MEPS STORY GOOD AND BAD.

Well I finally went to MEPS and did fine on most of all the over 40 Physical except in two areas that have nothing to do with being over 40! Well my Physical went well right up to the Hearing Test that was somewhat low which I expected after 9 yrs in an Armor Field. The Doctor didn’t appear too concerned about it and said he would recheck it later and the process continued.

Well the last thing I did was the weigh in and tape after a very long day and running all over town to separate labs for part of the over 40 Physical. Well I taped and weighed at the end of the day and somewhere in the process MEPS lost a whole inch in height, which dropped me down to the next category on the scale, and you guessed it “over”. My entire life the Military and School has always rounded up on my height just like my recruiters not MEPS they round down. Well no big deal I have a lot going on right now and MEPS said fine just come back on or after 10/09 and weight in and complete the process, as everything else is fine but the hearing test due to a low score.

The Doctor who reminded me of an Old Country Doctor and who was really nice said it wasn’t a big deal and wrote on my paper work “Recommended for Waiver”! I was told at the medical desk that on 10/09 if I came back on that date or after my paper work would be processed and my waiver submitted. The Doctor said the process would take “Two Weeks for the hearing issue”! I am disappointed but it dose give me some extra time to deal with some issues that have come up.

My problem and question is my Recruiters reaction was as if my boat just got shot out from under me? He said the process could take a few months and not a few weeks. And from his reaction it appeared that it was over don’t waist your time further IS THAT TRUE or am I reading too much into it? Hell if it only takes a few more weeks I can hang with that. I just completed my over 40 Physical with no problems other then this minor hearing issue which is related to my old MOS. My Recruiter gave me a weight goal that wasn’t in sink with MEPS but I made that and will make this new one in record time.

But this hearing thing can not improve at all! However the reaction from the Hearing Tech and the Doctor was that it wasn’t a big deal because of my prior service and MOS. Sure my hearing has dropped somewhat but I don’t feel there has been a loss other then listening for those darn little beeps.

My point is the Doctor recommended me and wrote in my file “Recommended for Waiver”. He even made the point of showing me what he had wrote in my medical file and said it may lock me out of some MOS’s. Was that just smoke up the “6” or is an issue that will be taken care of but just a minor pain in the “6”?

HELP!!!

Hey, if your recruiter isn't willing to go to bat for you on a waiver ... get another one. If MEPS recomended the waiver... your in business... they don't recommend waivers they know won't be approved. Good luck, stay in there.

at this point your recruiter should be ready on the line for the big sprint. Everything is done. You'll get your waiver and it won't take that long. What I have read on here is that if you have a pro-active recruiter calling MEPS and keeping your name in the front of the signing pile, things happen quickly. If your recruiter drags his a$$ things get lost in the shuffle. Go to MEPs on the designated date and then be on the recruiter to keep up with the updates. If you arent satisfied with his performance, you might be able to make a few calls yourself. I've seen that on here as well.....good luck..you're almost finished...keep your eye on the prize.

I am getting ready for my over 40 psyical (52 to be exact). Can you tell me what all this will entail????

Thanks

Thanks for the replies the good thing is the hard parts are over! Have to meet my new height standard that sucks but will make the new standards in record time. Kick an old Marine in the *** and it only makes us more determined to meet goals. I will be at MEPS on the date set under the weight and get the ball rolling on my waiver.

Okay let me answer some questions on the over 40 “Prior Service” Physical for Jacksonville Florida. First of all the Staff treated us over 40 prior service vets like KINGS! They kept us together and gave us head of the line on everything. They were very respectful and did a lot of one on one. The main thing is “Keep your mouth shut!” Don’t offer information if it’s not there or you will create problems when they’re none.

I was very surprised of the treatment and the organization how the day goes by it’s changed somewhat from 1982. MEPS will push the over 40 people through different areas quickly and not in any special order. The main issue is you have to get to the outside “Labs” for Blood and Eyes” which are done outside. You will still do the eye, ear, and blood tests on site the over 40 stuff is off site. The over 40 physical is a two day process I got it done in one day by 15:00 hrs. The one on one Doctor interview wasn’t bad and only takes a few minutes get ready to bend over.

