MEPS Enlistment and Oath Ceremony 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An enlistee who completes the DEP oath and later becomes medically disqualified before shipping will typically receive:
- An uncharacterized discharge from DEP with no service record entry
- A general discharge under honorable conditions
- An honorable discharge from DEP (Correct answer)
- No formal discharge since DEP is not active duty
Correct answer: An honorable discharge from DEP
DEP members who cannot ship due to medical disqualification are typically separated with an honorable characterization from the delayed entry program.
Question 2: Which of the following accurately describes the difference between the Oath of Enlistment and the Oath of Office?
- There is no difference — both are identical in wording
- The Oath of Enlistment is for enlisted members; the Oath of Office is for commissioned officers (Correct answer)
- The Oath of Office includes a pledge to a specific branch
- Enlisted members take both oaths simultaneously at MEPS
Correct answer: The Oath of Enlistment is for enlisted members; the Oath of Office is for commissioned officers
Enlisted members take the Oath of Enlistment, while commissioned officers take the Oath of Office — they have distinct wording and legal implications.
Question 3: Which section of U.S. law governs the Oath of Enlistment requirement?
- Title 10, United States Code (Correct answer)
- Title 18, United States Code
- The War Powers Resolution
- The Selective Service Act of 1948
Correct answer: Title 10, United States Code
Title 10 U.S.C. governs the Armed Forces, including enlistment requirements and the oath language.
Question 4: At a group oath ceremony at MEPS, how do enlistees typically confirm their individual identity?
- By stating their Social Security Number aloud before the oath
- By signing their enlistment documents before the ceremony begins (Correct answer)
- By presenting a government-issued photo ID to the officer
- By having their recruiter vouch for them verbally
Correct answer: By signing their enlistment documents before the ceremony begins
Enlistees sign their DD Form 4 and other documents before or during the ceremony, which officially records their identity and agreement.
Question 5: What is the DEP 'ship date' in the context of the enlistment process?
- The date an enlistee transfers to another branch of service
- The scheduled departure date for reporting to basic combat training (Correct answer)
- The date the enlistee's security clearance is officially granted
- The date the enlistee receives their first military paycheck
Correct answer: The scheduled departure date for reporting to basic combat training
The ship date is when the DEP member officially departs for basic training, transitioning from DEP status to active duty.
Question 6: Which of these is NOT a valid reason for discharge from the Delayed Entry Program?
- Discovery of a previously undisclosed disqualifying medical condition
- Failure to maintain the physical fitness standards agreed upon
- Changing your preferred duty station after signing (Correct answer)
- Enlistment into another branch of service
Correct answer: Changing your preferred duty station after signing
Duty station preference is not a contractual guarantee in most enlistments and alone is not grounds for DEP discharge.
Question 7: A recruiter who coaches an applicant to give false answers to MEPS medical or background questions may be charged under:
- The Freedom of Information Act
- The Uniform Code of Military Justice for fraud or making false official statements (Correct answer)
- The Privacy Act of 1974
- The Military Whistleblower Protection Act
Correct answer: The Uniform Code of Military Justice for fraud or making false official statements
Coaching an applicant to lie at MEPS is a violation of the UCMJ and federal law, potentially resulting in court-martial for the recruiter.
MEPS Enlistment and Oath Ceremony 4
An enlistee who completes the DEP oath and later becomes medically disqualified before shipping will typically receive: