Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) Overview

A Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) is where applicants for military service go to complete the enlistment process. There are 65 MEPS in the United States and Puerto Rico. Applicants who must travel a distance will receive free lodging at a nearby hotel. Meals and transportation are also provided at no cost.

Nicknamed "Freedom's Front Door," MEPS are staffed with military and civilian professionals who carefully screen each applicant to ensure he or she meets the physical, academic and moral standards set by each Service. To do so, each applicant goes through the following steps:

- Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) testing
- Career Counseling
- Physical Exam
- Background Screening
- Oath of Enlistment

Following the Oath, an applicant is now a full member of the U.S. Military. At this point, he or she may ship directly to Basic Training for his or her branch, or enroll in the Delayed Entry (or Enlistment) Program (DEP) and undergo training at a future time. It can be a long day, and a lot happens quickly, but applicants are briefed at every step by MEPS staff, and there is always help available should questions arise.

[thesimpleguys]

Hey y’all, just came back from MEPS so I’ll give you my expierence

-3:00pm arrived at the hotel, sat in the lobby for 20 mins while the staff was taking calls pretty nice place

-4:00pm met my roommate and we sat and talked for a few hours

-8:00pm we heard the hotel dinner was pretty bad so we went and DoorDash Ed some McDonald’s, $60 for a meal that would usually cost $30. Gotta love it

-9:30pm went to bed, barely slept the hotel blankets were hot and my anxiety was pumping, woke up at 12 and stayed up till they called us down

-4:45pm had to report down to the lobby to get breakfast, ngl it was pretty damn good, homefries, bacon, eggs, muffins, juice, made me regret not trying out their dinner

-5:50 went on the shuttle with around 45 other kids, age range around 18-23

-6:05 finally arrived at the MEPS center. It was actually a pretty nice place. Lined up against a wall, everyone who was deploying next day and those who were not were separated into two diff lines

-6:30ish made our way through security, if you smoke you should be able to bring along your vape, they don’t do bag checks (atleast where I was) and were mainly just searching for weapons

-6:45 went to the control desk, gave them all my info like ssn, passport, don’t feel like explaining it’s listed what you have to bring. Told them what lunch I wanted and they gave me my name tag (always put it on the left upper portion of your chest)

-7:00 waited in the lobby for the first group to get done with their presentation, basically just an overview of what will happen to the recruits that day (everyone says this but they will try and explain telling the truth is always most important and they’re there to make you pass, literally the exact opposite lol)

-7:50 got done with our presentation and went down to medical which was another god damn 30 mins of waiting (there’s a lot of that at MEPS) met the doctor and we got our regs

-8:30 I took a PICAT, some people are different and take the full ASVAB on the spot but atleast for the navy you take the PICAT atleast a month beforehand and then again, if your score dips too low you actually take the full ASVAB and luckily mine didn’t

-9:00 rushed over to medical, got blood work, hearing test, sight test, urinalysis, the whole 9 yards (not listed in order)

10-10:30ish met with the doctor to do the interview, asked me a whole sort of questions. Ever smoked cigarettes or any form of nicotine, ever smoked weed, do you take counseling, any medical injuries as a Chile, say no to ALL of them unless already written down on paper by your recruiter.

-11:00 told to go into a room and strip to my underwear room had a lot of heaters since as of now it’s mid October, had to wait for 30 fucking minutes in my underwear to finally meet the doctor and wait for the other kids to get into the room

-11:30 took my height, weight, measured my diameter. Ima yee the recruiter or your research told you about this part so imma skip it

-11:45 did my physical stuff, duck walk is actually pretty easy and they only make you do like 3 steps before they just pass you along NOTE: if you fail anything on the physical it won’t disqualify you, it’ll just indicate some signs of underlying diseases but most doctors will let you slide if you mess up

-12:30 got done with that and went down to have lunch, don’t be surprised if you’re alone as different kids will have different schedules, they let me have my phone but we’re on my ass about me only having 20 mins to eat or else they would “kill me” in a joking manner

-12:45ish went down to the NAVY hiring center, for different branches you’ll go to your specified hiring center obv, had me fill out an 88 question survey while they checked my scores

-1:00 called me into the office to go over my jobs, I had a pretty big list so I chose to be an Operational Specialist for the Navy (they let you take breaks mid interview to call parents or think about it so don’t feel forced to do a job they want you to)

-1:45 officially signed up for my job, found out I was getting a 10k bonus (fuck yeah) so I didn’t mind that, got my shipping date and then went through a whole lot of paperwork

-2:30 went back to the control room for more paperwork, dude was pretty chill and we were making fun of people who are going into reserves (don’t do it, bad choice)

-3:00 finally swore in after standing at attention for 15 mins with 2 other kids (officer was late) that was an easy part just say what he says and fill in the blanks and you’re chillin

-3:30 left with my designated drive, not sure how it is now but no parents are allowed to watch your swearing in part due to covid restrictions

Overall it isn’t as bad as people think it is, they know you’re scared and this is all new to you so they explain everything in depth. You can ask them all sorts of questions and they’ll answer no problem although some might be impatient because you’re one of many. It was a pretty easy expierence just be mindful that these people are here to make you fail so have lots of self confidence in your job (if you’ve already decided) and your ability to lie to peoples faces. Other than that just be cool, make some friends, and enjoy an expierence 80% of the population will never have to go through. Have fun yall

[gfig]

I laughed when she said applicants were treated with seargents were cold as ice lol

[JoJo-ljkk]

Doc: Is there anything wrong with you?
Me: Is there anything wrong with you?






