I've got to go next weekend and am wondering what to expect. Obviously the ASVAB and medical checks, but anything else? I've heard some say it's quick and other say it takes all day and the staff is mean and grouchy as hell. I'm being put up in a hotel somewhere too and will be assigned a room mate. How was the hotel experience for those who went?

2/13/2011 3:59:40 PM

I, too, use jargon

2/13/2011 4:03:02 PM

Youll feel like cattle. You'll be there all day. You'll have to walk like a duck and some old dude will grab your balls.

2/13/2011 4:16:39 PM

ASVAB was quick and easy. Going for the medical crap and to sign my contract was fucking bbbbbbbbbbbooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggggggg. also cattle is an accurate way to describe it.

I didn't have to stay in a hotel, but instead had to drive myself to tyvola at 5:45 in the morning
I think i left MEPS after signing my contract at... 4ish?

2/13/2011 4:20:43 PM

Yea, I can imagine the cattle thing. Sounds like it will be a pretty long day. I had one guy tell me there were military personnel patrolling the hotel hallways and they enforced a curfew. Although, I've heard other people say they had small parties in their hotel rooms the night before.

I'll be at the MEPS in Raleigh by the way

2/13/2011 4:34:45 PM

after we got done with the medical screening we at least got to watch movies (of course they were all VHS tapes) while we waited to do things re: our potential contracts.

what branch are you looking at going into? and what job?

2/13/2011 4:37:15 PM

paging Fareako

2/13/2011 4:43:59 PM

Quote :

"Although, I've heard other people say they had small parties in their hotel rooms the night before."

yep.

2/13/2011 4:49:14 PM

Coast Guard Deployable Operations Group. Hopefully going in as a Bosuns Mate (BM). I imagine I'll be one of the few coasties there and I'm really hoping I don't get some shitty room mate.

2/13/2011 4:58:32 PM

Its only for one night. my roommate was some bible thumper that swore the planet was only 5000 yrs old. she went into the navy.

Know when youre going to A school? a friend of mine will be one of your teachers as of this summer

2/13/2011 5:07:56 PM

you should just be a real man and go navy

2/13/2011 5:10:13 PM

^haha I knew the navy jokes were coming. I actually did look at the navy, but I felt the CG offered a more hands on experience with small boats. I grew up on the coast and I just want to be on the water operating boats. Deployable Operations Group offered some unique tactical training and opportunities to do anti-piracy work in Africa or Asia. Time will tell though. I don't know when I got to A school yet, BM school stays pretty packed, but I'm heading to basic this summer. Then I will be a lowly non-rate for a while.

2/13/2011 5:17:47 PM

Your quality of life will be 10X better in the USCG than the Navy.

2/13/2011 5:20:56 PM

Quote :

"Youll feel like cattle. You'll be there all day. You'll have to walk like a duck and some old dude will grab your balls. "

Also, I believe you mean boatswain's mate, not bosuns mate. How much have you actually looked into and thought about this?

2/13/2011 5:26:36 PM

Quote :

"A boatswain (pronounced /'bo?s?n/, formerly and dialectically also /'bo?tswe?n/), bo's'n, bos'n, or bosun is an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship."

I've been pursuing this for over a year. And you can spell it either way.

[Edited on February 13, 2011 at 5:34 PM. Reason : .]

2/13/2011 5:31:39 PM

he must have watched that "JOOOOOOOOOOBS THAT MATTEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRR" video

2/13/2011 5:32:01 PM

MEPS isnt that bad. I went through and depending on how much stuff you have done already then its not too long. The more problems you had medically in the past means more checks too. But if you have to take the asvab, itll take longer. I just had to go in and do all the health stuff and it didnt take too long.

but you will have to fill out a ton of paperwork and do the same paperwork a few times

2/13/2011 5:35:44 PM

BM? hope you like painting!

2/13/2011 5:35:49 PM

BM is vastly different in the Coast Guard. They are the rate that actually operates the boats and performs boardings, law enforcement activities etc. I have heard that being a BM in the navy is pretty shitty and they are kinda looked down on by other rates. Does that sound about right to you Navy people?

2/13/2011 5:46:16 PM

lol, fleeters

2/13/2011 6:14:33 PM

2/13/2011 6:15:32 PM

I am prior Navy, and I would agree with your Navy take on boatswain's mates. Those guys were some of the hardest working guys on the ship in my opinion. Andy by hardest working, I mean they had some rough jobs to do. Chipping paint, painting, working lines for replenishments at sea, etc.

