The Journey - Part Two - MEPS Enlisting

 There are two different times when you go to MEPS. First, get your physical and take the ASVAB. The second time when you actually leave for boot camp. The first time I really had no clue what was going on. The recruiter drove me there and left me with a bus ticket to get back to Rockford. He told me to do my best on the test and pick the job I wanted.

So, I go with my bag to sit down and take the ASVAB inside. I have no idea how many are sitting in this massive room. But, there is a mixture of every sort of person you can imagine in there. We take the test and then get herded onto busses to ride to some second-rate motel in Des Plains. This place was probably only kept open because the military used it to stay.

If I recall, the military people watching us were all Marines. Since none of us were actually in the military, they were pretty easy on us. It was getting late, so we got rooms and were down for the night. I have no idea how I got lucky, but I didn’t have a roommate. Up early the following day for breakfast before heading back over to get our test results and physicals.

It seemed as if some people went to take the physical, and some reviewed their test results with their various branches. I went to the physical part. I never imagined they could look at you to ensure you were fit for the military in so many ways.

The building we were in was pretty old. I would guess it dated back to WWII. We sat down and filled out some more paperwork, then stipped down to our tighty whities. Then it was into a series of rooms to get poked and prodded. Then came the turn your head and cough time. The room was full of young guys all in their underwear. You could tell some weren’t comfortable walking around like that. And probably many of them were those kinds of people who hated taking a shower after PE in high school. 

This old black doctor walks to the front of the room and tells us how we will go through this next portion. He points to the back of the room, telling us, you will go behind the curtains one at a time. Drop your underwear to your ankles and follow the doctor’s orders. I was standing in the back right next to one of the curtains. So, I get to go first. Not that that bothered me, I was starting to get hungry and just wanted to get done.

They tell us to start, so I step behind the curtain to face this short old Asian lady. Since she is a doctor, I figure she has seen it all before, so I drop them. She takes hold of me, and we do the coughing. She writes done something. Looks me over again and tells me to pull up my shorts. I can only imagine some of those green-looking kids when they had to drop their shorts in front of a woman. 

Funny side note, I talked to another sailor, and he mentioned this old Asian lady who felt him up at MEPS. Turns out it was the same lady, and this guy went through a little later than I did in 1990.

After being cleared medically, it was now time to take the Nuke test. One other guy and I took it that day. He was actually an engineering student in college. I seriously have no idea how I passed, but I did. That test was a bear, but I not only passed it, but I also passed it 5 points higher than I needed. That was probably the hardest test I had ever taken. I had been out of school for close to three years and hadn't used any of the math I'd learned in all of that time. So, when it was time for the math part, I sort of froze. I did my best. 

Not only was there math, but also a good deal of questions on nuclear physics. What in the hell did I know about that? Sure, some of the questions guide you to the correct answer, but damn, it wasn't easy.

By this time, I was really getting hungry. Lunch was almost over, so the Navy group had some E4 take me down to eat. Before I left, I was told, don’t talk to anyone. After getting my food and sitting, the E4 tells me he must use the bathroom. And before he leaves, he reminds me not to talk to anyone.

No sooner does he leave than an Airforce person sits next to me. He starts talking, and the conversation goes something like this.

“So, which branch are you joining today?”

“Navy.”

“Nice. What rating are you looking at?”

“I think nuke machinist, mate. Why?”

“Oh, just curious. Ever consider the Airforce?”

Before I could talk, that third-class returns.
“Hey, leave my guy alone.”

Airforce guy laughing, “Can’t blame me for trying.”

“What was he doing?” I ask.

“Trying to poach you. I’ll show you when we get back.”

Back at the Navy area, I am shown the brag board. It lists the highest-scoring recruits and their comparable scores for the other services. I was in the top 5. Plus, out to the right, there was another field, NFQT (Nuke Test), with my score, and it was circled.

I go back inside and get signed up for boot camp as a Nuke MM volunteered for sub duty. Then time for fingerprints and our first swearing-in. I ran back into the other guy who took the Nuke test too, he didn’t pass. But, he was still joining the Navy.

When all was said and done, I would be back there in late February to start my Navy career. Less than a month. A van took me to O’Hare and dropped me at the bus line. Then the ride back to the terminal in Rockford. My recruiter met me and took me home. I spent the next month getting my apartment packed up to move my fiancee and daughter to her parent’s place. It was also winter and cold as hell out. I couldn’t get in much running, but I did try.

I knew my fiancee was not happy with me joining the Navy, but I was on cloud nine. I couldn’t wait to get started. On Feb 17, we moved from our apartment to her parent's place. On Feb 19, I left there and drove to my parent’s house in Lindenwood. My car was parked in my grandparent’s garage. The next day, it would be time!

 

To be continued…..