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Posted: 4/10/2008 7:11:15 PM EDT
[#1]
MEPS is extremely boring. No phone, plan to be there all day and no sleeping.
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Posted: 4/10/2008 7:12:18 PM EDT
[#2]
Practice your duck walk, and be ready for the most boring day of your life.
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Posted: 4/10/2008 7:15:11 PM EDT
[#3]
Integrity: Don't lie to them no matter what you recruiter says.
You can't use your phone, except for emergencies. Just remember that the military is not for everyone. If you don't feel ready to enlist just tell them and be honest with your recruiter. I have heard of people who permenantly DQed themselves because they got cold feet and purposefully failed the hearing test. Thanks in advance for your service. ARnutt |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 7:16:34 PM EDT
[#4]
try and wedge a Airborne or RIP contract in in you can. tell your recruiter its the only way you will join
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Posted: 4/10/2008 7:17:22 PM EDT
[#5]
It was boring as hell. Wear boxers, no "banana hammocks". They will ask you about any scars you have, be prepared to answer for them. Also, have fun having some old guy look at your junk and shove his finger in your ass
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Posted: 4/10/2008 7:21:26 PM EDT
[#6]
I was by all accounts not physically qualified for service after a drunk driver broke both of my legs and ankles. I'm covered in scars.
I got picket fenced (all 1s, everything was good to go) at MEPS. All you have to do is be nonchalant about everything, nothing hurts, nothing has given you problems, and you'll be okay. Be honest, but downplay everything. "Oh that? Yeah that scar looks worse than it was..." etc. |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 7:22:20 PM EDT
[#7]
Don't lie, but don't volunteer ANY information to them that isn't seriously life threatening. |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 7:24:00 PM EDT
[#8]
Unless you have already lied, then stick to your story, no matter what. Part of the receiving process at Parris Island was to sit everyone in a room and scare the shit out of them, offering us a "last chance" to come clean on anything we lied about during our enlistment process. Otherwise, we would be prosecuted, yada, yada, yada. They really put the fear in to us. A few guys cracked and confessed some things like drug use. They were sent packing. It was all total B.S., they knew everything they were ever going to know from the background check and what the recruiter made record of. I went to high school with 6 other guys in my platoon and know for a fact that some of them lied about drug use. All of them graduated with me and one was our honor man. |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 7:24:21 PM EDT
[#9]
+1 |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 7:25:39 PM EDT
[#10]
Be sure to wear clean underwear, you will be going around most of the day in your grundys.
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Posted: 4/10/2008 7:29:03 PM EDT
[#11]
+1 The guys with skid marks are there.. don't be one of them. |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 7:33:10 PM EDT
[#12]
don't get trashed the night before; according to one of my friends they breathalyzed in the morning and had to yank out a few people. this is hearsay FWIW
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Posted: 4/10/2008 7:40:36 PM EDT
[#13]
Please, please, please, for the love of God, know your personal information. My first time at MEPS, the guy in front of me in line didn't know his own social security number.
 The Marine Master Sergeant taking the information was truly a sight to behold. He went from  to  to  in about two seconds. Veins popping out on his forehead, spit flying, nose to nose with this kid. I loved it...especially the part where it wasn't me.  To this day, I'll never know why they had a Master Sergeant doing clerk duty at MEPS. |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 7:41:50 PM EDT
[#14]
They did when I went |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 7:42:29 PM EDT
[#15]
Well, it's long, boring, and a little stressful, as they keep emphasizing the fact that you could end up in the brig if you lie. Be sure to find out every hospital you've ever been treated at, and get your medical records for review. Be as truthful as possible, and stick to your story. The old guy won't stick his hand up your ass, at least he didn't do it to me... or I wouldn't admit to it
 .Hanging around there can be really boring, and I certainly didn't think I'd like talking to a bunch of kids fresh out of high school. But, getting to meet those guys, and realizing that most of them were willing to put their lives down to defend everyone, gave me a new respect for all of them. It was a real eye opener. Which made it really suck for me to hear that something fell through with my application. Fortunately, that physical is good for 2 years. Hoping to join the guard sometime soon. If you're there to ship out, though, that won't matter. Thanks for your service! |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 7:51:46 PM EDT
[#16]
Really not a whole lot of advice to give. Dress conservatively, nothing with holes in it. Don't lie, but don't volunteer non-vital info either. Be sure they give you exactly what you've been told you'll get before you sign the papers (you should have a one-on-one sit down with someone for this, so don't be afraid to ask questions, clarify, etc.). Bring whatever your recruiter tells you to. Realize that you are in something of a military setting and act accordingly.
