Getting processed at MEPS generally means taking the ASVAB test around 2 pm and spending the night at a hotel, then coming back the next morning at 3 am to begin the second day (and, thank goodness, the last day) of processing. That day includes...
- An extensive physical (this portion of the process takes around 6 hours)
- An interview
- A background check (getting fingerprinted)
- An interview with a counselor (you choose your job - based on availability, your ASVAB test scores, and other qualifications - as well as choose your "ship date," which is the day you leave for boot camp)
- And, finally, swearing in.
The night before I swore in I spent at a hotel with a bunch of other people from MEPS. It was great; I finally got meet some people who didn't think I had lost my mind.
"You're joining the Navy? What in heaven's name for?!"
Yeah, that's the response I was used to hearing. Either that, or the person would say, "Well, that's nice," and walk away timidly (almost as if they were suddenly afraid of me or something).
To tell you the truth, the main thing that kept me from enlisting sooner was that I was afraid I'd be "alone.” I would be leaving my family and friends behind, and entering the world as a person most people (civilians) couldn't relate to. It was at MEPS that God showed me that wouldn't be the case.
"You're joining the Navy? That's awesome... Me too."
I could live with that kind of answer.
Dannie, my roommate at the hotel, was hoping to get the same job as me (MP: Photography, Journalism, Television Production, and Radio Broadcasting). We both knew that the chances of getting into that particular field were slim, so we both had back-up plans. She was going to look into Intelligence, and I was going to see if I qualified for Cryptology. Neither one of us got that either. In fact, while I was talking to the counselor about my job options, I asked her about the Crypto. She said that someone had just taken the last slot available a few minutes ago. There are many MEPS stations around the US; it could have been anyone anywhere.
I settled for Air Traffic Control - something that seemed very boring at the time, but I'm glad I'm in it now that I know more about it. I'm actually really looking forward to it. My "A" school is in Florida (and it will be during the winter).
While I was in the waiting room near the end of my processing, a girl I had met the night before walked by. I snagged the opportunity to talk to her even though I could see she was heading toward a much-awaited meal (the food isn't all that great at MEPS, and anything from the outside world is highly sought after). "What job did you get?"
"Oh, I'm doing Crypto," She said. "In fact, they told me I took the last seat."
So you're the one... I thought to myself.
"That's cool," I said, not disappointed at all. Cryptology seemed pretty boring after all. "What job did Dannie get?"
"She didn't get the job she was hoping for, but I think she's happy anyway."
I already knew that she didn't get the job. They had told me there hadn't been openings in that field for a while. "Yeah, but what job did she get?"
"She's doing Air Traffic Control."
Yeah, that's the response I was used to hearing. Either that, or the person would say, "Well, that's nice," and walk away timidly (almost as if they were suddenly afraid of me or something).
To tell you the truth, the main thing that kept me from enlisting sooner was that I was afraid I'd be "alone.” I would be leaving my family and friends behind, and entering the world as a person most people (civilians) couldn't relate to. It was at MEPS that God showed me that wouldn't be the case.
I could live with that kind of answer.
Dannie, my roommate at the hotel, was hoping to get the same job as me (MP: Photography, Journalism, Television Production, and Radio Broadcasting). We both knew that the chances of getting into that particular field were slim, so we both had back-up plans. She was going to look into Intelligence, and I was going to see if I qualified for Cryptology. Neither one of us got that either. In fact, while I was talking to the counselor about my job options, I asked her about the Crypto. She said that someone had just taken the last slot available a few minutes ago. There are many MEPS stations around the US; it could have been anyone anywhere.
I settled for Air Traffic Control - something that seemed very boring at the time, but I'm glad I'm in it now that I know more about it. I'm actually really looking forward to it. My "A" school is in Florida (and it will be during the winter).
While I was in the waiting room near the end of my processing, a girl I had met the night before walked by. I snagged the opportunity to talk to her even though I could see she was heading toward a much-awaited meal (the food isn't all that great at MEPS, and anything from the outside world is highly sought after). "What job did you get?"
"Oh, I'm doing Crypto," She said. "In fact, they told me I took the last seat."
So you're the one... I thought to myself.
"That's cool," I said, not disappointed at all. Cryptology seemed pretty boring after all. "What job did Dannie get?"
"She didn't get the job she was hoping for, but I think she's happy anyway."
I already knew that she didn't get the job. They had told me there hadn't been openings in that field for a while. "Yeah, but what job did she get?"
"She's doing Air Traffic Control."
1 comment:
Hey!
I'm a young Christian looking to the Navy for my career. I want to fly; I'm involved in the Civil Air Patrol and have dreamed of flying and the Navy since I can remember. That's so cool that you and D didn't get the jobs you wanted but ended up with the same job. Divine Intervention there!
Have fun, hugs,
cat
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