You have finally made a decision to join the greatest military force in the world. Congratulations! And now it is time to head to MEPS….again. MEPS is the acronym for Military Entrance Processing Station. There are 65 MEPS facilities located throughout the United States. These military and civilian personnel determine applicants’ physical qualifications, aptitude and moral standards as set by each branch of military service. Your first trip to MEPS determines where your overall fitness as a potential member of the military is assessed. The second trip is for actually enlisting on active duty, and shipping off to basic training.
You will participate in a medical check. For the US Marine Corps, if you have not already done so, you will perform your Initial Strength Test(IST). There will be an enlistment contract review and you will be required to fill out an emergency data card. A pre-accession interview will be conducted. This ensures that no false information exists on your enlistment documents. You will then be briefed on the contents of Article 83, Article 85, and Article 86 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Article 83 covers fraudulent enlistments. Articles 85 and 86 are concerned with Desertion and Absent without Leave (AWOL). You’ll then be briefed on the Military’s Separation Policy.
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You will then receive a pre-oath briefing in which you will be instructed on how to stand at attention, bending your elbow at a 90 degree angle, etc. You’re then ready to take the active duty oath. Once you take the oath, you are an active duty member of the United States Military.
Following the oath, you will be given a sealed envelope that contains your necessary papers. At the designated time, MEPS will transport you to the airport, and put you on a flight to your basic training location. You will turn your papers into NCO staffing the Military Reception Counter at your destination airport.
