What Branch are you looking at entering and what do you want to do in that branch of service? Feel free to browse through some of the links and information below. Resources for the masses: [url=http://www.goarmy.com/]United States Army[/url] [url=http://www.navy.com/navy/?campaign=search_Reprise/Google/Navy+Brand/%252Bnavy&sid=navy]United States Navy[/url] [url=http://www.airforce.com/?m=2011EASearch&pl=Google&med=CPC]United States Air Force[/url] [url=http://www.marines.com/home?WT.srch=1&WT.mc_id=GSLE_MARINES_MAIN]United States Marine Corps[/url] [url=http://www.nationalguard.com/]Army National Guard[/url] [url=http://www.gocoastguard.com/]United States Coast Guard[/url] [url=http://www.goang.com/Calendar/]Air National Guard[/url] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]MEPS FACTS[/b] [quote][i]Joining the Military Requires two (or more) trips to the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). At a very minimum, you make a trip to MEPS for initial processing, then a second trip to MEPS for final processing on the day you ship out to basic training. This article will focus on the average "first trip" to MEPS. MEPS is a Department of Defense joint-service organization staffed with military and civilians. Their job is to determine an applicant's physical qualifications, aptitude and moral standards as set by each branch of military service, the Department of Defense, and federal law. There are 65 MEPS facilities located throughout the United States. Your trip to MEPS begins before you actually leave, with a medical "prescreening" performed by your recruiter. In performing this medical prescreening, your recruiter will help you complete DD (Department of Defense) Form 2807-2, Medical Prescreen of Medical History Report. The recruiter sends the results of this screening to MEPS, in advance, to be reviewed by MEPS medical personnel. If the prescreening shows a medical condition which is obviously disqualifying, with no chance of a waiver (example, you are blind, or missing a limb), then your processing stops at that point. Some medical conditions require additional medical records. The prescreening is designed to identify those conditions so that your recruiter can help you obtain required medical records BEFORE your trip to MEPS. This saves you from being "temporarily disqualified," requiring that you return later with the necessary records for full qualification. While not all-inclusive, medical conditions which usually require medical reports (documentation from the physician, hospital, etc.) are: Almost any surgery other than an uncomplicated appendectomy or hernia repair, or ligation of tubes, male or female. Absolutely any surgery of the brain, back, spinal cord, chest, upper abdomen, pelvis, and joints. A tissue report is required in the case of most biopsies (skin, breast, etc.) of tumors and lumps. Any history of hospitalization other than the exceptions listed directly above, even if it was only 1 or 2 days for tests. Any History of Asthma after 13th birthday. History of counseling (family, marriage, etc.). Skin diseases other than mild acne and athletes foot. Allergies if more than mild. Back sprains. Severe joint sprains. ADD/ADHD Heart conditions. Hepatitis, mononucleosis. The most useful medical records are the hospital records. Generally, they are the most easily obtained, of better quality, and are kept available for a longer time. Generally, the information needed is... [b]Discharge summary Surgeon's report Pathologist's report History and physical X-ray and laboratory reports[/b] Once MEPS has given the recruiter the "okay" on the prescreening, the recruiter will schedule your visit to MEPS. Here are some general rules to remember that apply to your visit: Discuss any childhood medical problems with your parents and bring documentation with you. Bring your Social Security card, birth certificate and driver's license. Remove earrings (they obstruct the headset used for the hearing test). Profanity and offensive wording or pictures on clothing is not tolerated. Hats are not permitted inside the MEPS. If you wear either eyeglasses or contacts, bring them along with your prescription and lens case. Bathe or shower the night before your examination. Wear underclothes. Get a good night's sleep before taking the CAT-ASVAB. Wear neat, moderate, comfortable clothing. Don't bring stereo headphones, watches, jewelry, excessive cash or any other valuables. Processing starts early at the MEPS - You must report on time![/i][/quote] [b]ASVAB[/b] [url=http://official-asvab.com/whattoexpect_app.htm]What To Expect When You Take The ASVAB[/url] [url=http://official-asvab.com/understand_app.htm]Understanding ASVAB Scores[/url] [url=http://official-asvab.com/where_app.htm]Where To Take The ASVAB[/url] [url=http://official-asvab.com/prepare_app.htm]Preparing For The ASVAB[/url] [url=http://official-asvab.com/catasvab_app.htm]The CAT-ASVAB [/url] [url=http://official-asvab.com/samples_app.htm]Sample Questions[/url] [url=http://official-asvab.com/faq_app.htm]Frequently Asked Questions[/url] [quote][b]After you have met the physical and CAT-ASVAB standards of the branch of service you have selected, a service liaison counselor will tell you about job opportunities and the enlistment agreement. You are making important decisions and need to be informed. Service liaison counselors can explain each program and answer your questions. When in doubt ... ask! A final interview, fingerprinting for a FBI check and pre-enlistment briefing will be completed before you take the oath of enlistment. Members of your family are welcome to watch you take the oath. A waiting room is available for them. Your family may take photographs of you with the military officer who gives you the oath. If you are entering the Delayed Entry Program, or not enlisting at this time, return transportation to your home will be coordinated by your recruiter. Otherwise, you will receive instructions on your transportation arrangements to basic training.[/b][/quote] If you do speak with a recruiter and you have time served in any ROTC, JROTC, Naval Sea Cadets, Air Force Civil Air Patrol, National Defense Cadets Corps, or Boy scouts/Girl Scouts be sure to mention that cause it can benefit you. If anyone is considering dropping an Officer packet straight away, I suggest that you hold off on that...from what I understand about how things are going people who are enlisted and are working on becoming officers will get preferential treatment versus someone trying to join straight away as an officer. [quote][i]SUBJECT: Medical Waivers: Orthopedic Disorders "The Army will avoid authorizing conditions that create unacceptable risk, expense to the government at discharge or retirement, non-deployable status, or danger to self or others. Future officer accessions will consider the cost of existing medical conditions over the lifetime of future officer cohorts." CG, USAAC The importance of recruiting cadets without significant orthopedic problems cannot be over-emphasized. The most common cause for early discharge of soldiers within the first 12 months of active duty and subsequent medical separation or discharge for disability is due to orthopedic conditions. In many cases these were pre-existing conditions which were aggravated by military service. Soldiers today are placed under significant musculoskeletal stresses from training and deployments. Pre-existing conditions will not improve with military service. The old adage "your first day in the service is the best your back will ever be" rings even more true today. Not surprisingly, the most common cause for disenrollment from ROTC is also for orthopedic conditions. Most requested medical waivers for orthopedic disorders are from one of the following... categories: 1. Knee a. ACL Repair b. PCL Repair c. Chondromalcia Patella / Retropatellar Pain Syndrome d. Osgood-Schlatter's Disease 2. Back a. Scoliosis b. Spondylolysis/Spondylolisthesis c. Spinal Fusion d. Low Back Pain / Degenerative Joint Disease e. Herniated disc / Degenerative Disc Disease 3. Feet (flat feet-pes planus) 4. Retained Orthopedic Hardware 5. Shoulder Instability (Dislocation) 6. Miscellaneous Conditions[/i][/quote]