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Medical Technicians Linda Jacobson and Don Roth review documentation together. The pair has been working together as a brother-sister duo for more than 30 years at the Milwaukee MEPS.

Sept. 6, 2024

Meet a Med Tech: Milwaukee siblings serve at MEPS more than 30 years

MILWAUKEE MEPS, Wisc. — At the 65 Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) across the country, medical technicians (med techs) are vital to determining eligibility for those seeking to join the armed forces through "Freedom's Front Door." Med techs conduct urinalysis, vision tests, height and weight assessments and enter medical data into MHS GENESIS – all of which support the USMEPCOM mission of evaluating applicants by applying Department of Defense standards in processing and determining eligibility for military service.

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Cory Flament, Buffalo MEPS commander, poses with the heavyweight trophy after taking top prize at the 2024 New York Golden Gloves boxing tournament. Flament took up boxing less than a year ago and became the 2024 New York Golden Gloves champion in a matter of months.

Aug. 27, 2024

Buffalo MEPS Commander's Boxing Glory

BUFFALO MEPS, N.Y. — The scent profiles of classic chocolate chip, nutty peanut butter and buttery toffee are all too familiar to Navy Lt. Cmdr. Cory Flament, Buffalo MEPS commander. He co-owns a cookie company near the MEPS with his partner in baking gourmet treats, and partner in life, wife Brittany. The sweet scents he was used to are a stark contrast to the odorous smells of vinyl punching bags and sour sweat he found himself drawn to just last autumn.

U.S. Navy Capt. Christopher Carmichael, USMEPCOM Western Sector commander, passes the Western Sector colors to Army Command Sgt. Major David Goins, the incoming Western Sector senior enlisted advisor (SEA). during a change of responsibility ceremony, July 31. Goins accepted responsibility as the new SEA of USMEPCOM Western Sector, succeeding Army Command Sgt. Maj. Roger Rendon.

July 31, 2024

USMEPCOM Western Sector Welcomes New Senior Enlisted Advisor During Change of Responsibility Ceremony

HQ USMEPCOM, NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. — Army Command Sgt. Maj. David Goins accepted responsibility as the new senior enlisted advisor (SEA) of USMEPCOM Western Sector, succeeding Army Command Sgt. Maj. Roger Rendon.

(L) Dr. Liza Pilch, Milwaukee MEPS chief medical officer, works alongside Helen Smith, Milwaukee MEPS medical technician, to review applicant prescreens. Milwaukee MEPS is one of 30 MEPS in phase III of a change to the workflow of medical prescreens for military applicants.

July 29, 2024

USMEPCOM Boosts Efficiency with New Prescreen Process

HQ USMEPCOM, NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. — USMEPCOM initiated phase III of the roll-out for a new medical prescreen review July 22, expanding what launched at just six Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) in March. With initial data indicating significant progress in reducing applicant accession timelines, the new process, which was originally launched as a pilot, is now in place at 30 MEPS and will be expanded to all MEPS through subsequent phases by the end of October.

USMEPCOM launched the Applicant Journey Tracker, July 9, the first ever tool to track applicants’ paths throughout their processing journey into the military.

July 11, 2024

USMEPCOM Launches Applicant Journey Tracker

HQ USMEPCOM, NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. — USMEPCOM launched the Applicant Journey Tracker, July 9, the first ever tool to track applicants’ paths throughout their processing journey into the military.

A travel assistant passes a debit card to an enlistee. USMEPCOM replaced meal checks for enlistees traveling to initial entry training with debit cards starting June 28, 2024.

June 28, 2024

USMEPCOM Phases out Meal Checks

HQ USMEPCOM, NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. — Every applicant who ships to boot camp receives a voucher to pay for food while traveling to their destination. Previously this was done by issuing a one-time use paper check to use at the airport. As of June 28, these paper checks have been replaced with debit cards, providing a modern, flexible payment option for enlistees.

Baltimore MEPS leadership and staff pose with 7B Recruiting company after conducting a successful pilot initiative. Baltimore MEPS spearheads an initiative for home school students with the first-ever event aimed at connecting home school students with a multitude of career opportunities, including those in the military by utilizing the ASVAB Career Exploration Program.

June 12, 2024

Inaugural Career Exploration Event Opens New Horizons for National Capital Region Home School Students

Alexandria, Md. — Baltimore Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS), in collaboration with various military and educational partners, has taken a significant step towards embracing underserved home school demographic within the National Capital Region (NCR).

