PRIOR SERVICE MEPS EXPERIENCE|GOING TO MEPS|ARMY MEPS|MADISON GILES

Hey guys and welcome back to my channel. In today's video, I am sharing my MEPS experience as a Prior Service member. I wanted to document what I experienced so that anyone who was in the process of joining as a Prior Service, or someone who is thinking of rejoining can get a feel for what it is like. I'd like to reiterate that every single person might not have the same experience as I did. The location of MEPS has a lot to do with how you will be treated, so keep that in mind. I will be doing a full video of what my process of rejoining as a Prior Service was like because it was much more difficult than my first enlistment. I hope this video gives you a better idea of what MEPS will be like for your upcoming visit. If you still have any questions please leave them below and I will answer to my best ability.
Don't forget to check out my latest vlog:
Rejoining the Army Vlog: • REJOINING THE ARMY VLO...
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[@MadisonGiles]

Let me know if you have any questions about the process or want a separate video on a topic that needs a more in depth answer!

[@kerronscott]

I’m in the process now, also prior service. Did they give a reason as to why they only had 1 duty stationed available? And did you have a choice at any other MOS’s?

[@MadisonGiles]

@@kerronscott My MOS is very small so I'm sure that had a lot to do with that. People are waiting a year just to go to basic and AIT for that MOS. Look into the Army Business rules. If you're a certain rank and had been in for over 48 months your choices are severely limited. If the business rules applied to me all the jobs left were combat-related, supply, and IT. I was only re-joining if I could get my job, but that was my own personal decision. The reason you have to see if the business rules apply to you is if you graduated AIT you are MOS qualified, so they want to keep you in your MOS or around your ASVAB score.

[@jaice7580]

I had a question with how many days they allowed you to travel/how the process was when you just swore in since it’s similar to pcs leave. My experience was really similar to your experience but mine was faster because my PHA was still recent since I etsed a few months ago so I skipped medical and all and they gave me the option to reclass or pick duty station. I got offered Campbell or Riley which are over 1400 miles away and I signed a bunch of paper for Campbell. I’m just curious how that process travel/leave works since I swear in on Monday and I’m planning on driving for over 24 hours starting this 12th😅

[@MadisonGiles]

@@jaice7580 so they allowed me 10 days to travel to Fort Campbell. I was coming from JBLM, Washington so it was 3,000 miles. They gave 10 and I only used 3. I had already made arrangements for a house so I didn’t get the additional 10 days to find a house. I didn’t sign in until my 10th day, but it didn’t put me in the negatives leave wise either.

[@jaice7580]

@@MadisonGiles oh thanks! They gave me 6 but it’s just the wait to transfer into the system to get another cac that’s been a wait.

[@DeuceDeuce0331]

Wow this is so informative, I'm going to Seattle MEPS to medically process for re enlistment, on Monday. I'm a prior service Marine with a 13 year break in service. know what I'm getting myself into, and this is helpful to understand how meps works this day and age given my last meps experience was in 2004 when I shipped off to MCRD SD.

[@MadisonGiles]

Congratulations on coming back in! I was definitely nervous coming back in. Hope everything goes well for you!

[@actualcrybabylilly]

Hey Madison! I’m reenlisting as prior service and just have to go to a new AIT. I was told I would be getting reissued uniforms as I don’t have mine anymore. Did you get uniforms reissued? If so, did you get them before you shipped to fort Campbell or once you arrived? Thanks!

[@MadisonGiles]

Congratulations! I got reissued my uniforms once I got to fort Campbell. And since you’re going through AIT first I would ask your recruiter if there’s a way you could get them before shipping. I heard a couple of people that got them through the recruiters office. It would make life easier so you don’t risk being a holdover for a long time.

[@tdtvegas]

I’m trying to go back in the Army. Was a 31b, going 88m active-duty.

[@harleyd9857]

Good info Thnx

[@lolo9096]

Hey Madison! Thanks for such an informative video. I was wondering do they have your medical records from when you were active duty at meps or did you bring them? I have nothing serious in them, but was wondering since I have meps on Monday!

