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1st Lt. Jeffery Bennett, Pittsburgh MEPS assistant operations officer, smiles with medal and pie prizes after winning first in his age group after participating in Veterans Day 5k. Pittsburgh MEPS personnel participated in a Veterans Day 5k Nov. 10, 2024 to support veterans in their community.

Nov. 20, 2024

Pittsburgh MEPS Supports Veterans and Builds Camaraderie in Veterans Day 5k

PITTSBURGH MEPS, Penn. — Pittsburgh MEPS strengthened its community ties and boosted morale by initiating a monthly Interservice Recruiting Committee (IRC) running group in August 2024, which has spurred a growing interest in physical fitness and community involvement among MEPS personnel.

Participants of the Pittsburgh Interservice Recruiting Committee (IRC) run take a break during the two-mile trek. Pittsburgh MEPS has revitalized its communication efforts by launching a monthly IRC run, allowing partners to build relationships.

Oct. 30, 2024

Pittsburgh MEPS Kicks Off Monthly IRC Runs

PITTSBURGH MEPS, Pa. — In the heart of Pittsburgh, the city known for its steel bridges and passionate sports fans, a breeze of change had swept through the city’s MEPS. With the arrival of new commanders at USMEPCOM HQ, Eastern Sector and Pittsburgh MEPS, there was a renewed energy and directive to align efforts with the vision of these new leaders.

Lt. Cmdr. Tamarah Grant, Tampa MEPS commander, discusses hurricane recovery during all-hands with personnel after Hurricane Milton. Tampa MEPS closed from Oct. 9-11 for safety reasons due to Hurricane Milton.

Oct. 23, 2024

Tampa MEPS Prevails Through Hurricanes

TAMPA MEPS, Fla. — Hurricanes Helene and Milton took the southeast and its MEPS by storm, but the teamwork and flexibility demonstrated by Tampa MEPS personnel showed that when weathering the storm together, they came out stronger.

Elizabeth Fonk, talent acquisition specialist, speaks to a potential candidate at a recruiting fair at Solider Field, Chicago, Ill., in October 2023, one of the first TAD attended after formally launching.

Oct. 17, 2024

USMEPCOM Doubles Down on Strategic Hiring Team

HQ USMEPCOM, NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. — It was a warm summer night in Greenville, S.C., when Andrew Wangelin and his wife, out on a date, struck up a conversation with the man at the next table. The resulting small talk meandered, touching a range of topics before landing on work. While Wangelin was actively searching for work at the time, he never seriously considered a career in government.

Enjoying the cheers from the crowds, Husun Davis runs in his first ever marathon in NYC.

Oct. 4, 2024

Off the Couch and Onto the Pavement: One Man’s Story of Transformation

New York MEPS, N.Y. — Settling into his couch to watch the New York City Marathon, Husun Davis, transportation assistant, New York MEPS, experienced a moment of profound clarity. Being unable to get across the bridge that morning from New Jersey to Brooklyn due to the bridge closure for the marathon, Davis found himself alone at home, unlike the years past when he lived in NYC and he stood on the street shaking and ringing his cowbell, cheering on runners as they ran throughout the city. Moving to Jersey from NYC excited Davis, although as the marathon approached, the idea that the bridge closure would mean he would have to stay in Jersey didn’t cross his mind until it was too late. The hotels in NYC had filled, spectators and traffic built up as the starting time approached closer with each hour.

2024 USMEPCOM Military Members of the Year: Company grade officer: Army Capt. Terence Martin, Dallas MEPS Battalion senior enlisted advisor: Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Jeremy Fogleman, 8th BN MEPS senior enlisted advisor: Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Shawn Cox, Pittsburgh MEPS Senior noncommissioned officer: Army Sgt. First Class Scott Royse, Miami MEPS Junior noncommissioned officer: Marine Corps Sgt. Nathaniel Tiatia, Boise MEPS

Sept. 17, 2024

USMEPCOM Announces Military Members and Civilians of the Year in San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO — The 2024 USMEPCOM Military Members of the Year (MMOY) and Civilian Employees of the Year (CEOY) competition brought finalists from across the country to compete in a weeklong event, September 9-12. After contending through multiple rounds of challenges, 10 winners were named. The winners and their categories are: 2024 USMEPCOM Military Members of the Year: Company grade officer: Army Capt. Terence Martin, Dallas MEPS Battalion senior enlisted advisor: Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Jeremy Fogleman, 8th BN MEPS senior enlisted advisor: Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Shawn Cox, Pittsburgh MEPS Senior noncommissioned officer: Army Sgt. First Class Scott Royse, Miami MEPS Junior noncommissioned officer: Marine Corps Sgt. Nathaniel Tiatia, Boise MEPS 2024 USMEPCOM Outstanding Civilian Employees of the Year: GS06 and under: Jorda Cruz, Honolulu MEPS GS07-GS09: Shawn Waite, Knoxville MEPS GS10 and above: Jennifer Nowak, El Paso MEPS 2024 Headquarters, USMEPCOM Outstanding Civilian Employee of the Year: GS07-GS09: Shawna McNure, J-3 Operations GS10 and above: Andre Markham, J-3 Operations

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.