Air Force Journey #5 The MEPS Process

Here is the fifth video that I've made for my Air Force Journey series. If you've already watched it, skip down to the supplemental material, if not here it is for your viewing pleasure.

Getting to MEPS

First off, when you talk to your recruiter and you're ready to take the next step to see if you're qualified then they will set you up with an appointment at MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station). If you've already taken the ASVAB then your recruiter will probably book you into the local hotel the evening before. If you haven't taken the ASVAB yet you'll most likely take the next in the afternoon before your medical physical and once you've finished taking it you'll be checked into the hotel. The ASVAB test and the physical both take place at MEPS.

The hotel you stay in varies, it's whatever the U.S. Government has contracted. It will be more luxurious than you are expecting though, and you have standards that you need to act by when there. You'll be provided with dinner the night before and breakfast the morning after at the hotel.

The MEPS Day

It's an early start! Wake up call at 4:30am, and the bus leaves at 5:30 for a 6am start.

When you get there here is the way it went down for me, could be different for you:

1. Gather around for a briefing outside MEPS entrance.
2. Go through the metal detector and put your bags in a secure room.
3. Go to your branch of service office and pick up your medical packet.
4. Check in at the MEPS front desk.
5. Check in at the MEPS medical front desk.
6. Check heart rate measure.
7. Vision test.
8. Hearing test.
9. Get blood drawn.
10. Sit around for a while.
11. Meet one on one with a MEPS doctor.
12. Take a urine sample.
13. Go for a physical.
14. Sign out with MEPS medical front desk.
15. Go to lunch which is provided for you in the MEPS lunchroom.
16. Sign out at MEPS front desk.
17. Leave yourself, or wait for your recruiter to pick you up.