Do I absolutely need my SS card at meps?

You need your original SS card or you can use a signed, stamped NUMIDENT printout from the Social Security office. They will not accept a photocopy because Microsoft Paint comes with pretty much any Windows computer you can buy. As for your ID, while I can't speak for right now when I was a recruiter almost a year ago the MEPS would accept a student ID for enlistment. That was how I got several high school seniors who didn't have a licence or permit yet into the DEP. If not, you will just have to see about getting some form of picture ID. As for your birth certificate, your recruiter can use a DD Form 372 in place of a birth certificate if the state that you was born in will accept it.

You will need your actual social security card to process meps. The things your recruiter asked for are used to validate your qualification so they need to see the real thing. You also need your SSN. You can go to meps with the proof of application from the social security office but you'll need to give your recruiter your SSN card when you get it so he can get it validated at the meps. I'm not sure about the Washington state questions you asked.