MEPS Medical Examination Procedures 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An applicant at MEPS has corrected visual acuity of 20/20 in both eyes but uncorrected vision of 20/400. Which military branch would most likely disqualify this applicant without a waiver?
- Army infantry
- Navy surface warfare
- Air Force pilot candidate (Correct answer)
- Marine Corps combat support
Correct answer: Air Force pilot candidate
Air Force pilot candidates have stricter uncorrected visual acuity standards than most other roles, and 20/400 uncorrected may exceed limits without a waiver even with perfect corrected vision.
Question 2: During the musculoskeletal examination at MEPS, what does the examiner check when assessing the recruit's range of motion in the knees?
- Only extension strength using a dynamometer
- Flexion, extension, stability of ligaments, and signs of prior injury or surgical hardware (Correct answer)
- Patella tracking under load during a squat test
- Bone density via portable ultrasound
Correct answer: Flexion, extension, stability of ligaments, and signs of prior injury or surgical hardware
The knee exam assesses full range of motion, ligament stability, and evidence of prior surgeries or conditions like patellar instability or meniscal damage.
Question 3: What BMI or weight standard does MEPS primarily use to evaluate applicants?
- A universal BMI cutoff of 30 for all applicants
- Body fat percentage measured by hydrostatic weighing
- Service-specific height-for-weight tables and body fat tape test if over the chart limit (Correct answer)
- A standardized BMI table with no branch variation
Correct answer: Service-specific height-for-weight tables and body fat tape test if over the chart limit
MEPS uses each service branch's height-for-weight screening tables, and applicants who exceed the weight limit may still qualify by meeting body fat percentage standards via tape measurement.
Question 4: Why is a female applicant asked about her menstrual history during the MEPS gynecological assessment?
- To assess fitness for combat roles requiring physical endurance
- To identify conditions like amenorrhea or dysmenorrhea that could indicate underlying disqualifying disorders (Correct answer)
- To determine eligibility for the Army Nurse Corps
- To comply with HIPAA requirements for reproductive health documentation
Correct answer: To identify conditions like amenorrhea or dysmenorrhea that could indicate underlying disqualifying disorders
Menstrual irregularities can indicate underlying hormonal or systemic conditions that may be medically disqualifying, such as eating disorders or endocrine disorders.
Question 5: What is the significance of the PULHES system used in MEPS medical processing?
- It is a mnemonic for the sequence of examinations performed during the physical
- It is a physical profile system rating six physical factors to determine an applicant's medical fitness for service (Correct answer)
- It stands for the six branches of the military that accept MEPS results
- It is the scoring method for the ASVAB used in tandem with the physical
Correct answer: It is a physical profile system rating six physical factors to determine an applicant's medical fitness for service
PULHES stands for Physical capacity, Upper extremities, Lower extremities, Hearing/Ears, Eyes/Vision, and Psychiatric — each rated on a 1-4 scale to define duty limitations.
Question 6: A MEPS applicant discloses a prior knee surgery (ACL reconstruction) not mentioned on the initial medical history form. What consequence does this omission most likely carry?
- The omission is overlooked if the knee now passes the physical examination
- The applicant may face disqualification for fraudulent enlistment in addition to the underlying medical review (Correct answer)
- The surgeon's records are requested but the application proceeds normally
- Only a waiver is required for the knee condition regardless of the omission
Correct answer: The applicant may face disqualification for fraudulent enlistment in addition to the underlying medical review
Knowingly concealing a medical condition constitutes fraud in the enlistment process, which can result in separation or criminal charges in addition to medical disqualification.
Question 7: Which of the following past mental health conditions is most likely to result in an automatic disqualification with little chance of waiver approval at MEPS?
- A single episode of adjustment disorder treated with counseling 5 years ago
- A diagnosis of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder (Correct answer)
- Attention deficit disorder treated with medication and discontinued 2 years ago
- Depression treated with SSRIs with documented remission for 18 months
Correct answer: A diagnosis of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder
Psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia represent significant long-term psychiatric conditions that are categorically disqualifying under DoDI 6130.03 with very limited waiver options.
MEPS Medical Examination Procedures 4
An applicant at MEPS has corrected visual acuity of 20/20 in both eyes but uncorrected vision of 20/400.
Which military branch would most likely disqualify this applicant without a waiver?