MEPS Introduction 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of the 'pre-screening' interview a recruiter conducts before sending an applicant to MEPS?
- To assign the applicant a military job before MEPS testing
- To identify potential disqualifiers early and determine if the applicant is worth processing (Correct answer)
- To collect the applicant's first paycheck information
- To administer a shortened version of the ASVAB
Correct answer: To identify potential disqualifiers early and determine if the applicant is worth processing
Pre-screening helps recruiters identify obvious disqualifiers before spending government resources on a full MEPS processing visit.
Question 2: Which of the following conditions would most likely require a medical waiver to be considered at MEPS?
- Being right-handed
- A prior fracture that has fully healed (Correct answer)
- Having brown hair
- Being a non-smoker
Correct answer: A prior fracture that has fully healed
Certain prior medical conditions, such as healed fractures, may appear on the applicant's record and require a waiver for the service to grant an exception.
Question 3: What is the significance of the USMEPCOM Form 680-3-A in the MEPS process?
- It is the official enlistment contract (DD Form 4)
- It is a pre-screen form used to identify medical history before the official MEPS visit (Correct answer)
- It is the oath of enlistment certificate
- It is the applicant's ASVAB score report
Correct answer: It is a pre-screen form used to identify medical history before the official MEPS visit
USMEPCOM Form 680-3-A is a pre-accession medical history questionnaire that applicants complete before their MEPS physical examination.
Question 4: What is the minimum age requirement to enlist in the U.S. military with parental consent?
- 16 years old
- 17 years old (Correct answer)
- 18 years old
- 21 years old
Correct answer: 17 years old
Applicants as young as 17 may enlist with the written consent of a parent or legal guardian.
Question 5: Which statement best describes how MEPS is staffed?
- Each MEPS is staffed entirely by civilians with no military personnel
- MEPS is staffed by a combination of military personnel and civilian employees (Correct answer)
- Only active-duty officers are allowed to work at MEPS
- MEPS is run by contractors with no government employees
Correct answer: MEPS is staffed by a combination of military personnel and civilian employees
MEPS facilities operate with a mixed workforce of active-duty military personnel and federal civilian employees working together.
Question 6: An applicant who is disqualified at MEPS for a correctable medical condition may do which of the following?
- Apply to a different branch hoping for a less strict exam
- Have the condition treated, then return to MEPS for re-evaluation (Correct answer)
- Skip the medical portion and complete only administrative steps
- Ask their recruiter to bypass the medical finding
Correct answer: Have the condition treated, then return to MEPS for re-evaluation
Applicants with correctable disqualifying conditions can seek treatment and then return to MEPS for re-examination once the condition is resolved.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the relationship between a recruiter and MEPS?
- Recruiters have authority over MEPS medical staff and can override medical decisions
- Recruiters and MEPS are separate entities; recruiters prepare candidates but do not control MEPS decisions (Correct answer)
- MEPS reports directly to individual recruiting stations for each branch
- Recruiters conduct all MEPS examinations and then forward results to MEPCOM
Correct answer: Recruiters and MEPS are separate entities; recruiters prepare candidates but do not control MEPS decisions
Recruiters prepare and refer candidates to MEPS but have no authority over the independent evaluations and decisions made by MEPS staff.
MEPS Introduction 5
What is the purpose of the 'pre-screening' interview a recruiter conducts before sending an applicant to MEPS?