I was a Navy Nuke ET, and I usually tell people interested in the Navy to try to find a job that might carry over into a career after the military. There are so many jobs in the military that you might never have even thought of. Many of them do not translate well to the civilian world, so if you do get one of those jobs, you have to be sure to focus on gaining the soft skills that the military gives you. Things such as leadership and management are huge when you eventually get out. Be it four years or 20+ years.

In my job interviews at the end of college I was primarily asked about my Navy experience and any leadership roles I had. Interviewers were generally not interested in what I did in college because everyone they interviewed had just done the same thing I had as far as college was concerned. My military experience really set me apart from my peers.

Also, MEPS is where you decide if you want college money or bonuses or whatever. I highly recommend getting the college money over any bonuses. The GI Bill is the best investment I have ever made. I went to college after the Navy and I was able to live fairly comfortably and get my degree from NC State.

Good luck to you in whatever you choose to do. Having served for six years in the Navy I understand the sacrifice that is made when one joins the military. You have my utmost respect and admiration.

2/13/2011 8:27:41 PM

Thanks for the advice Tenacious! The USCG is not offering any bonuses right now, so I'm taking the college money for grad school.

2/13/2011 9:12:30 PM

Basically, as an SN, you spend most of your time doing shitty little jobs, and doing helmsman/lookout, which is god-awful boring. Once you hit PO, then you'll start doing QMOW things. If you're doing it because you wanna be on a LE team, you don't have to be a BM to be LE qualified. We had guys from all different rates doing LE stuff, including Yeomen and Storekeepers. CG can be a lot of fun for enlisted guys, if you're on a white-hull. If you're on a black-hull ship, you're going to pull buoys out of the water all day. Personally, I would stay away from any engine room jobs, as you can never hear anything, and you're constantly fixing things that are breaking on ships that should have been retired years ago. If you're looking for skills to transfer to the outside world, there are better choices than BM, and they have good promotion rates too - AMT, AET, ET, IST, and OS come to mind. BM promotes well, though, if you're a sharp person.

USCG > Navy, for sure. Just keep in mind that the puddle pirate stereotype isn't always true. You can indeed be afloat for weeks or months at at time, travel around the world, or get deployed to Iraq.

2/13/2011 9:13:11 PM

also at MEPS a guy will watch you pee into a cup. some people get really shy and can't do it

2/13/2011 9:35:56 PM

Quote :

"I was a Navy Nuke ET, and I usually tell people interested in the Navy to try to find a job that might carry over into a career after the military"

From a dollars and cents perspective, that's probably true (along with getting yourself a security clearance if you can).

However, I was not and am not interested in performing any jobs in the military that have a close civilian equivalent. If I was going to do one of those jobs, I'd much rather do it as a civilian! The attraction of the military, to me, revolves around the kill people/break shit/use cool, high-tech gear jobs.

2/13/2011 9:37:34 PM

^^yeah Urinalysis has to be one of the worst side jobs you can get

Official Cock-looker/Piss Handler


But lol at MEPS Raleigh, enjoy the free meals and getting up at 0430.

I hear the Coast Guard has phenomenal advancement numbers

2/13/2011 10:09:06 PM

^^lol

I went through Raleigh MEPS, should've brought some booze because after MEPS i was stuck in the hotel room for too long, but i wouldn't throw a party. Some people went out. You're not going to get in too much trouble for anything unless you get arrested or miss your time at the airport. They just want to get you to basic, thats literally their only concern after they are done processing you. Also, until you get to your unit, pretty much everyone you meet will be an after thought in your military career, especially your roommate at MEPS

although i remember his name was tim, he was from Tennessee, he was doing MLRS, and he got a shit load more money than I did, thats probably why i remember him

Right time, Right place, Right uniform, learn this and you'll do fine in the military

[Edited on February 13, 2011 at 10:13 PM. Reason : ^^]

2/13/2011 10:13:01 PM

Quote :

"Youll feel like cattle. You'll be there all day. You'll have to walk like a duck and some old dude will grab your balls tell you to bend over and spread your cheeks."

2/13/2011 10:15:56 PM

Haha I went to the Beckley, WV MEPS over 13 years ago when I first joined. I eventually went to NCSU, got my commissioning, and am now an officer. Here is my one (and very good) piece of advice.

