SubscribeMilitary Entrance Processing Station (MEPS)
When joining the Army you will make at least two trips to a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). These are joint defense organizations staffed by military and civilians. The purpose of the MEPS is to determine an applicant’s suitability, mentally, physically, and morally. The standards are set by Federal Law and the departments of the military. There are 65 MEPS across the country.
Medical Checks
The very first thing that takes places is a medical pre-screening check which is carried out by the recruiter, so in effect, your application goes to a MEPS even before you get there. Some people’s applications can be discontinued at this early stage if there is something dramatically wrong (partially blind or missing a limb for example). The medical checks touch on aspects such as family history, allergies, back sprains, heart conditions etc. All the usual things you would expect.
Once you have passed the medical screening you can actually attend for the checks in person, you will need to take documentation such as social security card with you, but you get given detailed instructions about what to take from your recruiter. The checks often start early in the morning and because of the high numbers of people attending; you are advised to get there early.
What will you be tested on?
Most initial trips to MEPS take two days, and some of the test results are given to you straight away, but in other facilities it may take a while to come through. The major test you will undertake is the computerized ASVAB test; this is a test designed in the 1960s to check your suitability for service in the Armed Forces. The test covers word knowledge, paragraph comprehension, arithmetic, numerical operations, mechanical comprehension and many more. There are three types of test, two are paper based, the High School version and the enlistment version, but most people take the computerized one called the CAT-ASVAB. Don’t be concerned, it is not an IQ test, it simply measures your aptitude to be trained in the forces. There is plenty of information about the origins of the test available on the net. One place to learn more is http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-2502369-10303987.
MEPS and the 5 Services
MEPS cover the entrance process for the all the 5 major services, the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coastguard. The process is highly developed and synchronized throughout the country to ensure the highest quality individuals pass into the ranks of the services. The process is designed to be smooth and painless and is a long way away from old school thoughts about what drab looking enrollment schools used to look like.
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:36 am
My daughter is 18 1/2 now signed up for the air force when she was 17, has been through the ASVAB Test and MEPS this was back in February but we are still waiting for her diploma she is 11 elective credits short she didn’t take enough electives in school. She is supposed to be going to ADULT EDUCATION to get these. That starts in a wekk September 9th 2009. How long will they wait, has it been too long? Will she have to re-test and take the MEPS again?
Or is it a done deal.
One more question. When she announced that she was joining the family was very sceptical and we still are. It sounded too good to be true. The have been some clues to this i.e lagging on the diploma, now all of a sudden she claims to have a sudden hearing loss in one ear,., she had a hearing test yesterday and there findings show it to be true (But she could be faking) they have scheduled an MRI for further testing to determine if it is neurological (could be hereditary), With having passed the hearing test during MEPS and suddenly claiming to have hearing loss is this a stunt she is trying to pull to get out of going into the air force? Will they still let her in if it is true?