in our underwear, we stepped up to the Docs office one at a time. He asked this young man to drop his drawers and bend over and grab his ankles. As the young man did so, the flight Doc said, “Son, you have “””” in your underwear”. Without missing a beat, the young man said, “What did you expect…ice cream?” They escorted him out of the area. I’m not sure if he was allowed to return or not.