United States Military Entrance Processing Command



The United States Military Entrance Processing Command (USMEPCOM) is a Major Command of the U.S. Department of Defense, which screens and processes applicants into the United States Armed Forces. USMEPCOM is headquartered in North Chicago, Illinois and operates 65 Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) located throughout the United States.

USMEPCOM is a joint service command under the direction of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy, who in turn reports to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.

These stations process applicants for military service, putting them through a battery of tests and examinations to ensure that they meet the standards required to serve in the United States Armed Forces. These tests include vision, hearing, blood, and blood pressure tests, a pregnancy test (for women), an examination by a doctor, a height and weight check, urinalysis, a breathalyzer test, a moral/background examination, as well as the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). If applicants are deemed qualified for military service, they will also meet with a service counselor, negotiate and sign enlistment contracts, and swear or affirm an entrance oath.

The command's motto is Freedom's Front Door, signifying that a service member's career starts when they walk through the doors of the MEPS.

USMEPCOM has been awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award twice. The first award was for the period of 1 July 1982 until 30 April 1985; the second award was for the period of 1 January 2005 until 31 December 2007.

Eastern Sector

 * Albany, New York
 * Atlanta, Georgia (Fort Gillem)
 * Baltimore, Maryland (Fort Meade)
 * Beckley, West Virginia
 * Boston, Massachusetts
 * Buffalo, New York (Niagara Falls Air Reserve Base)
 * Charlotte, North Carolina
 * Chicago, Illinois
 * Cleveland, Ohio
 * Columbus, Ohio
 * Detroit, Michigan
 * Fort Dix, New Jersey
 * Fort Jackson, South Carolina
 * Fort Lee, Virginia
 * Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
 * Indianapolis, Indiana
 * Jackson, Mississippi
 * Jacksonville, Florida
 * Knoxville, Tennessee
 * Lansing, Michigan
 * Louisville, Kentucky
 * Memphis, Tennessee
 * Miami, Florida
 * Milwaukee, Wisconsin
 * Montgomery, Alabama (Maxwell Air Force Base)
 * Nashville, Tennessee
 * New York City
 * Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (William S. Moorehead Federal Building)
 * Portland, Maine
 * Raleigh, North Carolina
 * San Juan, Puerto Rico
 * Springfield, Massachusetts (Westover Air Force Reserve Base)
 * Syracuse, New York (James M. Hanley Federal Building)
 * Tampa, Florida

Western Sector

 * Albuquerque, New Mexico
 * Amarillo, Texas
 * Anchorage, Alaska
 * Boise, Idaho
 * Butte, Montana
 * Dallas, Texas (Federal Building)
 * Denver, Colorado (New Customs House)
 * Des Moines, Iowa
 * El Paso, Texas
 * Fargo, North Dakota
 * Honolulu, Hawaii
 * Houston, Texas
 * Kansas City, Missouri
 * Little Rock, Arkansas
 * Los Angeles
 * Minneapolis, Minnesota (Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building)
 * New Orleans, Louisiana
 * Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Federal Building)
 * Omaha, Nebraska
 * Phoenix, Arizona
 * Portland, Oregon
 * Sacramento, California
 * Salt Lake City, Utah
 * San Antonio, Texas
 * San Diego, California
 * San Jose, California
 * Seattle, Washington (Federal Center South)
 * Shreveport, Louisiana
 * Sioux Falls, South Dakota
 * Spokane, Washington
 * St. Louis, Missouri (Robert A. Young Federal Building)