MEPS lie or not? Do as I am told or not?

[Lexicon66]

I have been told to lie at MEPS or basically not to say any thing. I wanted to ask some opinions on this matter. For legal issues I know it's always best to say every thing truthful. But I have also learned that for some minor medical issues its best not to say any thing. Often the people at MEPS don't care much and maybe I believe it's best to keep my mouth shut about things that can go unnoticed. Most enlistment has some degree of falsity in the process so I am told.


Seeking some advice from my brother that's a machine gunner in the Marine Corps he said that at MEPS they just check your body out, you take your ASVAB, wait 10 hours then you get signed off. But if you say every thing about your medical history they will want letters, documents, and the process gets delayed. I don't have any major medical problems; I need BCG's for my eyes. I had my appendix out (can't see the scars), and I have a few scars from knife training in Jujutsu (can see the scars) when I was younger. Other then this I have a clean record. I am only concerned about the knife scares. It’s not very usual for a person to have so many scars from training in very unamericanized martial arts. They could be mistaken from mutilation I fear. So I have not told my recruiters.


So I have a bit of an ethical issue because I have recruiters telling me to shut up about minor medical things. And I have a very close brother that says lying is some times the only way to get what you want. I do realize that the USMC and Army are very different things. But MEPS is the same from all branches is it not? What are the pro’s and con’s of this situation. I don’t want to delay any thing in my processing into the DEP. What should I do risk going to MEPS and not say any thing about the scars or just go with the hope that MEPS will be the same as it was for my brother. (No one looked at him they just signed him off).

[VTguard]

It is always the best policy to tell the truth at MEPS. Your scars have a legitimate explanation and they will likely see them during the physical, so having an explanation on paper before you even show up is the best policy. Provide all medical documents from your appendix surgery and you should be fine. You don't want to start your enlistment process with a lie. It may come back to haunt you later.

[DRMMR02]

TELL THEM EVERYTHING.

If you get down to BCT and the medical, or legal issue starts causing problems, you will not only have to deal with the issue itself(which will be a pain in the neck) but you might lose pay, get recycled back to week 1, or even more serious punitive measures. You're signing a contract at MEPS. Don't lie to get in. It can only come back to haunt you.

[NightStalker14]

What kind of jujutsu school allowed you to actually be cut? That's absurd, and foolish. There are plenty of ways to train in unarmed and knife combat without cutting someone. One good hit on an artery and you would've been dead. I did Kali and BJJ/Combatives and I NEVER had to cut someone to demonstrate proficiency. TurboTestes School of Martial Arts, was it?

Anyway, they'll ask you about the appendix on one of the forms. Just check yes. The doc will ask about it when he reviews the form.

Do NOT lie. You'll be pretty much naked (just underwear) for part of the exam, so the scars will be seen. Explain what happened.

Getting everything delayed *****. I know. But these doctors are NOT out to ruin your career. They want to make sure you'll be okay at Basic, and in your military career.

And what you think is minor might be major in the eyes of a trained medical professional. If the cuts you took hit muscle, there might be musculoskeletal issues that may not surface until later. I don't know. I'm not a doctor.

They will ask if the recruiter told you to keep something quiet, and they will ask about the scars when they see them.

Don't kick off your military career by lying just to speed the process up.

You can always go back to MEPS a second time to finish things off. In as little time as it takes you to gather the necessary data.

People's lives will depend on you being able to do your job, and it's the doctor's job to make sure you can handle that physically and mentally.

Do the right thing.

[Gentoo]

Read this:

http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/joiningup/a/falsestatements.htm

Do what you want, but don't come crying here when you are being brought up on charges for false enlistment.

[Lexicon66]

I will tell the truth about things. I never received medical attention for my cuts they were never deep enough and never did any damage to muscle. The training was not very usual at all it's was tough for being the age I was I made it through it. Most people failed because it was more the Japanese style of training. Needless to say the school was shut down. I have my promotional papers but I don't have any certification of knife training. I also did other weapons training. I don't mind my scars they are not that bad. As far as any other medical thing I am not sure if there's any thing else I have to worry about. But I also am not sure how to explain my scars.


