COT

Hi,

I would love to know the answers to your questions too! Could you provide me with the link to the website you have with the manual and videos etc.? I just processed through MEPS on Wednesday so if you have any questions about that, I would love to be of some help. Thank you and good luck!!

Air Force:

http://www.au.af.mil/au/holmcenter/OTS/COT-RCOT/index.asp

http://www.au.af.mil/au/holmcenter/OTS/COT-RCOT/COTDOletter.asp

http://www.au.af.mil/au/holmcenter/OTS/COT-RCOT/additionalinfo.asp

AirForceOTS.com (you will need to register):

http://www.airforceots.com/portal/index.php

After posting your introduction and doing some reading post a few questions. If you still have some questions one of the moderators "AndyM" was a great source of information. They have sections for COT as well as medical services.

Thank you JD!! I'll search around the site!!

USAFhopeful...I'd love to hear about MEPS! How long were you there? Did you stay at the provided hotel, or did you do your own thing? I have family in Jacksonville, so I figured I'd stay there, but you start pretty early, right? I would hate to not know where I'm going and end up late! I've found a few timelines on a few sites, but they were more for enlisted people. Any advice would be much appreciated!! The first 3 sites JD posted were the ones I was talking about. The OTS manual is 90 something pages, but I found it interesting! :) I know...I'm a big nerd! There's info about physical fitness and the required stuff to buy and more...

Good luck to you too...we might be on a similar timeline. I'm hoping my recruiter will call in the next few days with the goahead to schedule MEPS! Hope to hear from you soon!!

Thank you JD!! I'll search around the site!!

USAFhopeful...I'd love to hear about MEPS! How long were you there? Did you stay at the provided hotel, or did you do your own thing? I have family in Jacksonville, so I figured I'd stay there, but you start pretty early, right? I would hate to not know where I'm going and end up late! I've found a few timelines on a few sites, but they were more for enlisted people. Any advice would be much appreciated!! The first 3 sites JD posted were the ones I was talking about. The OTS manual is 90 something pages, but I found it interesting! :) I know...I'm a big nerd! There's info about physical fitness and the required stuff to buy and more...

Good luck to you too...we might be on a similar timeline. I'm hoping my recruiter will call in the next few days with the goahead to schedule MEPS! Hope to hear from you soon!!

Hi Jenhasredhair,

MEPS was a memorable experience . I arrived at around 5:15am and did not stay in the provided hotel as I live less than an hour from the MEPS "station" in Boston, MA. Some of the girls I talked to did stay at the hotel which was a Hilton (not too shabby lol) and were happy with their accomodations.

Anyway, upon arriving there were quite a few recruits that were shipping out so it was a little busy at first. Because it's a secure site, I would recommend only taking with you what's necessary, such as a small wristlet with your photo ID and social security card, birth certificate etc. You have to store your other belongings in an unsecured locker that anyone can access. However, it may be different for your MEPS location. After that you check in with the Air Force liason who will give you a name tag then you will check in at the main desk. Again it may be a little different at your location. They take your picture, and electronically fingerprint you, I think for paperwork processing and identification in the future.

From there you will be briefed on what to expect, what to do, where to go etc. Next you will fill out more forms... lol almost exactly the same as the ones you probably will fill out prior to going to MEPS - medical history etc. Follow the directions of whomever is telling you what to do. They yell at you and try to intimidate you to own up to any conditions you may have, or have had that might disqualify you. Just be careful and talk about these conditions (if you have any) with your recruiter prior to going to MEPS.

You will take a breathalyzer (spelling) test an eyesight test including depth perception, as well as a hearing test. They will draw a sample of blood and you will also need to pee in a cup. Drink a lot of water! The thing with this is that you may have to pee in the presence of "medical tech." But don't worry! There is some privacy, they don't stare right at you! And by then you've already started to make friends with the other girls (as you split up from the boys) and soon it all becomes a little humorous. I am so modest and even I didn't think it was too big of a deal !

After that extravaganza, if you already haven't had a consult with a doctor, you will move on to that stage where they will look over the forms you filled out and ask you if you've ever used marijuana... carried it etc.

Then it's height and weight in nothing but your undies and bra. Again all the other girls will be in their's too so no worries... just wear cute, full coverage undies and bra and you will be all set! Next it's onto a brief physical exam where you have the joy of wearing nothing but a paper dress. If your doctor is a male, the med tech (a female) will be in there with you. It's no big deal so don't panic! There is no pelvic exam, just a brief glance to make sure you are really a girl, or I guess really a boy for the boys. Anyways the doctor does an abbreviated breast exam, asks about any tattoos, scars, etc. And then that part is over. You get back into your undies out of your glamorous paper dress and move onto orthos where you will perform the infamous duck walk and funny arm and leg movements. The med tech will demonstrate these for you... again no worries. Everyone laughs because you all look ridiculous! At some point they will feed you and you will leave knowing if you have qualified or not.

There is a lot of waiting and at my MEPS station they had movies and magazines. I hope they have this at all MEPS lol. You get to know the other people pretty quickly, they are all in the same boat. So chit-chatting makes the time and intensity of the day go by faster. You might even be able to bring a book.

Also, I was so nervous about MEPS but don't be! You will do just fine, just follow the med techs' directions throughout the morning and everything will run smoothly. I was at MEPS for 7 hours which seemed funny because it was only 1:00pm when I got out. It's like a time warp in there lol. Bring a light sweatshirt or sweater in case it is chilly. We were all f-r-o-z-e-n!

I think that is everything. Again, there is nothing to be worried about. Just take a few deep breaths and try to keep a sense of humor about everything. If there is anything else you would like to know, or that I have left out please let me know! Good luck and take care!

Air Force:

http://www.au.af.mil/au/holmcenter/OTS/COT-RCOT/index.asp

http://www.au.af.mil/au/holmcenter/OTS/COT-RCOT/COTDOletter.asp

http://www.au.af.mil/au/holmcenter/OTS/COT-RCOT/additionalinfo.asp

AirForceOTS.com (you will need to register):

http://www.airforceots.com/portal/index.php

After posting your introduction and doing some reading post a few questions. If you still have some questions one of the moderators "AndyM" was a great source of information. They have sections for COT as well as medical services.

These websites were great and are full of info! THANK you very much!!

These websites were great and are full of info! THANK you very much!!

Your welcome... Best wishes to you all :-)

Wow...thanks a bunch USAFhopeful!! That doesn't sound too bad!! I so appreciate you taking the time to write about your experience. I'm sure I'm not the only one that benefited from it!! Good luck with the rest of the process!! Hopefully, I'll be following right behind you soon!