A few questions

[devin0116]

Hello Marines!
I have just started the process to enlisting and I have the beggining paperwork on my table. I have a few quesetions about it though and the MEPS process which I go to Thursday. 1. Do they call other people listed besides the 3 references? 2. What kind of questions do they ask them? 3. My recruiter gave me the example of MEPS doctors asking questions like "Have you ever had periodic headaches?" to try and find anything and everything wrong with you, do the truly ask questions like that where I am sure everyone would say yes to?

Sorry if the questions are stupid, but I am curious.

Best Regards,
-devin0116

[DrZ]

This has not changed in the last 40 years. They will call the 3 and ask them anything they feel is pertinent. If it is decided you are going to require a higher security clearance, they will check...

[doc h fmf]

Please be honest especially with the medical questions,I was a corpman at MCT in the 80s and there was this one pvt who had asthema and almost died from ODing on his inhaler to this day i dont know how he fell through the cracks so please be honest.

STEPHEN DOC HANSEN HM3 FMF

[devin0116]

Should I let them know there was a hole in my lung when I was born. My mom went to the hospital and they said they destroyed the records. Also, could you give me any examples of what they may find pertinent?

[TunTvrnWarrior]

Devin, this is important... It is not in answer to your questions. The night before you go to MEPS each time, they will put you up in a hotel the night before. The day you go to the hotel, lay off of all caffiene after 2pm. Go to bed early. You will need the sleep so that you can be alert. You dont want to doze off during your ASVAB or not be at your best on your physical. Also, when you ship off to boot camp, do the same with the hotel and MEPS. Get as much rest as possible. It will be a long night with little sleep when arrive at MCRD.

[devin0116]

I have already taken the ASVAB and my recruiter is driving me down there and back home so I dont stay in the hotel, but thanks for the advice!

[TunTvrnWarrior]

Ok, but still follow my advice for the night before. Get some rest. You want to be at your best for your physical.

[FattyTheFerret]

Hell they didn't even call my three references. But unless you're going for a top secret clearance - and its ridiculously unlikely they'll begin one at meps since they're expensive, they don't even know if you'll make it to boot camp let alone through it and there's a ton more paperwork to do than the enlistment background check - the interview will be short and sweet. Do tell them about any police involvement but if someone tries to bull**** you into thinking they can access video recordings of everything you've ever done in any store you've ever shopped in or every traffic light you've ever stopped at (yes, I have heard that line of bull) then just your common sense.

As for medical stuff, be open and honest about everything. Periodic headaches does not mean "odd, my head hurts, I'll take some tylenol oh look it's all better" once in a blue moon. It means do you often find yourself with a headache that can't be explained and taken care of with over the counter medication. If you have a problem, inform them. The hole in the lung thing might be worth mentioning to your recruiter; if you haven't then you're retarded. But if it's never been a problem for you running three miles full tilt and your recruiter feels it's not worth mentioning, listen to him.

And don't, for the love of god, if you've told your recruiter you never smoked pot but you actually did years ago, do not cop to that. If they tell you that they can detect whether or not you just sat in a room with someone smoking pot years back, they're trying to scare you into admitting something they couldn't possibly ever know about. They do want healthy and honest recruits but they also want ones with a bit of common sense, not some dingbat that will screw himself over by saying he was at a party last year where he caught a whiff of the ganja.

[FattyTheFerret]

Ok, but still follow my advice for the night before. Get some rest. You want to be at your best for your physical.

This to a thousandth degree. I did MEPS on 2.5 hours of sleep and it was miserable. And they put me on the ASVAB as the first thing. My brain blue-screened right in the middle of a test.

But yes, be nice and stretched out and limber for the duck walk.

[devin0116]

The hole in the lung has never stopped me physically, I Scuba Dive and have played many sports. SSgt. said that if there were no records we wouldnt worry about it.

[FattyTheFerret]

Then don't worry about it. There is no magic database of health records they can access so when it comes to medical information they only know to check what you tell them. Your recruiter likely doesn't want to mention it because doing so without appropriate records will pretty much nix your chances. Long as you're honest with the recruiters, they know what does and doesn't need to go up to MEPS.

