Military Entrance Processing Station

PORTLAND, ME 510 Congress Street 3rd Floor Portland, ME 04101-3403 Phone: (207) 775-0910 Fax: (207) 775-2947

The Portland MEPS serves as freedom's front door for thousands of applicants from Maine and its surrounding states. The MEPS staff — comprised of active duty military and civilian personnel — processes more than 3,000 applicants annually for enlistment into all branches of the Armed Forces. The MEPS also conducts physical examinations for employees of select federal agencies.

The MEPS has received special recognition from Senator Olympia Snowe for its contributions to the citizens of Maine in the area of student testing.

The Portland Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station was activated on July 1, 1965. On January 1, 1982, the Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station officially changed its name to the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) to better reflect its parent command, the United States Military Entrance Processing Command (USMEPCOM).

The MEPS was originally located on the scenic grounds of Fort Williams park, the home of the historic Portland Headlight (the most photographed lighthouse in the world!). In 1970, the MEPS moved to the Portland Federal Building, where it was co-located with the Portland Post Office. It remained there until March 6, 1989, before occupying its current location at 510 Congress Street in downtown Portland.

The Portland MEPS staff maintains a state-of-the-art, customer-friendly processing environment. It provides services to customers in a broad range of areas, to include enlistment and student testing, physical examinations, lodging and transportation, and background security investigations.

The Portland MEPS is one of a network of 65 MEPS located nationwide and in Puerto Rico.

A separate Department of Defense (DoD) agency, USMEPCOM is comprised of two geographical sectors and staffed with personnel from all military services.

Three primary areas are considered in determining an applicant's qualifications for enlistment:

• aptitude for military service
• physical qualification
• background evaluation screening