MEPS checklist — what to bring.

§1

What the medical examination actually includes.

The accession medical examination is standardized across every MEPS by USMEPCOM Regulation 40-1. The regulation provides for the following, so none of it should come as a surprise on the day:

• Height, weight, body fat percentage, BMI, and vital signs. Measured at the station; body fat is calculated when weight falls outside the screening table.
• Visual acuity and color vision. Color vision uses the Pseudoisochromatic Plates (PiP) test, with a Red/Green test for Army applicants who fail the PiP. Field of vision and night vision are not tested at the MEPS.
• Audiogram. Hearing testing done at the MEPS becomes the hearing test of record for accession — an outside hearing test taken afterwards will not be used to overturn it.
• Blood draw for HIV testing under the DoD HIV Testing Program.
• Urine sample for drug testing and a breath alcohol test. Both are administered under the Drug and Alcohol Testing (DAT) program.
• HCG pregnancy test for female applicants.
• Examination and interview by a MEPS provider, including range-of-motion and balance maneuvers.

§2

Color vision decides jobs, not eligibility.

This is the single most misread result of the MEPS day. USMEPCOM Regulation 40-1 states that color vision testing is not used for medical qualification determination for Service — it is performed to determine MOS/NEC eligibility, i.e. which job you can hold. Failing the PiP test does not stop you enlisting; it narrows the job list, in the same way a line-score minimum does.

If a color vision result closes a job you wanted, the practical next step is to find which jobs your ASVAB line scores still open: each branch page under branches lists its composite formulas and the per-job requirement pages.

§3

How long your results stay valid.

• The accession medical examination: 2 years, or until you report to initial entry training — whichever comes first. If it would expire before you ship, the MEPS can authorize a new full examination without a new prescreen.
• The medical prescreen (DD Form 2807-2): 180 days from the date you sign Section II. It also has to be redone if you change which Service you are processing for.

Your ASVAB score follows a separate clock from the medical exam.

§4

Common questions.

How long is a MEPS physical good for?

A MEPS accession medical examination is valid for 2 years, or until you report to initial entry training — whichever comes first. If it will expire before you ship, the MEPS Chief Medical Officer, Medical NCOIC, or MEPS Commander can authorise a new full examination, and a new medical prescreen is not required in that case. Source: USMEPCOM Regulation 40-1, effective 15 December 2020.

Does MEPS test for STDs?

MEPS draws blood for an HIV test under the DoD HIV Testing Program, and collects a urine sample for drug testing plus a breath alcohol test. USMEPCOM Regulation 40-1 does not establish routine screening for other sexually transmitted infections. Females also receive an HCG pregnancy test. Confirm anything specific to your situation with your recruiter, because Services may add their own requirements. Source: USMEPCOM Regulation 40-1, effective 15 December 2020.

Do you take the ASVAB at MEPS?

Only if you have not already taken it. Many applicants test at a Military Entrance Test (MET) site or in high school and arrive at MEPS with a valid score, in which case the MEPS day is medical and administrative processing. If you have no valid score, the ASVAB is administered at the MEPS before the medical examination.

What is USMEPCOM Form 680?

UMF 680-3A-E, Request for Examination, is the form your recruiter submits to schedule you for MEPS processing. It is a recruiter-completed form — you do not fill it out yourself, and you do not need to bring a copy unless your recruiter tells you to. Source: USMEPCOM Regulation 40-1, effective 15 December 2020.

What documents do I need for MEPS?

Photo ID, Social Security card or proof of SSN, an original or certified birth certificate, education records (diploma, GED, or transcripts), your full medical and prescription history including mental-health treatment, marriage/divorce/dependent paperwork if applicable, and disclosure of any prior arrests or charges including expunged ones. Confirm the exact list with your recruiter — stations and Services add their own addenda.

Is the MEPS colour vision test pass/fail for enlisting?

No. Colour vision testing is not used to decide whether you are medically qualified to serve at all — it is used for job selection (MOS/NEC/AFSC). Every applicant takes the Pseudoisochromatic Plates (PiP) test; Army applicants who fail the PiP then take the Red/Green test, and if you pass one test the other is not administered. A colour vision failure narrows which jobs you can hold, not whether you can enlist. Source: USMEPCOM Regulation 40-1, effective 15 December 2020.