Bad advice from a recruiter - Lie @ MEPS

[drevel]

So I am just waiting for some final ppw to come in & I will be going to MEPS. Here's the thing, when I met with the recruiter we went over the medical pre-screening & he basically told me to check not to everything.

I explained that I have no medical history, but have received stitches twice. One over 25 years ago when I was 2 [no records per my M.D.] and another 17 years ago [hospital closed & the records were not transferred to local hospital]. No other medical issue, the only thing is about 10 years ago I was in a car accident & I believe I had an MRI or CAT scan to be on the safe side. I told the recruiter I can get the records, but he said no.

He stated that If I have not had any other issues such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, etc... don't mention it. Anyway I want to change the pre-screen & before I go to MEPS let him know I will tell them about these issues. He basically said MEPS will use anything against me & don't say a word. I think this is crazy to jeopardize my future in the guard by starting with a lie.

I don't think my medical issues are serious or would require a waiver, so I am not sure why he said not to say anything. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thank you

[KMANinTX]

What he is telling you is not to "lie", just don't "offer" that stuff up.

MEPS "can" make your enlistement are real pain by making you go see other doctors, etc and get their opinions which can delay everything. Then, they may say you need a waiver. Then, the NG may say we are not accepting waivers at this time, have a nice day.

But, in the end, it's your choice.....you have to do what you feel is right.


I am not a recruiter.

[andrew.tischner]

So I am just waiting for some final ppw to come in & I will be going to MEPS. Here's the thing, when I met with the recruiter we went over the medical pre-screening & he basically told me to check not to everything.

I explained that I have no medical history, but have received stitches twice. One over 25 years ago when I was 2 [no records per my M.D.] and another 17 years ago [hospital closed & the records were not transferred to local hospital]. No other medical issue, the only thing is about 10 years ago I was in a car accident & I believe I had an MRI or CAT scan to be on the safe side. I told the recruiter I can get the records, but he said no.

He stated that If I have not had any other issues such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, etc... don't mention it. Anyway I want to change the pre-screen & before I go to MEPS let him know I will tell them about these issues. He basically said MEPS will use anything against me & don't say a word. I think this is crazy to jeopardize my future in the guard by starting with a lie.

I don't think my medical issues are serious or would require a waiver, so I am not sure why he said not to say anything. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thank you


Ok this is a sensitive issue.

And I am very limited on advice I can give about it.

But I will say, that dizziness headaches and nausea at MEPS is constant things.

Not that you got dizzy because you sat in a swivvle chair and spun around for 5 min and tried to get up.

Not a headache you get every couple months they are asking about freaquent headaches , like a daily basis.

Read the questions and answer the questions asked. Do not try to read into things.

[Hanson]

I remember this one time I brought up some stuff at MEPS, and I had to go see 2 different doctors, then the guard wasn't accepting medical waivers... and then instead of enlisting in April I enlisted in September because I couldn't get in until they opened up medical waivers again.

Just an I remember story that's not from a recruiter, but rather some grunt assigned to HHC.

[Wobbly Emu]

As SSG Tischner said above, just read the questions and answer them directly.

Alot of the questions will be "yes" or "no", and if "yes", you'll have an opportunity to explain it in another box. For example "Have you had any surgeries?", or "Have you been hospitalized?" I answered yes to surgery, but it was for a hernia when I was, like, 3 years old. If you go to the ER, that not "hospitalization"...being admitted is.

A doc will go over these Q and A's with you in an interview type situation. If you answer honestly (say, about your car accident) and indicate what happened and you have no lasting issues with it, he should be cool with that. If he digs further, just answer honestly. There may be further papers you will have to fill out on that, or regulations he has to follow - just be ready for that. YMMV.

Review the documents, front and back, before you go signing stuff. The most important ones will have you sign your name to a clause that may say something like "All the answers I have provided are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief." Just don't get hosed by signing anything that you know is false. Take this from an old, former CID kinda guy...

Good Luck!

[notyetdead]

What he is telling you is not to "lie", just don't "offer" that stuff up.
Good advice ^^^. Lying's bad juju and if you get caught, you're done with the Guard.

Always answer honestly, but only answer what's asked. If they ask you if you suffer from headaches, don't volunteer, "No, but I did as a kid..." because they asked you if you are currently suffering from headaches. Answer only what's asked and don't volunteer anything they're not asking.

By the way, don't be so sure about getting medical records beyond 7 years old. That's how long hospitals and doctors are required to keep records. Older than that and they typically destroy them.

[QuantumRN]

Another tip is to not "self-diagnose". Everyone gets an occasional headache, but that doesn't mean you have migraines unless you were actually diagnosed with it. If you had a CT scan from a MVA doesn't mean squat unless they found something wrong with you. Now, if they did in fact diagnose you with something, you should definitely disclose that.

There is a fine balance between lying and diarrhea of the mouth. If it sounds like a "band camp" story, it probably isn't worth mentioning. ;)

[jackg27]

Is the guard accepting medical waivers?

[PalatialGabe]

he's not saying lie, he's saying that MEPS' job is to stop your enlistment (or treat it that way). If it doesn't affect you, don't ***** yourself in the foot. It's like telling the teacher she forgot to ask for your homework from last night.

[jackg27]

he's not saying lie, he's saying that MEPS' job is to stop your enlistment (or treat it that way). If it doesn't affect you, don't ***** yourself in the foot. It's like telling the teacher she forgot to ask for your homework from last night.

i hated those kids

[PalatialGabe]

i hated those kids

I know, right? "Teacher, you forgot to ask us to turn homework in!"

I'm glad I joined back when the guard needed people, because I told the doctor I broke my arm and it added 2 weeks to my enlistment.

[jackg27]

I know, right? "Teacher, you forgot to ask us to turn homework in!"

I'm glad I joined back when the guard needed people, because I told the doctor I broke my arm and it added 2 weeks to my enlistment.

Do you forsee a time when the Guard NEEDS people to join again? I'm probably not going to get in because I'm going to require a med waiver, and I know that they're not taking waivers anymore.

[PalatialGabe]

Do you forsee a time when the Guard NEEDS people to join again? I'm probably not going to get in because I'm going to require a med waiver, and I know that they're not taking waivers anymore.

I'm not sure, not anytime in the near future I don't think.

[jackg27]

Looks like it's gonna be the reserves then

[PalatialGabe]

Looks like it's gonna be the reserves then

do what you gotta do man, or talk to a recruiter.

[jackg27]

do what you gotta do man, or talk to a recruiter.

Yea he's reviewing my file hopefully as we speak.

[BoopMD]

Have you ever been hospitalized?
Have you ever had surgery?
(Unless you are Rambo, I don't think you did your own stitch work.)

The answer is easy, is it yes or is it no?

When people tell me no and I see such fine surgical scars/stitching I tell them that I admire their work. Then, I write all over their physical, so they never get in. (Don't play dumb with the doctor.)

[jackg27]

Have you ever been hospitalized?
Have you ever had surgery?
(Unless you are Rambo, I don't think you did your own stitch work.)

The answer is easy, is it yes or is it no?

When people tell me no and I see such fine surgical scars/stitching I tell them that I admire their work. Then, I write all over their physical, so they never get in. (Don't play dumb with the doctor.)

Are you familiar with the VATS (Video Assisted Thorastic Surgery)? If so is that gonna dq me?