Before you enlist with the Marine Corps, you will first process in at one of the 65 MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Stations). Once you have gone through initial questioning phases with your recruiter and have discussed your options, your recruiter will set an appointment for you to go to the nearest MEPS. Here you will take the ASVAB, have a physical, and (if you pass) – choose your job and swear in. Everything together should take 2 days.
The MEPS is a Department of Defense joint-service organization staffed with military and civilian professionals. MEPS personnel determine applicants’ physical qualifications, aptitude and moral standards as set by each branch of military service.
Some people will go into their branch’s DEP (Delayed Entry Program), and go home after MEPS to wait until their ship out date. Others will embark to basic training immediately following MEPS. Remember, you have NOT joined the military before going to MEPS, but by the end of it you will be asked to. Do you still want to join? Be sure of this before you go!
Here are some helpful hints for BEFORE you go to MEPS:
1. Discuss any childhood medical problems with your parents and bring documentation with you.
2. Bring your Social Security card, birth certificate and driver’s license.
3. Remove earrings (they obstruct the headset used for the hearing test).
4. Profanity and offensive wording or pictures on clothing is not tolerated.
5. Hats are not permitted inside the MEPS.
6. If you wear either eyeglasses or contacts, bring them along with your prescription and lens case.
7. Bathe or shower the night before your examination.
8. Wear underclothes.
9. Get a good night’s sleep before taking the CAT-ASVAB.
10. Wear neat, moderate, comfortable clothing.
11. Don’t bring stereo headphones, watches, jewelry, excessive cash or any other valuables.
12. Ask your recruiter for a list of recommended personal items to bring to basic training.
13. Processing starts early at the MEPS – You must report on time.
The typical process at MEPS is:
1. ASVAB test
2. Physical
3. Job selection
4. Swearing in
Testing
Each applicant for military service is required to take the CAT-ASVAB, which measures aptitude in a broad range of career fields. Each service combines the test section results to produce its own unique scores for various career fields.
Note: You may have already taken the ASVAB in high school or for enlistment purposes. If so, tell your recruiter or your test administrator, because you may not be required to take the test again.
Physical
Everyone entering the armed forces must be in good health to endure the challenges of basic training and military service. Your physical examination will test things such as blood, urine, muscle groups, joint maneuvers, hearing, eyesight and more.
Picking your MOS
A service liaison counselor will tell you about the many job opportunities available and best suited to you based on your interests and ASVAB score. It is a good idea to research your options ahead of time. The Counselor will also go over the enlistment agreement as well as answer any questions you may have.
Swearing In (The Oath)
Marines pledge themselves completely to the Constitution of the United States. From the day they enlist and throughout their service, the oath every Marine takes is a promise and a reminder of their sacrifice and their commitment to the defense of our Country.
Application and Responsibilities
a. The purpose of the standards are to ensure that individuals medically qualified are:
- Free of contagious diseases that would likely endanger the health of other personnel.
- Free of medical conditions or physical defects that would require excessive time lost from duty for necessary treatment or hospitalization or would likely result in separation from the Army for medical unfitness.
- Medically capable of satisfactorily completing required training.
- Medically adaptable to the military environment without the necessity of geographical area limitations.
- Medically capable of performing duties without aggravation of existing physical defects or medical conditions.
7 Steps:
Is the Marine Corps right for me?