MEPS Job Counseling and Contracts 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'moral waiver' in the context of MEPS enlistment processing and job contracts?
- Official approval allowing a recruit with a minor criminal history to still enlist (Correct answer)
- A medical exception for a pre-existing physical condition
- Permission to skip the ASVAB retest for a low score
- Authorization to bypass the commissioning officer interview
Correct answer: Official approval allowing a recruit with a minor criminal history to still enlist
A moral waiver is a formal authorization permitting a recruit with minor legal issues (such as misdemeanors) to enlist despite otherwise disqualifying conduct.
Question 2: A recruit signs an Army contract with a '$20,000 enlistment bonus' addendum. Under what circumstance would the recruit be required to repay a portion of the bonus?
- If they fail to complete the required service obligation due to misconduct or voluntary separation (Correct answer)
- If they score lower than expected on post-training qualification exams
- If they are promoted ahead of schedule to a higher pay grade
- If they request a compassionate reassignment within their first year
Correct answer: If they fail to complete the required service obligation due to misconduct or voluntary separation
Enlistment bonuses are recoupable if the service member fails to complete the agreed service obligation, particularly due to misconduct or voluntary early separation.
Question 3: What does the term 'open general' enlistment mean for a recruit at MEPS?
- The recruit enlists without a guaranteed MOS, accepting assignment based on the military's needs after basic training (Correct answer)
- The recruit is guaranteed a general support position in any overseas theater
- The recruit signs a contract for officer candidate school without specifying a branch
- The recruit agrees to serve in multiple MOS fields during a single enlistment
Correct answer: The recruit enlists without a guaranteed MOS, accepting assignment based on the military's needs after basic training
An 'open general' contract means the recruit has no guaranteed job and will be assigned an MOS by the military based on vacancies and test scores after completing basic training.
Question 4: Which DoD form is used to formally record a recruit's declination of a specific job offer during MEPS processing?
- A statement of understanding documented on the DD Form 4 or attached waiver paperwork
- DD Form 2808 – Report of Medical Examination
- SF-86 – Questionnaire for National Security Positions
- DD Form 1966 – Record of Military Processing (Correct answer)
Correct answer: DD Form 1966 – Record of Military Processing
DD Form 1966 is the Record of Military Processing used to document the full history of a recruit's MEPS processing, including job offers made and accepted or declined.
Question 5: When a job counselor explains 'PULHES' to a recruit, what aspect of military service are they discussing?
- Physical profile ratings that determine which MOS jobs a recruit is medically qualified to perform (Correct answer)
- Pay grades and longevity scales for enlisted personnel
- Priority ranking system for overseas assignment preferences
- Physical unit locations and housing eligibility standards
Correct answer: Physical profile ratings that determine which MOS jobs a recruit is medically qualified to perform
PULHES is a medical profile system rating Physical capacity, Upper extremities, Lower extremities, Hearing, Eyes, and psychiatric/neurological Status, which directly affects MOS eligibility.
Question 6: A recruit wants to serve as a military linguist but scores poorly on the Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB). What is the most likely outcome at MEPS?
- The job counselor offers alternative MOS options that do not require language training (Correct answer)
- The recruit is automatically enrolled in a 6-month language remediation course
- The recruiter is required to file a performance improvement plan on the recruit's behalf
- The DLAB score is waived if the recruit already speaks a second language fluently
Correct answer: The job counselor offers alternative MOS options that do not require language training
Failing to meet DLAB minimums disqualifies a recruit from linguist MOSs, so the job counselor redirects them to positions that match their actual test scores.
Question 7: What is the significance of the 'Oath of Enlistment' administered at MEPS in relation to the enlistment contract?
- It is the moment the recruit legally enters military service and the contract becomes fully binding (Correct answer)
- It is a symbolic ceremony with no legal effect on the contract terms
- It replaces the signed contract and serves as the primary legal document
- It activates the recruit's DEP status and begins the waiting period
Correct answer: It is the moment the recruit legally enters military service and the contract becomes fully binding
The Oath of Enlistment, administered by a commissioned officer, is the legally binding act that formally inductees the recruit into the U.S. Armed Forces under the terms of the signed contract.
MEPS Job Counseling and Contracts 5
What is a 'moral waiver' in the context of MEPS enlistment processing and job contracts?