Air Force Master Sgt. Melissa Laboy, USMEPCOM medical accessions NCOIC, provides training to Air Force Reserve Component Airmen and Army National Guard Soldiers who volunteered to serve in the USMEPCOM Prescreen Support Coordination Center (PSCC). The PSCC allows providers to review military applicant medical prescreens virtually, helping to decrease the amount of time an applicant spends in their MEPS and shortening contact-to-contract time.

June 10, 2024

ARC Airmen and NG Soldiers Train to Assist USMEPCOM with Summer Surge

HQ USMEPCOM, North Chicago, Ill. — USMEPCOM led training for incoming Air Force Reserve Component (ARC) Airmen and Army National Guard (NG) Soldiers, June 4 – 7, who will serve as prescreen and exam providers. The majority will serve on the Prescreen Support Coordination Center (PSCC), established in the summer of 2022 to tackle prescreen backlogs.

Jennifer Newak, Education Services Specialist at El Paso MEPS, participates in discussion at the 2024 Test Control Officer and Education Services Specialist Symposium in Fontana, Wisconsin. USMEPCOM hosted over 140 personnel from across 65 MEPS for the Test Control Officer and Education Services Specialist Symposium, May 21-23.

May 29, 2024

USMEPCOM Hosts Testing Symposium

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. — USMEPCOM hosted a symposium for education services specialists (ESSs) and testing coordinators (TCOs) from all 65 MEPS, May 21 - 23. The educational session for the testing personnel provided opportunities to discuss operations, review trends at USMEPCOM and learn about current and future initiatives, all of which relate to USMEPCOM’s values of driving change and improving processes. The theme of the symposium, Migration to Innovation, enabled ESSs and TCOs to embrace new ideas and advancements in testing and beyond.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Courtney Rollins, Buffalo MEPS medical specialist non-commissioned officer, and Dr. Laurence Batmazian, Buffalo MEPS chief medical officer, collaborate outside the medical exam room of Buffalo MEPS. Buffalo MEPS is one of six MEPS testing a pilot that changes the workflow of medical prescreens for military applicants.

March 25, 2024

USMEPCOM Pilot Reengineers Medical Prescreens

HQ USMEPCOM, North Chicago, Ill. — On March 19, USMEPCOM launched a new pilot, reengineering the medical prescreening process for military applicants. Six Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) will pilot the program for 60 days and gather data to enhance the recently developed process before potentially rolling it out to other locations.

Antiterrorism Officer Basic Course, students pose for a photo in between training sessions. The course was conducted by United States Army Military Police School (USAMPS) Mobile Training Team (MTT) and hosted by the United States Military Entrance Processing Command (USMEPCOM), Mar. 18-22.

March 22, 2024

USMEPCOM Expands Antiterrorism Efforts

HQ USMEPCOM, North Chicago, Ill. — USMEPCOM HQ hosted the United States Army Military Police School (USAMPS) Mobile Training Team to conduct the Antiterrorism Officer Basic Course (ATOBC), Mar. 18-22.

Maj. Lucy Paterson, an Army surge provider, takes notes while attending prescreen training at USMEPCOM HQ in North Chicago, Ill., Jan. 9 -12. The Army deployed more than 60 providers and 46 medical technicians to MEPS across the country to support applicant processing during the busiest time of year.

Jan. 23, 2024

USMEPCOM Gets Ahead of Summer Surge with Army Providers

HQ USMEPCOM, North Chicago, Ill. — USMEPCOM processes applicants into the U.S. armed services every day but anticipates a yearly spike in applicant enlistments during summer months, when an influx in applicants come through Freedom’s Front Door that is commonly referred to as “summer surge.”

(L) Megan Hart Lee, USMEPCOM's first clinical psychologist, receives training from Air Force Capt. Daniel Strickland, USMEPCOM deputy command surgeon, during her initial onboarding. The new team of clinical psychologists at USMEPCOM will conduct applicant behavioral health consults in an effort to reduce timelines for entry to service.

Dec. 12, 2023

Behavioral Health Providers Increasing Processing Efficiency

HQ USMEPCOM, North Chicago, Ill. — USMEPCOM is assembling a team of clinical psychologists to serve as applicant consult needs. These providers will conduct virtual behavioral health assessments for applicants needing a consult, as determined by their Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) or service waiver authorities. The first clinical psychologist, Megan Hart Lee, commenced onboarding in early December and is set to initiate virtual behavioral health consults for MEPS applicants by month-end.

