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Tuesday, August 12:
I had been to MEPs once before about a month ago to take my ASVAB, but I only got to stay in one area. This time, I was ALL OVER THE PLACE, but lets start from the beginning...
I went to work for a little bit and left at about 1:30pm from the beaches area-ish and headed back towards Orange Park to head to my recruiter. After realizing I had some time before I had to be there at 3pm (traffic was still crazy), I stopped by my apartment and let my dogs out for a bit. Anyways, I headed to the back to my recruiting office, fixed a few things that were hit on my background check packet, and then headed out with 2 other guys that were going to get their physicals the next day too.
We stayed at Embassy Suites right by MEPs and male and female recruits stayed on different floors. The gentleman who checked us in at the Freedom Club was very nice and helpful. He provided us with a little game room with 3 TV's hooked up to PS3s and 3 computers to use while we had our stay there. We got meal tickets to go eat and then were told we had to meet up at 830pm downstairs to be debriefed on the rest of our stay and how early we would have to get up the next day. Everyone is staying here, NOT just your branch. The people are nice, from what I saw and from who I talked to anyways, but most of them are shy and not knowing to expect just like you. With that being said, don't be afraid to reach out and try to make some friends.
As soon as I got my key I headed to my room (we would be with a roommate in a 2-bed room). It was only about...5ish I want to say. My roommate wasn't there just yet so I headed down to eat dinner that was being served from 5pm-9pm (or 10pm, I forget). There was a good choice variety; from what I can remember there was Pasta with Tomato Sauce & Meatballs, a Hamburger with Fries, Chicken Caesar Salad, a Veggie Wrap, etc. I stayed safe about it and chose the Chicken Caesar Salad (the chicken was breaded and fried) and it was pretty good, not gonna lie. Simple and delicious. From what I head the pasta was kind of bland and so was the burger, no word on the veggie wrap. Drinks were unlimited so I kept coming back to fill up my little water cup.
After I ate, I went back up to my room to find my roommate who was pretty awesome. We talked about our experiences leading up to this day and watched a little TV. When she went down to eat dinner, I decided to run a little bit at the gym that was at the hotel. Small, but had a good selection of things to do. Once I was done with that, it was about time to shower and head to the meeting. The meeting was brief and only about 10min long, if that. Once we were released there was about an hour and a half left before we had curfew to our rooms at 10pm. My roommate and I were back in there and in bed by 930pm.
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Wednesday, August 13:
We set our alarms for 4am (we snoozed it until about 415am), then got a courtesy wake up call around 430am. By that time we were up and almost ready to head downstairs, I SUGGEST just waking up early and drinking water to wake your body up, maybe even stretch. Trust me, it's a LONG day, and if you're not talkative and making friends it goes by slow.
OH YEAH, PEE before you leave (actually, pee a couple times if you can)!!! Then make sure you can pee before 11am or your screwed and have to wait to come back another day. I had to hold my pee from 5am to about 9am for when I had to do the pee test for sugar, protein, drugs, and probably pregnancy.
Breakfast was served by about 5am after we turned in our room keys and by 550pm we were all on the bus for MEPs. The ride was short since we were so close by, and as soon as we got off the bus, shit got real! If you didn't have common sense, you were a target, literally. If you listen and follow the rules, you won't get picked on. It wasn't THAT bad, but they are blunt and being treated like your enlisted already, so if you can't hang this is one of your chances to dip out and go home - BUT, I know you can do it, you got this far, so just do it!
I'm not going to go through ALL of what happened at MEPs, but you pretty much do a hearing test, an eye test, get your blood drawn, do more medical paperwork, drug test, full physical (yes, boobs and downstairs are going to be examined by a doctor) to be completed with a couple funny exercises with a room full of your gender in their underwear. BUT, once you're passed this and officially out of medical, you will know if you are medically fit to be in the Navy! Thank goodness I made it through it, not that there were no reasons for me not to, I was just SO nervous. It's like trying to pass a final exam or something.
Now, everyone gets called into their own branch liaison offices. I just had to wait around for my name to be called so I could go to the Navy office to pick my job. But of course, I got called and had to wait another 10min so something could be fixed on my paperwork *facepalm*. The second time I got called back I had to electronically sign some papers, then went back out to wait. Boy, I tell ya it's kind of like waiting at a doctor's office, except more exciting. The last time I went in I saw someone to pick my job. He asked me what I was interested in doing and I said Corpsman, but maybe more the medical side and not dental like my dad OR IF a job opened up in News & Media or Photography that would be awesome. We damn did I get lucky apparently because I qualified for a MC rate or Mass Communications Specialist (to read more about this job click here).
To see other jobs that the Navy has to offer, click here!
And that's that, after you pick your job, you give fingerprints, swear in, and sign your contract. After that, you just head home with your recruiter (they will NOT let you leave unless you are with your recruiter or someone is checking you out).
My experience here was positive one, and as tough as everyone in there is trying to be towards you, they aren't against you, but they aren't your friends either. The civilians will be nice towards you, but just be nice and polite and you'll get through the day just fine. I had a fun time to be honest, but not everyone does.
Keep a positive attitude and good things will follow!
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