Other than obvious basics like that, just enjoy the ride. It is a very inter-service environment, which can be interesting. It will be intensely boring and occasionally akward. I can vouch for the clean underwear thing....the guy facing me in one of the exercises did not adhere to such advice, and we'll just say racing stripes were the least of my concerns. And I see you are going in as ARNG....good choice.  You can delay your ship date by up to a year from when you sign, and every single day counts as part of your enlistment (one big difference from enlisting in an active component and being in DEP). If you want to leave right away, more power to you, but you might as well leave when YOU want (take into account Ft. Benning weather, current life status, etc.). You will do RSP drills every month before leaving, and they can do a LOT to prepare you.Let me know if you want any info or guidance, etc. |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 7:54:49 PM EDT
[#17]
+1 I wish I would have followed that advice when I was joining years ago. |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 7:58:42 PM EDT
[#18]
Non None and Never were the answers that worked best for me. However, I have to say that I did not lie to the folks there and I honestly had to say that I never smoked pot...to this they were astounded. |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 8:01:29 PM EDT
[#19]
for my duck walk will i have my hands in the back of my head? Thats what my recruiter said |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 8:04:06 PM EDT
[#20]
i was really thinking about this... i should ... Whats RIP?? And should i tell my recruiter about it or my liasion? |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 8:05:23 PM EDT
[#21]
that's true for sure. |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 8:06:06 PM EDT
[#22]
Yes |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 8:07:39 PM EDT
[#23]
Don't wear tighty whitey's or any other exotic underwear. Boxers are where its at...
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Posted: 4/10/2008 8:17:25 PM EDT
[#24]
If its not in your contract when you sign it, you will not get it. Make sure everything you want is in that contract. Walk if it isn't. |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 8:20:14 PM EDT
[#25]
How about boxer briefs? |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 8:25:30 PM EDT
[#26]
A ring of lipstick, bright blood red, around the ManTool will go well
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Posted: 4/11/2008 10:17:22 AM EDT
[#27]
Imagine what face the Docs would have if they would see it LoL... i dont think they would be to happy lol
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Posted: 4/11/2008 10:23:36 AM EDT
[#28]
Sit there quietly and listen or read. Don't be the punk who spouts off that he's going to be a Navy SEAL then gets kicked for undescended testicles.
Wear underwear. Clean underwear. You'll be spending a significant portion of the day in your skivvies, including a set of exercises to check your range of motion. Treat everyone with respect. They can make your life miserable for the day. Don't sign anything unless your satisfied it's what you want. Don't be afraid to come back another day, especially if you've got a good ASVAB. Keep your mouth shut. If they find something wrong with you, good for them, but there's no need to volunteer. If you've got a scar, it's probably from when you fell off a bike as a kid. Drink water. You'll get to perform a piss test with a dude watching. You may get "stage fright" and lock up, but a full bladder will often prevent this. And you have our thanks! |
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Posted: 4/11/2008 10:23:48 AM EDT
[#29]
Get an MI gig if you can, have 11B as a fall back. Try for 97B or 97E, (this will require research on your part, as they are now 35 series MOS) with language, also RIP and/or Airborne. If you get Airborne, as you walk into the patches building after basic and AIT, look left, and there's the Ranger liasion. Talk to him. The more schooling you have, the more you will be surrounded by people who really WANT to be there. The lowest common denominator goes up dramatically.
Oh, thanks for your service, best of luck. I live very close to Ft Benning. drop me a note at [email protected] |
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Posted: 4/11/2008 10:26:31 AM EDT
[#30]
Ditto this. And be prepared... when you go in a door marked EKG, it actually means some old lady is going to check your balls and stick her finger in your ass. |
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Posted: 4/11/2008 10:35:01 AM EDT
[#31]
Damn that was so long ago did mine at Oakland,Ca.