[@MadisonGiles]

So I only requested records for things that happened to me while in that I couldn’t get away with. I had hand surgery while in that obviously left a very noticeable scar, so I requested my medical records from that location and gave them to my recruiter. My recruiter had to put in a couple of things for me like that, but you shouldn’t be bringing in your own medical records to meps. If you have something that isn’t in your packet your recruiter sent you with; then you will most likely get kicked back and have to update them and come back to meps another time unless it disqualifies you. Best of luck!

[@spazzluvx1465]

@@MadisonGiles how were you able to request your records. My husband has been trying to get records he had for a knee surgery while active army. They told us we had to go through Amedd but nobody answers the phone. He is currently in the process of trying to reenlist but we’re kinda stuck with trying to get his surgery record

[@MadisonGiles]

Since I became a military dependent due to my husband still being active all I did was visit the military hospital he was stationed at. I went to the outpatient records clinic there and they had me fill out a form that requested that certain record. They were able to find me still in the system so they just printed all of my documents there. I would just call the hospital he had the surgery at if you don’t have base access anymore. Tell them you’re trying to rejoin but needs those records and see if there’s a process he has to do to get them. I didn’t go amedd at all.

[@lolo9096]

@@spazzluvx1465 Hi Amber! Try Tricare online if he does not have access to ask in person. All records should be accessible there other than mental health! Did he have this surgery done at an army hospital or at a civilian one? If civilian he can call up and just get it that way, if army it should be in his online health record. I know you weren’t asking me but I thought I would chime in because I was a medic previously so i have a lot of experience with the medical records lol 🤣. Good luck!

[@spazzluvx1465]

@@lolo9096 lol just saw your message and that’s where I was able to find them 😂😂 I spent all day googling hahaha.. how is the medical side of the Army? I’m going to be starting my BSN online once we get to his duty station! I’m looking into joining the Nurse Corps.

[@andrewecheverria4924]

I got out in 2014 would I need to pick another mos because of that

[@matthewcullity7222]

I’m in the exact situation I’m about to watch, before I do, I doubt you talked anytbint about having any VA disability compensation. If you did have compensation did MEPS know that? And also do you know if MEPS automatically has VA medical records or should I bring them with me?

[@matthewcullity7222]

Also, did they pay for you to drive to your base like they do when we PCS and ETS? I saw you said you kept your rank, are you a Sergeant? I ask because I am and was told they might Bump me down to specialist? My first meeting with recruiter is next week so I haven’t gotten too much info yet and I’m very curious. Thanks!!

[@CitizenSoldier1987]

What I did was I pulled my medical records from the VA in e benefits website. I gave them to my recruiter to submit them to MEPs. And then wait for MEPs to give the approval to the recruiter to do the physical. Expect to be questioned by the medical officer who will do the standard physical like you had done before. With me the medical officer signed off a document and I didn't have to do the duck walk etc.

[@JamesDavis-jo9tk]

I didn’t know that 68T was a thing. My daughter loves animals so she may be interested in that! Would she need to go to vet school first or do they train you?

[@MadisonGiles]

To be a 68T, animal care specialist, you are essentially an enlisted veterinarian technician. So you would go through AIT which they will teach you everything you’ll need to know. If she wants to become a veterinarian she would do that first and then if she still wanted to join the army she’d commission instead of enlist and she’d be an officer and work as a veterinarian.

[@JamesDavis-jo9tk]

@@MadisonGiles thank you for replying. I will pass this on to her.

[@Tom-lc6ww]

Did you have VA disability going through Meps the second time?

[@user-bn8dg8be9w]

Did you already have a CAC when you went to MEPS? Or did you have to get one? If so where?

[@MadisonGiles]

I got a cac when I got to my duty station during inprocessing the base.

[@sarahhimpsl3083]

Hey! I’m going through the process now, waiting to hear back about medical prescreen before I go to Meps.. you said they only give you 10 days to get to your duty station, my husband is in Hawaii I’m in GA (complicated) but I’m hoping they send me back to him with MACP, do they help with moving or shipping anything? I would need to ship my vehicle if I go back to Hawaii. I have also been out for over 3 years.. do you have to buy new uniforms and stuff or do they provide you with anything?