Like everyone said, you will feel like cattle the entire time. You'll be pushed from one room to the next, wait for (sometimes) hours just to fill out a piece of paper, be put on an "assembly line" for phyicals.... by the end of the day you'll be so worn out/brain-fried you will be tempted to sign anything just to get it over with. Do NOT fall into this trap. I don't know whether this is intentional or not (my gut feeling is, that it is) but so many people make bad decisions, or fail to read things that they are signing, or make rushed decisions because they just want to get out of there. The people there will yell at you, or at the very least, show outward irritation. Don't sign something just because some dickhead E5 who has been in for 3 years is giving you a hard time. This is the next 3-6 years of your life you are deciding on, and nothing should influence you to make a rushed decision.

2/14/2011 12:19:46 AM

Thanks for the input guys. It's very helpful. My recruiter told me that I will not be swearing in or signing any binding contracts while at MEPS. Maybe it's different for everyone? Sounds like a shitty day in general, but I'm ready to get it done with and wrap this whole process up. Thanks again.

2/14/2011 12:37:35 AM

^so true, I remember getting yelled at for "holding them" up by actually reading what I was signing.... maybe the fact I was going to be an officer pissed them off too

2/14/2011 6:56:01 AM

If you're really this concerned about MEPS being an awful experience, or about sleeping in a hotel room with a stranger, perhaps this isn't the best career choice for you.

2/14/2011 7:58:20 AM

they do tend to get their extra jabs in during MEPS toward anyone who is going into the officer corps

2/14/2011 5:40:52 PM

Quote :

"Youll feel like cattle. You'll be there all day"

yes. and it is nothing compared to being like cattle with nowhere to go and nothing to do, that you'll do for the 'x' number of weeks in basic training.

Quote :

"Coast Guard Deployable Operations Group. Hopefully going in as a Bosuns Mate (BM). I imagine I'll be one of the few coasties there and I'm really hoping I don't get some shitty room mate."

it's Boatswains' Mate. i don't care if Hooked on Phonics worked for you, just because something is pronounced one way doesn't mean it's spelled that way.

and.. wait, what?? Hopefully going as a BM? HOPEFULLY???? Are you shitting me? besides the possible exception of ship's mess, Boatswain's Mate is hands down the worst fucking job in the fleet. and its arguable if Food Service is actually worse or just a different degree of shitty.

seriously fuck worrying about your goddamned MEPS roomate, you better worry about your mates for the next 3 or 4 years.

Quote :

"I've been pursuing this for over a year."

well, then, you should fucking know better. BM is where the stupid and incompetent go, because they cant get into an A School. Seriously, dude. your peers will be high school flunkies and dudes who had to sign a waiver because of criminal background checks.

Do not sign.

I repeat: DO. NOT. SIGN.

Get a goddamned A school guaranteed in writing, or refuse to go. I aint joking, make them guarantee it in writing. these recruiters are fixing to fuck you in the ass. it's up to you that you do not let them.

2/14/2011 6:11:43 PM

Worrying about room mates and such is a normal fear. You will get over it fairly quickly. It's kind of like the "showering with dudes" thing.... I don't think anyone enjoys it (OK that's not true), and I imagine most people who haven't played sports and stuff are kind of leery about it, but it's just a fact of being in the military.

If being a Boatswain's Mate (or a Bosun's Mate) is what you want to do, by all means do it. You probably won't be working with the sharpest tools in the shed, but if working hard at manual labor is what you enjoy, by all means, do it. Plus, the truth is, when you are working with less intelligent people, your odds of standing out are very good. As an example, we have a lot of people who fail out of the Nuclear Power Program, who seemed like total lazy idiots. Then they go to a new community, and they are rock stars, finishing first in their A-Schools, advancing quickly, etc. If it were me, I would try for something with an A-School that can translate into a field out in the civilian world, but that is just me. The most important thing is that you don't hate what you are doing.

I will say, please don't trust your recruiter. Not all of them, but many, will tell you what they think you want to hear. Unless things have changed, you will sign binding stuff in MEPS. The fact is, once you leave for basic, you will probably never see your recruiter again. So any lies, mistruths, etc that he told you are things of the past, and he won't be held accountable for them.

2/14/2011 6:33:03 PM

Quote :

"As an example, we have a lot of people who fail out of the Nuclear Power Program, who seemed like total lazy idiots. Then they go to a new community, and they are rock stars, finishing first in their A-Schools,"

KEY WORD: A-SCHOOLS

"rock stars" dont go be boatswain's mates. just the plain old "rocks."

