A visit from Dr. Ashley Jackson , Director of the Provider Quality Management Program for U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command (USMEPCOM), in June, has spotlighted the unique and long-standing partnership between USMEPCOM and U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) Guam in processing military applicants. Unlike most other regions, where applicants are processed at a dedicated MEPS facility, Guam operates under a different model—one that has been in place for over three decades.
In 1991, the closure of Guam’s local MEPS site presented a significant challenge to traditional recruiting processes, which would have required . Rather than requiring applicants to travel off-island to the continental United States (CONUS) for medical evaluations, aA solution was developed tohat leveraged the local capabilities of USNH Guam. Since then, the hospitaland allow USNH Guam has played a key role in conductingto complete medical screenings for local military applicants. The strength of this partnership was recently highlighted during Jackson’s visit.
“It was my pleasure having the opportunity to assist with the Guam accessions mission,” said Jackson. “Training is one of the core tenants of the USMEPCOM Provider Quality Management Program and we are always ready and willing to assist. The visit afforded me the opportunity to learn from the Guam processes. I believe that the visit was a successful one and am assured that applicants processing through USNH Guam will be held to the same standard as applicants processed CONUS.”
Under Department of Defense guidelines, USNH Guam is officially designated to conduct medical screenings for applicants from Guam and nearby regions. This means the hospital’s role goes beyond traditional care, directly contributing to force readiness by ensuring candidates meet medical standards for service.
“This partnership is about more than just process—it’s about providing access, continuity, and readiness for our local applicants,” said Cmdr. Darren Hall, department head of Occupational Medicine at USNH Guam. “By handling medical screenings here at USNH Guam, we’re not only supporting MEPS’ mission, we’re also ensuring that our community has a direct path to serve. It’s an honor to be part of that journey.”
This arrangement means applicants on Guam don’t have to travel far for evaluations and strengthens the connection between the hospital and the community it serves. It also supports the overarching goals of MEPS and the U.S. Armed Forces by maintaining a smooth, localized process for accessing military service.
Ultimately, the collaboration represents a model of efficiency and community support—a uniquely Guam approach to ensuring military readiness through teamwork and innovation.
| Date Taken: | 06.11.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 07.28.2025 13:28 |
| Story ID: | 543795 |
| Location: | GU |
| Web Views: | 35 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Teamwork in Action: Guam's Unique Role in U.S. Military Applicant Processing, by LT Garcia Curtis, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
