getting to meps

[Joann]

My son, who is leaving for meps next week, came home today and said he will need to take a bus from his recruiters station to meps for his swearing in. He said he's not sure if what kind of bus or how he will get to meps once he gets to that city. Any advice on how your son/daughter got to meps for swearing in?

[Carlotta-JLR the AO mom]

I have no idea, usually the recruiter takes the recruits to the MEPS. Personally, I have not heard of a recruit taking any other form of transportation to the MEPS. Maybe someone else will have a little more information for you than I because my sailor did not experience this.

[Tamie (mom of Michael)]

we took our son to the motel where they were to met up for that night before meps, we had dinner with our son, then they were transported by their recruiter bright and early the next morning by bus. We met him at meps for his swearing in. but i am sure that his recruiter has it all lined up for him i can just bet that that there will others there to met the same bus.do not worry they take very good care of there recruits. wine and dine. I wish him the best of luck. tell him thanks for serving our country. hope this helps.

[ChrisAmo]

His recruiter should take him. It's part of their duties.

[Cindy(Ashley's Mom)]

The recruiters here have a bus that takes them to meps if there is quite a few going.

[Kim Rezendes]

Recruiter is picking my son up and driving him there. He will be picked up tomorrow morning.
Hope this helps.

Kim

[Lizzette.Luis' Mom DIV 189]

Joann: When my son left for MEPS the recruiter took him and one other guy. He said if there were more they would be using some type of shuttle bus..I am not so sure.. But I bet if there are a few they use a bus...

[Lynne Proud USS Iwo Jima ET Mom]

I'm not sure if I'm even in the right topic forum....but my son left this am driving himself up to Jax MEPS and will be sworn in tomorrow. His recruiter met him up there from here (Orlando). No mention of him doing anything more than his contract, job choice and being sworn in. Is this a common procedure? Most of what I have read here tonite sounds like most of these recruits went to MEPS and left for boot camp from there! Our son is 23 and its hit and miss with the info he manages to share with us, but I can't imagine he would be missing the fact of going immediately or leaving....right???

Can someone just help clarify this for me PLEASE! Thanks so much from a very, very confused and loving proud mama!

[Arwen]

Recruits go to MEPS twice: to sign up, then again when they actually go to boot camp.

Prospective recruits can drive themselves when they are just taking the ASVAB/looking for jobs, but more often the recruiter drives them there because the recruiter has to be there for parts of the process anyway, no need to waste gas driving two cars

Occasionally a recruit will find an opening for the same day or the next day and never goes home, but that's very unusual. In those rare cases they keep the recruit overnight and s/he leaves the next day. I had the option to do this and almost did, but out of guilt (my family would have killed me for leaving with no warning) I chose another opening three days later.

When he leaves for boot camp he will meet his recruiter at the recruiting station or be picked up at home. From that time recruits are under the control of the Navy 24/7. The process is not unlike being taken into police custody for a crime.

If there are only a few going the recruiter will usually drive them there in a car or van. If there are a large number going they charter a bus for the recruits.

The recruiter hands off his recruits to MEPS and signs them over.

MEPS puts them in a hotel overnight, then picks them up again in the morning. When they do their paperwork and swear-in depends on when they arrive at MEPS. We live 8 hours from the MEPS center, my son will probably get there late in the evening, stay in the hotel, then the next day do his paperwork and swear-in the next morning. For recruits who live closer, they may arrive in the morning, do their paperwork and swear in that afternoon, then fly out the next morning.

MEPS has "custody" of the recruits until they reach the airport, where they are handed off to the USO. In some cases they will be accompanied by a MEPS representative for their flight, but usually once in the airport they are responsible for themselves and each other. When they land in Chicago they report to the USO office, who hands them off to Great Lakes reps, who puts them on Navy-owned or chartered buses to boot camp.

[Maria - Kyle's Navy Mom]

My son's recruiter took him, put him up in a hotel and everything. I would say talk to the recruiter and get them to help. That's what they are paid for.

[Lynne Proud USS Iwo Jima ET Mom]

Thanks for the help ladies....as it turns out it was all for naught....he didn't get sworn in, his job positions are not available or pending......so he came home! He's still not Navy property and he still has no idea what is going on, says MEPS Jax was not very organized and had to repeat things already done at MEPS TAMPA 2 weeks ago. So we are once again in the hurry up and wait mode. But...at least I know now how it is supposed to be for the future.

Thanks again,
Lynne

[SailorZak'sMom]

My son just left for boot camp on 3/12. He also signed up through MEPS at JAX. The computers were down the first time he went, so he had to go back a week later to sign for his job and get sworn in.  But, I wasn't upset like he was! I wanted everything to take as long as possible! ;) Good luck to your son! Hope things go smoothly next visit.

[lemonelephant]

Note that the post you replied to is from November 25, 2009 and by her Username, Lynne Proud USS Iwo Jima ET Mom, she definitely has a Sailor, so things worked out.