If you think your height and weight is close don’t go to MEPS and if you are rounding your height up as the Military has always done in my case 70.5 rounded up to 71 NOT! MEPS will round down as in my case. I HAVE NEVER BEEN 70 IN MY LIFE UNTIL MEPS!! So if you are rounding up and going to a MEPS in the EASTERN COMMAND DON’T GO YET. Go to the lower standard and work to that goal or you will be sent home after your physical and told to come back. They will let you complete the physical. I was told the new Commander for MEPS is being very STRINGENT on the rules. But if you are a little crazy and with a criminal back ground that’s OKAY! Seen some of that while I was there.

I think the waiver policy sucks if the on site doctor signs off on your paper work as a waiver that should be it. I think they just put you through the hoops to see how bad you want back in. I do think there should be different standards for prior service as far as waivers. It should be immediate and on the fast track. The military needs NCO’S now not next year. One of my fellow Marines from my old Company is going through the same thing did the hearing test with the same results and recommended for waiver. He had a good point that I will share with you all.


“We are fighting to wear the uniform, not yet fighting in it”

I know and served with that Marine and would trust him with my life to the day that I die! It’s sad to see he is going through the same issue because we served together in an AAV Unit (Armor) and our hearing isn’t what it used to be. But I will play the system and go back on 10/09 and get my waiver going to get the chance to serve with such people again!

Well everything is looking good for my 3rd visit to MEPS on the 9, October. I checked in my Recruiters office on Thursday and am almost 3% under the BF and two pounds over which I should loose over the next day or so. Two big things are helping me now my neck size has gone from 16 to 17 and my height is back in the 71 inch range.

I wasn’t happy with my last visit to MEPS to be shot down to 70 inches and knew something wasn’t right. I do a lot of Defensive Tactics Training as a Police Instructor and Police Motor Training. I have taken some hard hits over the years and spills on the Harley. My personal record is about 10 feet across the pavement in training with my Harley going one way and me the other. “Fun Stuff” really going to miss it.

My wife who “I always listen too” “Not” said that I needed to see her Doctor for an adjustment to my back. I always thought that crap was a bunch of voodoo medicine. Not anymore have had two visits and will be going one more time before my last MEPS visit. The Doctor said “you’re out of adjustment “I can fix that” and he did every bone in my neck, spine and hip was snap, crackle and pop. Checked my height and like magic was just under 71 inches and in compliance. WOW!

I increased my neck size by doing neck exercise with a 12 pound weight on my forehead. You lay across two chairs with your head and shoulders hanging over with the weight on your forehead. You then basically do sit ups with your head. You can do the same exercise at your local gym with equipment. My recruiter was a lot more motivated and said he was going to try and schedule my Hearing Waiver on the same day which would be great. The hard part is over with the over 40 physical done its theses last two issues and hopefully (WTC).

The end is in sight hope to have orders in hand real soon!!

That all sounds really good, but I am concerned about how much time off from work I will have to request. Can anyone tell me? I had it figured as 1 day for regular physical and 1 day for the over 40. I hope to get the ortho consult done in town or on the same day as one of those...I think that's what I did last time....any idea's?

What I did was scheduled my visits on my days off. It just so happens the day MEPS said I could come back is on my day off. Your recruiter should be able to work with you. But then again I am on a rotating shift with both days and weekends off to schedule visits to MEPS. It can be done but it dose make the process longer then some single person without a job.

i work mon-fri 7:30 to 3:30

Well, your over 40 experience was sure different than mine. There were only three of us present, all going NG. The other two were over-weight, and had no idea the Army would require us to pass a PT. I was a little shocked at that, as I had been reading a lot on here. At the time I was going USAR, and my recruiter was very knowledgeable about WTC. When I changed to NG, my recruiter was an idiot about WTC.

I found MEPS scale was calibrated low. I knew I weighed about 230, it said 224. But, I was virtually naked so maybe thats why. They measured my height at 75" when I knew it was 76. But since then have found it to be 75.5" so I see they rounded down. I used to be 6'4" but age makes you shrink (but only in some places... )

I found the doctors to be pretty much as you stated. Although the main one, an old crusty bastard of a doctor, seemed to take it upon himself to try very hard to disqualify us >40, and had an attitude of we didnt belong in his military. Guess I showed him at least I did! The other guys were shot down.

Preparation. Thats it. Go KNOWING you are qualified, not hoping.