2/14/2011 6:36:51 PM

Joe, are you in the Coast Guard or Navy? I understand that a BM in the Navy is a pretty shitty rate, but it is very different in the Coast Guard. It's the main rate that does boardings, law enforcement and 99% of the time, the only rate that drives the boats. My goal is to get the best small boat training I can receive so that I may use the experience in the civilian world. I grew up on the water and that's where I want to be. I'd like to be in the middle of the actual missions whether that is search and rescue or security/law enforcement. BM's are also almost always the only rate that can pin Coxswain, Tactical Coxswain, Surfman etc. I have 2 friends who are BM's in the USCG and said they would choose nothing else.

2/14/2011 7:06:59 PM

FWIW, I'm not going active. Just the reserves for now so I can finish school then I may consider AD. I'm doing split ops so I can attend basic this summer then head to A-school next summer. I will go in as an E-3, but remain a non-rate for the year in between schools. That limits me to port security units and small boat stations, both of which revolve around small boat operations. Right now its looking like station Oak Island, MLB Station Wrightsville Beach, MLB Station Hatteras/Ocracoke, or a Port Security Unit in virginia. Highly doubtful I'll be working on the deck crew of a cutter or ATON black hull. You either have fun driving boats as a BM or get stuck fixing them as an MK. Everyone else mostly stays on land. Helicopter rates are limited to AD so that's not a choice for me either.

[Edited on February 14, 2011 at 7:12 PM. Reason : .]

[Edited on February 14, 2011 at 7:16 PM. Reason : .]

2/14/2011 7:08:28 PM

tl;drx2

2/14/2011 7:10:02 PM

I'm not going to knock USCG BMs because I truly have no idea what they do. Just try to keep them from painting over the Furuno.

USCG Station Oak Island does hold a special place in my heart though. Just please don't get any delusions of grandeur that you're gonna be Mr. Badass Rambo VBSS guy kicking in hatches and rolling on all the crack smugglers on the NC coast, especially as a reservist.

2/14/2011 7:25:37 PM

Quote :

"it takes all day and the staff is mean and grouchy as hell"

Quote :

"I'm being put up in a hotel somewhere"

It was a ghetto Red Roof Inn when I did it.

Quote :

"Although, I've heard other people say they had small parties in their hotel rooms the night before."

Go easy. When we got to MEPS they gave everyone a breathalyzer.

2/14/2011 7:32:00 PM

^^Na, I don't think that at all. If I wanted to be pretend Rambo I would never join the Coast Guard. I do hope fore some pretty cool Search and Rescue missions though. I can't imagine how gratifying it would be to save a life.......

[Edited on February 14, 2011 at 7:34 PM. Reason : .]

2/14/2011 7:34:24 PM

Re: Bonus vs. GI Bill

Very carefully analyze the GI Bill decision. The new GI Bill (Chapter 33, aka Post 9/11) requires no buy in upon enlistment, and in many situation will pay significantly more money. At NCSU, my tuition is payed and I get ~$1100 a month (E-5 BAH). It can be transferable to dependents and can be used while active duty (self or dependent, but no BAH if used while AD).

I am doubtful the other education buy-ups give a good ROI in comparison.

Either way, you should know your decision before the paperwork shows up in front of you.

2/14/2011 7:51:55 PM

^Why choose when you can get both?

2/14/2011 9:37:45 PM

Cattle is accurate, also, know exactly what you are going there for or be prepared to get railroaded into filling a slot.

2/14/2011 10:06:55 PM

make sure you get everything your recruiter promised you/said you would get in writing.

2/14/2011 10:10:04 PM

Tarpon, i was Navy. In the Navy, BMs were a bunch of rocks. however, i don't really know anything about CG. I just assumed it was about the same. on second thought, it might be actually kind of cool.

i often wish i had gone CG instead, it actually looks like a lot more fun. despite my AT training (avionics) there, i didnt really get shit out of the Navy except learning how to walk in large groups without tripping on the next guy. well, that and a haircut. which i needed, since i was a hippy faggot.



anyhow forget my earlier rant. i dont know shit. carry on, sounds like fun.

2/15/2011 1:48:18 AM

I have. Getting to strip down to boxers in a cold room and doing the duck walk with 50 strangers....fun times

2/15/2011 6:08:24 AM

nm

[Edited on February 15, 2011 at 8:06 AM. Reason : not Fareako...again.]

2/15/2011 8:06:02 AM