Chris Carr and Liz Fonk of the United States Military Entrance Procession Command (USMEPCOM) attend a hiring event in Washington D.C. Carr and Fonk are members of the newly launched Talent Acquisition Division (TAD), seeking new talent for USMEPCOM across the U.S.

Nov. 30, 2023

USMEPCOM Invites Job Seekers to “Meet Us Where You Are” with Launch of the New Talent Acquisition Division

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. — The Talent Acquisition Division (TAD) is coming to a MEPS near you, if they have not already. The newest team in USMEPCOM has begun its journey, bringing to life one aspect of the command’s strategic initiatives.

USMEPCOM Commander Col. Megan Stallings briefs attendees of the FY24 Senior Leader Offsite on the command's newest strategic plan. The strategic plan lays out the collective vision for USMEPCOM, guiding its projects and goals into 2033.

Nov. 27, 2023

New Strategic Plan Drives USMEPCOM Into 2033

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. — USMEPCOM launched its new Strategic Plan at the FY24 Senior Leader Offsite (SLO) in mid-November. A command’s strategic plan outlines the operational approach for its personnel moving forward. It does so by identifying goals and objectives, rather than specifying concrete projects.

USMEPCOM Eastern Sector leadership pose in front of quote, "Through these portals pass prospects for America's finest fighting force, United States Marines" at a Leaders Professional Development event. The Leaders Professional Development event was held 10 - 13 Oct. at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina

Nov. 17, 2023

USMEPCOM Spearheads Communications for Accession Triad

Parris Island, S.C. — The Leaders Professional Development (LPD) event brought USMEPCOM Eastern Sector leadership together with Marine Corps Reception and Initial Entry Training personnel to learn and share new perspectives at Parris Island, South Carolina, Oct. 10-13.

Navy Lt. j.g. Derron Alleyne (R) completes a rope obstacle during a unit cohesion event at the first Houston Interservice Recruiting Committee (IRC) Symposium, hosted by Houston MEPS. The symposium brought IRC partners and MEPS military personnel together for two days of classroom instruction and team-building events.

Oct. 25, 2023

Houston MEPS Organizes First Operations Symposium

HOUSTON MEPS, Tx. — Houston MEPS recently organized its first ever Interservice Recruiting Committee (IRC) Operations Symposium. The symposium united MEPS military and recruiting personnel, fostering face-to-face connections to strengthen relationships, which are typically conducted electronically. Those relationships are critical, not only for mutual support, but for success in manning the All-Volunteer Force.

Navy Capt. Chris Carmichael briefs during the Recruiting Commanders/Operations Conference (RC/OC) at USMEPCOM, in North Chicago, Illinois.

Oct. 25, 2023

With Eyes on the Future, Talks with Recruiting Commands Ensure Continuing Partnerships

HQ USMEPCOM, North Chicago, Ill. — At the 2023 Recruiting Commanders/Operations Conference (RC/OC), hosted by the Western Sector of United States Military Entrance Processing Command Headquarters, discussions centered around the theme of building partnerships and investing in the force of the future.

Graphic by Derrik Noack

Oct. 4, 2023

USMEPCOM Invests in AI to Aide Prescreen Process

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. — The 2022 rollout of MHS GENESIS across USMEPCOM brought access to authoritative medical history for applicants to military service. This access has allowed for better medical decision making, but it has also meant an increased workload with more medical information to review for more applicants.

Jeff Poulton, Butte MEPS ASVAB CEP manager, assists Montana Youth Challenge Academy (MYCA) Cadets with the iCAT login process. MYCA helps teens at risk of not graduating with a residential program that uses the ASVAB Career Exploration Program to learn about their individual skills and interests.

Sept. 18, 2023

ASVAB CEP Passes the Test in Treasure State

Butte MEPS, Mont. — In 1999, the Montana National Guard established the Montana Youth Challenge Academy (MYCA) to aide teens who dropped out of high school or weren’t on track to graduate. MYCA works with participants for one year after they graduate from a residential phase to help with college or trade school enrollment or to join the military. They also use the ASVAB Career Exploration Program to learn about their individual skills and interests.