*Gets sent home*

[Blanderr]

MEPS isn't as bad as people make it out to be online. Just do what you're told when you're told and don't be an idiot and usually it will go fine. Worst part is the waiting around.

[connormurphy]

I am going to MEPS on Monday night. This will be my second time going. Save yourself the headache, and unless you're missing a limb or something of such severity, just say no. That was my mindset going in, but they mess with your head there (the doctors especially) try to get you to admit anything and everything. I was asked if I've ever HAD an inhaler (not if I've ever USED one, which I didn't). I replied yes because when I was very young up until I was around 10 years old I had an inhaler which I did but NEVER had to use and I instantly felt as if I dug my own grave. After loads of paperwork and waiting, I'm finally cleared to go back up to MEPS, but it just wasn't worth it. As I said, if its something minor like having an inhaler when you were young, just say no.

Good luck to everyone.

[blackdragon-pojy]

Alright, you're done testing! Go ahead and take a seat over there, we're gonna be here for 6 more hours..

[rachaeladler]

The red carpet treatment must have been in the room next door to mine....I never saw it :-).

[jvolstad]

I remember going to MEPS back in 1972. I had a low draft number so it was either enlist or be drafted. I enlisted. Little did I realize that I would spend the next 26 years in the Army. Good times.

[mhannon]

I went through the Springfield MEPS. I did everything in one visit and everyone was very nice. Overall MEPS for me was a great experience

[xxm]

Red carpet? I think toilet paper is a more accurate description

[attiumeyami]

My recruiter told me meps would be the most boring day of my life.


Corona virus 2020: hold my beer!

[jvolstad]

I remember getting my preinduction physical back in 1972, when there was still a military draft. 26 year's later, I retired from the Army. Good times.

[EzraB]

I was at the one in Chicago. MEPS sucks. It's like the DMV on steroids.
I'd be surprised if anyone can be in and out within 8 hours.
Thank God I only had to go once. Most of the people in my group got DQ'd.

[janghyunseung]

lol when I went about a year ago it wasn't bad. I was treated normal. Confidence, my friend, is key

[carltaylor]

I don't remember getting the red carpet treatment. I remember my recruiter telling to keep my mouth shut.
And the people at the MEPS where not my friend. Their objective is to find a way not to enlist you.

[FakeAmerican]

MEPS was the easiest thing. Honestly don't stress about it. It's very straightforward. No one's going to be screaming at you to go somewhere. You'll get plenty of direction. And talk to people so it's more fun instead of just hiding in your hotel room the whole time.

[captainbongwater]

That bit about being treated with dignity and respect was the most diabolical lie I’ve ever heard.

[kwbarron]

Red carpet treatment - wow. When I went to MEPS 30 years ago, I stayed in a roach motel and got yelled at by the recruiter for taking too long to make a decision. Ah, the good old days... :)

[peterojas]

LA MEPS has moved to another location in El Segundo during Summer 2009. Last visit there was May 2008 and was just there for the ASVAB test which was done by computer. I did have my picture taken and someone at MEPS commended me for smiling well. Processing was not completed because the recruiter had known that I was not qualified due to medical issues explained before the sales pitch was given. After spending time filling out documents, then I had decided to contact a recruiting commander. A message was left on the answering machine. Then it was returned and had been provided with a recruiting commander's contact information. I explained about being medically unqualified and eventually that was told to lie about disqualifying information. Recruiting commander handled it and apologized for the recruiters at that recruiting station for wasting my time. It would have been great to have been legitimately medically qualified to have enlisted in the Navy. Sometimes situations don't work out the way that you want them. But when I did report those recruiters to their boss, I help put a stop to a practice that should have never begun. One recruiter at that station was claiming that he had been encouraging unqualified applicants to not tell disqualifying information for 6 years. That stopped with me. After that, all whom ended up joining through that station were those whom were legitimately qualified to enlist. Nobody that was truly unqualified was pressured to do something that they had felt uncomfortable doing. Tell the truth about all relevant US armed forces enlistment information and no issues will be raised regarding one or more matters when joining whichever branch of the services which one will enlist in at the time.

[Kane]

Just finished MEPS today, I was there for 12 hours, its really not bad at all, just get ready for a long day, as long as you listen carefully and do as you're told you will be okay, also those people in the video doing the basic arm movements and stuff is funny because we had to do it all just in boxers, pretty funny situation, overall I liked the experience, anything getting me closer to my ship date is good :)