A Day At MEPS - Final Hour, Swear In, Ceremony Room

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• published: 27 Nov 2010
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Join The California Army National Guard. Most Guard soldiers serve part time, two days a month and two weeks during the summer. We offer the same jobs, pay, training, uniforms and benefits as the active duty, we just serve part time as reservists. For more info, contact Staff Sergeant Brito at 562.900.0575 or visit http://www.iguardcalifornia.com **The Evaluation** The primary job of MEPS is to determine whether or not you are qualified to serve in the United States Armed Forces, and -- if so, what jobs you may qualify for. The first step in that process, of course, is obviously the ASVAB which determines what jobs you qualify for. MEPS personnel also determine whether you are medically qualified to serve. Additionally, representatives of the service branch you're joining will be at MEPS to determine your job and security qualifications. While these individuals "work" at the MEPS location, they are not actually part of MEPS. They are actually assigned to the indivdual service recruiting activities. So, while the person giving you your ASVAB Test and medical physical are assigned to MEPS, and work jointly for all the services, the people doing your enlistment contracts, job selections, and security qualifications are not assigned to MEPS, and are representing only their individual services. At most MEPS locations, one of the very first things you'll do when you arrive in the morning is take a breathalizer test to ensure that you are not currently under the influence of alcohol. Any trace of alcohol in your system will stop your processing, on-the-spot. **The Medical Evaluation** The physical begins with the completion of the Medical Questionaire. You're required to answer "Yes" or "No" to questions about whether you have ever had any of the medical condtions listed. Note that there is no "I Don't Know" on this form. You've either had the conditon (i.e., diagnosed by a medical professional), or you haven't. Every item marked "YES" must be fully explained in the remarks section of the form. If there are descrepancies between answers on this form and the answers you gave on the Medical Prescreening Form, your enlistment process will stop, and you'll be returned to your recruiter to obtain additional medical records and information. This is why it is very important to make sure that you're completely honest on both forms. After completing the Medical Questionaire, you'll start the "process." You will take a blood and urine test (including a test for drugs). Females will be tested for pregnancy. Your blood will be tested for HIV, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, RPR, and Alcohol. There are also two different urine tests, one is the legal drug urine and the other tests for pH, blood, protein, and specific gravity. You'll take a hearing test, and an eye exam, including depth perception and color vision. You'll undergo a weight check. If your weight exceeds the standard listed by the service you are trying to join, you'll undergo a body-fat-measurement. If your body-fat exceeds the standard set by the service you are trying to join, you'll be temporarily disqualified. **Job Selection** At this stage, you work with your Service counselor/liaison to select a "military job." Depending on the needs and wants of the Service and your desires, this can be a very short or long process. **Pre-Enlistment Interview** Once you have "selected a job," the Service counselor will complete their required paperwork and bring you, (and your paperwork) to the MEPS Control Desk to initiate the enlistment processing. At this time, you will undergo a Pre-Enlistment Interview (PEI). During the PEI, the MEPS Military Processing Investigator (MPI) sits with you, "one-on-one" and in private. The MPI will fingerprint you and ask you questions concerning possible law violations, drug/alcohol abuse, and other issues that may affect your entry into the Armed Forces. During the PEI, if you have an additional disclosure (a potentially disqualifying item not already reported), it must be resolved before further processing continues. Once the PEI is completed, the MPI prepares your enlistment contract for you to review and sign with your Service counselor. **Enlistment Oath Ceremony** After you and your Service counselor sign the contract, you will return with the contract to the MEPS Control Desk for the Oath of Enlistment Ceremony. MEPS personnel will teach you to stand at "Attention" and review with you the Oath of Enlistment. Once you're prepared, a commissioned officer will report to the Ceremony Room to conduct the Oath of Enlistment. After the ceremony, the MEPS control desk will check-out the applicant to his/her service who will check-out the applicant for the day. At this point you're done and will usually be taken home or to the recruiters office, either way you're in the military now. The next step is to wait for your day to ship to Basic Training.