I talked to the Marine recruiters just the fun of it and they said it will be a problem possibly. Their solution was to scrape my arms up and say I move concrete bags which scratch my arms. I do want in the military in a bad way. If the ARG won't help me or can’t I am going to have to take the ultimate kick in the balls and join the USMC. They already said "they will get me in". So if my first choice does not work out which is the ANG then I know the USMC needs bodies bad.

[Lexicon66]

Read this:

http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/joiningup/a/falsestatements.htm

Do what you want, but don't come crying here when you are being brought up on charges for false enlistment.


This is all fine I am not lying about any thing major or minor. I do understand the position of the US military. I don't want to burn my self. I don't know any thing about the Army. But from what I know about the USMC they won't care about much of any thing. My brother got in with a non-functioning thyroid, and a felony. He also has some of the cuts I have but mine are a little worse. At MCRD they will examine my body again, if they see my scars they will just say "to bad they were not 5 inches deeper".

If I try to enlist with the ANG and MEPS turns me down can I try again with the USMC?

[sp1173]

The stupidest thing I have ever seen or heard is posting in a public forum (especially a military one)that you were told to lie and that is one of the questions you will be asked at MEPS I hope they won't figure out who you are. Don't put your real name in your personal profile. And I don't think you should choose any kind of MOS requiring a security clearance

[NightStalker14]

This is all fine I am not lying about any thing major or minor. I do understand the position of the US military. I don't want to burn my self. I don't know any thing about the Army. But from what I know about the USMC they won't care about much of any thing. My brother got in with a non-functioning thyroid, and a felony. He also has some of the cuts I have but mine are a little worse. At MCRD they will examine my body again, if they see my scars they will just say "to bad they were not 5 inches deeper".

If I try to enlist with the ANG and MEPS turns me down can I try again with the USMC?

At MEPS, we underwent the same examinations the Marines did.

Don't expect to skate through it without an examination and some questions from a doctor.

[808squeekers]

Everyone's recrutior tells them to lie to get in the guard. Mine did and I told the truth and I was wondering if I was ever gonna get in the guard. well if you do lie and get in and find out it is not for you then there is a redeming chance at the 43rd reception batallion once you reach leonardwood to say "I lied" before shipping to basic

[Lexicon66]

Update I am sworn and in the DEP. I had no problems getting in and I did not lie.


Thanks for the answers.

[NightStalker14]

The stupidest thing I have ever seen or heard is posting in a public forum (especially a military one)that you were told to lie and that is one of the questions you will be asked at MEPS I hope they won't figure out who you are. Don't put your real name in your personal profile. And I don't think you should choose any kind of MOS requiring a security clearance

Agreed.

Your general rule: do not volunteer more information than is asked, but volunteer no less than told.

Do not lie about even the small things, because it'll show to them that you are capable of lying about bigger things, given a motive.

[NightStalker14]

Update I am sworn and in the DEP. I had no problems getting in and I did not lie.


Thanks for the answers.

Excellent. Welcome to the National Guard.

[All_American_Hell]

I wouldn't worry about the knife scars... I got into a fight with a cat about a week before I went to MEPS and they didnt say anything and it DOES look like I slit my wrist lol...

Thanks,
Pvt. Jesse Tredway
Kentucky Army National Guard

[ngwife]

Everyone's recrutior tells them to lie to get in the guard. Mine did and I told the truth and I was wondering if I was ever gonna get in the guard. well if you do lie and get in and find out it is not for you then there is a redeming chance at the 43rd reception batallion once you reach leonardwood to say "I lied" before shipping to basic

Then what? They just send you home or is it a dishonorable discharge? Then you're screwed for any kind of federal job or security clearance...not worth it in the long run!

[Bostonredsock5]

No kidding, be straight forward and if theres something that could come up theres always a waiver.