One more thing, I have bad vision.?

Question

do I have to get a waiver before the MEPS or when they test me there do I just get the waiver that same day?

Answer 1

You will go to MEPS on two occasions (at a minimum). One will be for testing (ASVAB) and physicals. And the other will be to "Go To Boot camp!" Before you get the "Go To Boot camp" phase, they will ensure that all of your physical results are in line with military service. The most common waiver is for 'flat feet'. Your vision should not preclude you from joining, but it may impact the type of jobs you are eligible for while serving. For more about military medical standards, read: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/eyes2.htm

Answer 2

Here's the standards for corrected vision. Anything worse than this is disqualifying:
20/20 in the better eye. 20/400 in the other.
20/30 in the better eye. 20/100 in the other.
20/40 in the better eye. 20/70 in the other.
Refractive error cannot exceed plus or minus eight diopters of refractive index. That is waiverable. The others are not.

Answer 3

They won't process a waiver request before they know you need one. You have to be DQ'd on the physical first, then put in a waiver request that goes off to a much higher level. It's not done at MEPS. If you know you need a wiaver, then you won't be able to enlist that day.

Answer 4

Meps test you for everything.
Actually, I'm allergic to bee stings, Meps noted that and while in basic, they sent me to be tested on all types of bee stings to see if it's worth keeping me in. This meant that I would not die right away and could be treated for bee stings. Therefore I was allowed to stay in. I just had to keep a kit with me in-case.

Just to let you know, I have flat feet, they tested it just to document it and let me join.

So, if you need glasses, they will test you and determine if your eyesight is good enough with glasses to keep in. We had one guy with fairly thick glasses, sooo...