[devin0116]

Thanks for the answers Marines, I can sit more at ease knowing the information you gave me. If I have any other questions I am sure you won't mind me asking?

Best Regards,
-devin0116

[Beltayn]

Then don't worry about it. There is no magic database of health records they can access so when it comes to medical information they only know to check what you tell them. Your recruiter likely doesn't want to mention it because doing so without appropriate records will pretty much nix your chances. Long as you're honest with the recruiters, they know what does and doesn't need to go up to MEPS.

This.
The people who work at MEPS do not care whether you enlist or do not enlist. Their job is to process you, and it is a lot less work for them if they can eliminate you part way through by getting you to tell them something stupid on the record.

Don't be a wuss and be intimidated by the strong-arming about fraudulent enlistment and Magical Computer Databases of Everything. If you have no health problems, you have no health problems. Don't make up health problems by telling them stuff that isn't even relevant any more. If you can scuba dive, that hole in your lung from when you were a baby is probably more than fine by now.

Also, don't puss out on the Moment of Truth the first day at Boot Camp either. It's the same concept as MEPs.

[FattyTheFerret]

This.
The people who work at MEPS do not care whether you enlist or do not enlist. Their job is to process you, and it is a lot less work for them if they can eliminate you part way through by getting you to tell them something stupid on the record.

Don't be a wuss and be intimidated by the strong-arming about fraudulent enlistment and Magical Computer Databases of Everything. If you have no health problems, you have no health problems. Don't make up health problems by telling them stuff that isn't even relevant any more. If you can scuba dive, that hole in your lung from when you were a baby is probably more than fine by now.

Also, don't puss out on the Moment of Truth the first day at Boot Camp either. It's the same concept as MEPs."We can even detect second-hand pot smoke from six months ago so you better tell us!"

Right. I'm guessing they didn't see the look on my face while I was trying to figure out whether they actually believed the crap they were saying. Marines don't lie...unless they're supposed to. :bunny:

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Beltayn and Fatty are correct.

[devin0116]

Well, I still go to MEPS thursday, but it may take 30-60 days for me to actually swear in because of moral waivers (felony and Misdemeanor) for some stupid stuff I did back in December. He said it shoudn't be a problem getting them approved and he said hes gonna fight for me because I seem motivated, just may take awhile longer than hoped. I appreciate all the advice and knowledge I have gained.

[SaltyFungus]

This.
The people who work at MEPS do not care whether you enlist or do not enlist. Their job is to process you, and it is a lot less work for them if they can eliminate you part way through by getting you to tell them something stupid on the record.

Don't be a wuss and be intimidated by the strong-arming about fraudulent enlistment and Magical Computer Databases of Everything. If you have no health problems, you have no health problems. Don't make up health problems by telling them stuff that isn't even relevant any more. If you can scuba dive, that hole in your lung from when you were a baby is probably more than fine by now.

Also, don't puss out on the Moment of Truth the first day at Boot Camp either. It's the same concept as MEPs.

Just my two cents...

As an Recruiting Sub Station NCOIC, it's impairative that you disclose ALL medical conditions regardless if it happened when you were a child or 6 months ago.

Just because the records don't exist does not mean there aren't procedures set in place. It's quite simple actually and I don't know about you, but I'd rather be a med waiver then a fradulent enlistment.

Get a letter from the hospital you were born stating that all records have been destroyed. Get another letter from your PMD stating you have had no issues and are released to unrestricted activity. If the doc at MEPS has any questions he will send you on a consult to a contracted specialist for evaluation. From there the doc has the authority to approve or deny enlistment. He can also send to BUMED (Bureau of Naval Medicine) for further review.

I've seen everything from Wolff-Parkinson-Waite (sp?) syndrome, infant club foot, HOLES IN LUNGS and everything in between get approved utilizing the proper channels.

I've also seen good recruiters get RFC for these things before, and applicants getting denied enlistment for not disclosing a pre-existing medical condition.

[Beltayn]

I defer to the Staff Sergeant.

Just use common sense is all I'm saying.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

As do I. Doubt you'll get better info than this. Closed.