Going to MEPS on thursday...

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I am going to take the physical. Although I am doubtful as to whether I will be able to pass the medical exam or even get waivered for that matter (see previous post). It is still worth the effort.

Anybody have any advice, insight? what is the MEPS process like?

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

MEPS is not too bad as an officer candidate.

What to expect at MEPS (not necessarily in this order)

1. Full set of vital signs

2. Ht and Wt.

3. Lab work; urine and blood

4. breath analyzer to see if you are drunk

5. Ortho exam...walk like a duck, drop to knees, bend over & touch your toes etc.

6. Neuro exam...kinda of like a field sobriety test

7. a. Males-hernia check, look for hemorrhoids( atleast I think that was what he was doing back there...lol)

b. Females-"peek-a-boo test" to make sure you are really a female

8. Focused exam: heart, lungs, ENT

The whole process usually starts somewhere around 0430 unless you have permission/appointment to be a late walkin.

That is pretty much it for the officer canidates.

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
I am going to take the physical. Although I am doubtful as to whether I will be able to pass the medical exam or even get waivered for that matter (see previous post). It is still worth the effort.

Anybody have any advice, insight? what is the MEPS process like?

Hello,

I went in August 2006 and found it far better than I had heard.

Maybe because I was not an enlisted? Maybe because I was a woman? Maybe because I was older, not sure.

There were about 13 females on the day that I went and three of us were going for officer, (one lawyer, myself and another professional).

I noticed they seemed to let the ladies go through quicker than the large group of men, I figured that they did not want us women all sitting around and intermingling/flirting with the large group of guys! I also figured that they wanted us ladies to hurry through so they had time to do our urine tests/pregnancy tests and our vulva visual exam and to sceddadle out. Oh, since I was forty I had to have the hemoccult digital exam. I know that the doctor lady didn't eagerly anticipate it because she jokingly said, "OH, you are only a couple of months over forty! you should've came sooner to avoid this!"

For the ortho exame, (the duckwalk, balancing and so on) we were in our underwear and bra, (also for the ht/wt) and it all seemed to go smoothly. the longest part was waiting in line for the visual tests.

Gen-good luck

p.s. oh yeah, I had to go for a vision test too where they blow the puff of air onto your cornea since my age too, (had to make a trip to Great Lakes for that)

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Specializes in OR Internship starting in Jan!!.

I'll cross my fingers for you.

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So I went to MEPS. It was pretty quick, I got out of there before noon. I was the only officer candidate there that I know of, and I was given some preferential treatment because of that (go to the front of the line, etc), which surprised me. I got to meet many young guys and girls that I will be taking care of in the future (hopefully).

I was indeed disqualified for herniated L5-S1, but a waiver was recommended by the doctor, and they said I have a very good chance of being waivered. I will believe it when I see it, which will probably be in the next few days.

Pray for me or wish me luck or something...

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Specializes in OR Internship starting in Jan!!.

You are lucky already to get out of there so fast :)

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
So I went to MEPS. It was pretty quick, I got out of there before noon. I was the only officer candidate there that I know of, and I was given some preferential treatment because of that (go to the front of the line, etc), which surprised me. I got to meet many young guys and girls that I will be taking care of in the future (hopefully).

I was indeed disqualified for herniated L5-S1, but a waiver was recommended by the doctor, and they said I have a very good chance of being waivered. I will believe it when I see it, which will probably be in the next few days.

Pray for me or wish me luck or something...

Hello,

GReat and GOOD LUCK!

I think if the Meps docs say to get a waiver request and then follow by saying it looks like you have a good chance then you HAVE a good chance!!

Phew. Good for you.

I wish you luck still.

Gen

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I just went to meps 1.5wks ago. I also was able to leave early but other than that I received no other special treatment. I was treated like an idiot by every dental and lab tech person there, just like everyone else. It kind of annoyed me but oh well.

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