[@MadisonGiles]

The recruiting office or MEPS should give you a memo to give to clothing and sales for a new initial issue of all uniforms. You should not pay out of pocket. They only gave me 10 days, but it could possibly be more since Hawaii is technically OCONUS. Also, because it’s OCONUS they will ship your car for you. If you haven’t left already reach out to your recruiter on getting your car shipped over there.

[@NicholesInItaly]

Can you give me your recruiters info ? I’m having such a hard time with recruiters not wanting to help me because it’s a lot of paper work .

[@jodilday8276]

Hey Madison! Do they ask or look at your civilian medical records or prescriptions? And the blood draw is that for HIV or drugs? I’m a year sober and just wanted To be sure!

[@MadisonGiles]

Congratulations that’s so amazing! So I have heard that recently they have been able to see your medical records now. The blood draw is for HIV and they do a urine test for drugs so that is good. They had a lot of people that would hide a previous injury and try to claim it on va disability, so they started cracking down on their background checks into medical history.

[@curtissmallwood6997]

Ya’ll filled the cup in a stall? They lined 10 of us shoulder to shoulder on a line in a hall way and we all filled the cup while a SSG watched

[@MadisonGiles]

In my experience both times there weren’t many females enlisting the days I went. We also had two stalls and they would watch us both at the same time. That’s just my experience, so it may be different for others.

[@FilamNation]

What about weigh in was that first

[@MadisonGiles]

That was one of the requirements this go around for me. If you go on the goarmy.com website and search the height and weight requirements there’s a different requirement for prior service members. Either meet the weight or meet BMI and you’ll have to do it each meps visit too.

[@daysofAlana]

Hey girl do you know anything about the re entry codes? I got out last year as an e5 and I want to go back in I have a re code 3.

[@MadisonGiles]

I’m pretty sure mine was a 3 as well. I got out on a chapter 8 pregnancy and just needed a waiver. As long as you didn’t get a dishonorable discharge and didn’t receive like 100% disability there should be a waiver for just about anything.

[@wtflightningstaff8038]

I’m re-3f with marines, but I’m gonna try to find a recruiter who can give paper work for a wavier to get sent to the chain of commands

[@snideraustin45]

How was it been since re enlisting?

[@MadisonGiles]

Well, I’m not doing what I thought I would be doing. I have also been sent tdy 3 times in 6 months. I will be making a video here soon about the aftermath. Because it’s been ALOT! 😂

[@AlexNH56]

Whoah why did you go back in???

[@MadisonGiles]

My husband (at the time) and I had just separated. I hadn’t had a job in 3 years, I had no degree, and didn’t see a bright future for my kids and I. I reached out to the recruiter to see if I could keep my rank and time in service so I wouldn’t be starting from scratch. Knowing I wouldn’t have to leave my kids to restart and could continue as if I never left and have insurance and a roof over their heads I thought that would be the best option for our new little family 😊

[@AlexNH56]

@@MadisonGiles That’s awesome they helped you out! Truly is a blessing! My boi from the corps had the same thing happen to him but he didn’t get out he re-enlisted, still good to know they help out single parents. I want to go back in because I miss it, but I just started my degree and I want to finish that before I do anything else. Still up in the air about rotc, enlisted was the best for me.

[@ohsofly_4516]

Hey did you have to do a background check?

[@MadisonGiles]

Yes, you have to do a background check. Mine was super simple since I’ve already been in the army and then I was literally a stay at home mom for the entire gap of service.

[@LuisMartinez-bb1oq]

Did you have to take the new PT test or old?

[@MadisonGiles]

We are still currently doing the APFT for promotion points, but my unit does both tests 2x a month. Starting in January we should only be taking the ACFT.

[@ohsofly_4516]

Did you do a background check again ?

[@MadisonGiles]

Yes, they had to do another background check.

[@Neta_2525]

How long were you out before you re-enlisted into the Army?

[@MadisonGiles]

I was out for 3 years and 9 months. Just under 4 years!

[@heribertoleon6763]

@@MadisonGiles you did not go back to basic ?

[@MadisonGiles]

Correct. I did not have to go through basic or ait when I rejoined. I went straight from meps swearing in to my unit.

[@heribertoleon6763]

@@MadisonGiles isn’t after 3 years you have to go back to basic ? Or am I wrong ?

[@MadisonGiles]

It is 6 years now!