ARMY RESUMES REMOTE MEPS TEST SITES A WEEK AFTER CUTTING FUNDS
By now, it’s virtually impossible to find a department or headline that hasn’t been affected by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) involving the military. This includes the temporary stop to military testing centers responsible for administering the ASVAB test. However, these centers are back working following travel restrictions for test administrators, finding that recruitment was disrupted as a result of the shutdown.
ASVAB Military Testing Sites are Back Open
There are several sites used to administer the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) which are coming back into use.
These centers had to be re-opened after Elon Musk and DOGE cut them from the budget, hindering the testing sites for a critical exam every future service member must take before enlisting.
The ASVAB is used to determine the jobs and roles a service member can qualify for while serving, assessing a variety of skills, including science, math, and language skills.
Minimum scores are required when taking the ASVAB to even join and depending on what service members score, this will determine which jobs they are eligible for as certain roles require certain minimums to qualify.
There are 65 Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) available; however, temporary sites play a critical role for those who don’t live near an accessible MEPS.
Cancelled Travel Causes Issues
Several cuts are affecting government operations, including travel plans for officials.
This is part of why the MET sites located across the U.S. were temporarily shuttered, as staff members found themselves without funds to make the trips necessary to provide the tests.
Temporary MEPS are held in a variety of government buildings, ranging from high schools to National Guard armories and even federal government offices.
Because DOGE saw the travel as “non-essential,” there was no one there to work; however, the United States Military Entrance Processing Command (USMEPCOM) is now confirming that things are headed back to normal.
“Civilian travel in support of USMEPCOM operations, to include testing administrators traveling to administer tests at high schools and Military Entrance Testing Sites, has resumed,” said Marshall Smith, a spokesperson for USMEPCOM.
Bad Timing for Recruitment
The disruption for the military comes at an unfortunate time. Unlike many of the recent years, military recruitment efforts have actually seen positive numbers for 2024 and 2025.
Having these testing sites down could take away from these improved efforts, with recruitment being disrupted as a result.
Fortunately, the decision to reverse DOGE’s temporary hold is allowing for business as usual and the military branches to regain some lost ground in those efforts.
Temporary Closing of MEPS Hurt Recruitment
Military testing site closures raised concerns about recruitment, as services continue to struggle with meeting enlistment goals.
USMEPCOM confirmed that some locations had to shut down or reduce hours due to Pentagon-ordered cuts to travel for DoD civilians.
These cuts stemmed from Trump’s executive order implementing DOGE-recommended budget reductions, including stricter oversight on federally funded travel.
While officials initially explored alternative funding, USMEPCOM spokesperson Marshall Smith clarified that travel funding remains unchanged. “There’s no special funding or process,” he stated.
The DoD’s Student Testing Program, which helps recruiters identify potential high school candidates, was also affected but has also since resumed.
MEPS personnel will now work with schools to reschedule missed testing sessions, ensuring recruitment efforts can continue as planned.
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