Establishment of a remote MEPS center on Guam allows military recruitments to resume

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BARRIGADA, Guam (May 18, 2020) – Capt. Nathan King, commander, Western Sector, U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command, left center, meets with Guam National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. (GU) Esther Aguigui, center, and command leadership at the GUNG headquarters in Barrigada to discuss the island’s new remote military entrance processing station May 18. Prior to the MEPS location on island, recruits were flown to Hawaii for physical, mental and moral readiness. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by JoAnna Delfin)

Capt. Nathan King met with Maj. Gen. Esther Aguigui at Guam National Guard headquarters in Barrigada last week.

King is the commander of the West Sector of the U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command. Aguigui is the adjutant general in command of the Guam National Guard.

The meeting was held to discuss the recent establishment at Fort Juan Muna of a ‘remote military entrance processing station,’ known as MEPS.

MEPS is the first stop for all recruits entering the military. It determines their physical, mental and morale readiness prior to entering the service.

Prior to the establishment of the island’s first remote MEPS center, Guam military recruits were flown to Hawaii for an evaluation.

However social distancing restrictions imposed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic have prevented Guam from processing any applicants through MEPS and delayed the enter of new recruits into the military.

As a result the the remote MEPS was set up here following discussions with the National Guard Bureau, Hawaii MEPS, Western Sector Military Entrance Processing Command, and the Guam Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion.

BARRIGADA, Guam (May 18, 2020) – Guam National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. (GU) Esther Aguigui discusses the island’s new remote military entrance processing station with Capt. Nathan King, commander, Western Sector, U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command, at the GUNG Barrigada Readiness Complex May 18. Prior to the MEPS station in Guam, recruits were flown to Hawaii for physical, mental and moral readiness. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by JoAnna Delfin)