That was a long day for sure |
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Posted: 4/11/2008 10:35:17 AM EDT
[#32]
Thank you guys for the advice.
For example say i do my physical and im approved and everything and all i need to do is sign my contract but theres something wrong with my contract. Do i have to go do a another physical when i come back? or do i just come back another day and just sign another contract? |
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Posted: 4/11/2008 10:41:35 AM EDT
[#33]
I went through it in DEC. its not as bad as people say, yes there are the civilian employees who are dicks but all the military people are very nice. Have fun pissing in a cup while some dude watches, it was a first for me and I had to drink a shit ton of water to do it. The rest is cake, the worst part is getting your blood drawn well at least for me because I am a pussy when it comes to needles but they are very good and you barely feel it. The duckwalk is easy although there was a dude who failed do to that and another guy failed because he could not rock back from his knees to his feet. Its not an enjoyable experience by any means but its necessary to make sure everyone is fit for the military.
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Posted: 4/11/2008 3:59:47 PM EDT
[#34]
I forget how long your physical and background check is good for but if you want to take a few days or longer to decide, you will not have to go through it all again. Don't sign it if you are not happy with it. People will get mad at you but stand your ground. I was taken into an office to see a Lt Col who tried to brow beat me into signing the contract they offered. After letting him know I was in no hurry to sign anything and had more options besides the military. 15 minutes later I had a new contract with everything I requested. Don't be afraid to walk. After you sign your contract, you will probably never see these people again. So it really doesn't matter if you piss them off or not. |
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Posted: 4/13/2008 3:07:08 PM EDT
[#35]
bump for the sunday crew
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Posted: 4/13/2008 3:23:42 PM EDT
[#36]
Best advice I can give you is your name is "Next" while your there. Otherwise you will be there all day. Everyone has covered everything else. |
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Posted: 4/13/2008 3:30:56 PM EDT
[#37]
A whole lot of truth here. I went down, and they kept telling me the cmbination I wanted was not available and wanted me to sign what they said was "available". I said no thanks, came home, and the next day my recruiter called to say it was a "computer error" and now they offered everything I wanted. |
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Posted: 4/13/2008 4:22:00 PM EDT
[#38]
Best advice ever. And act like you don't speak English. Make them ask every question three or four times and then don't answer. Most who fail do it to themselves. |
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Posted: 4/13/2008 5:00:51 PM EDT
[#39]
you can't get RIP for National Guard
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Posted: 4/14/2008 3:17:49 PM EDT
[#40]
When did u go back to MEPS to sign the paper? Did u wait a few days? And when you went back to MEPS did all u have to do was sign the contract and not go through the whole physical again? |
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Posted: 4/14/2008 4:24:16 PM EDT
[#41]
General Duty in a geographic area where he wanted to retire after this tour. Light duty after wounds, Has a year left, etc, humanitarian transfer/duty, etc. There are a variety of ways and means to get a cushy job if one so desires when one becomes a Master Sergeant. In fact to become a Master Sergeant one must no a variety of ways and means of navigating the bureaucracy called the Marine Corps. |
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Posted: 4/14/2008 4:40:19 PM EDT
[#42]
Went back the day after they called and said they had what I wanted. No need to redo the physical or anything, just went in and signed. |
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Posted: 4/15/2008 11:46:28 AM EDT
[#43]
Hopefully i can hit out MEPS in one whole day. one other question for you guys how long of a distance will i have to do the duck walk? |
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Posted: 4/15/2008 11:48:35 AM EDT
[#44]
They lined about 5 people up and had us go ~10' in one direction, turn around, an go back |
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Posted: 4/15/2008 12:12:44 PM EDT
[#45]
Cool not bad at all. Thanx CollegeBoy. |
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Posted: 4/15/2008 1:04:31 PM EDT
[#46]
+1 |
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Posted: 4/15/2008 1:11:29 PM EDT
[#47]
Keep your eyes on your own junk, don't fall asleep, and don't enjoy the hemroid check too much.
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Posted: 4/15/2008 1:15:10 PM EDT
[#48]
Been over 20 years,I remember that now and it's True |
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