Shreveport MEPS

A Military Entrance Processing Station, or MEPS for short, is the gateway for many entering military service (all branches). On average, the Shreveport, Louisiana MEPS processes approximately 6,000 applicants annually. On Feb. 27, 8th Air Force leadership visited the station and swore in more than a dozen future Airmen, Sailors, Marines and Soldiers.

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Before the oath

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jonathan Ellis, mobilization assistant to the 8th Air Force commander, addresses a group of future Airmen right before they take their oath of enlistment at the MEPS in Shreveport, Louisiana, Feb. 27, 2018. Commonly referred to as “shippers”, once the oath is taken, the new recruits are almost immediately shipped out to basic military training in San Antonio, Texas to begin their journey into the Air Force.

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Taking the oath

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jonathan Ellis, mobilization assistant to the 8th Air Force commander, swears in eight new Air Force recruits at the Shreveport, Louisiana, MEPS. Friends and family of the recruits witnessed as they took their oath of enlistment. This is the last step of processing at the MEPS before they begin basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

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Navy, Army recruits swear in

U.S. Brig. Gen. Jonathan Ellis, mobilization assistant to the 8th Air Force commander, delivers the oath of enlistment to 10 Army and Navy recruits during a swear-in ceremony at the MEPS in Shreveport, Louisiana, Feb. 27, 2018. More than 6,000 Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force applicants pass through the Shreveport MEPS before beginning their military service. The station was awarded the best small station fort within U.S. Military Entrance Processing Station Command for fiscal year 2017.

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Inpiring the recruits

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Alan Boling, center, Eighth Air Force command chief, and U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Tommy Kaiser, left, Shreveport MEPS senior enlisted advisor, mentor and give advice to the latest wave of Air Force recruits following a swear-in ceremony at the Louisiana-based MEPS, Feb. 27, 2018. Known as “shippers”, the recruits will quickly ship out to basic military training after taking their oath of enlistment.

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After the oath of enlistment

Eight Air Force recruits stand with U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jonathan Ellis, center, mobilization assistant to the Eighth Air Force commander, and U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Alan Boling, right, Eighth Air Force command chief, following a swear-in ceremony where the soon-to-be Airmen-in-training took their oath of enlistment. Friends and family gathered at the Shreveport MEPS where the ceremony took place Feb. 27, 2018.

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Swearing in

Eight Air Force recruits take an oath of enlistment during a swear-in ceremony at the MEPS in Shreveport, Louisiana, Feb. 27, 2018. U.S. Brig. Gen. Jonathan Ellis, mobilization assistant to the 8th Air Force commander from Barksdale Air Force Base, led the ceremony. Approximately 6,000 “shipper”, delayed enlistment and accessioned applicants pass through the Shreveport MEPS gateway annually on their way to their Service’s basic training.

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8AF does the duck walk

U.S. Army Maj. Francisco Vazquez, left, Shreveport MEPS commander, provides critique as U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jonathan Ellis, right, mobilization assistant to the 8th Air Force commander, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Josh Begley, an 8th Air Force executive officer, perform the “duck walk” during a tour of the Military Entrance Processing Station in Shreveport, Louisiana, Feb. 27, 2018. The duck walk is used to test feet and ankle balance, flexibility, agility and range of motion. It is just one of many medical tests performed at MEPS along with audiology, eye exams, blood screenings and full physical exams.

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Shreveport MEPS Air Force Liaison Office

Three Air Force applicants talk potential, future Air Force career fields while U.S. Army Maj. Francisco Vazquez, right, Shreveport MEPS commander, and U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Tommy Kaiser, center, Shreveport MEPS senior enlisted advisor, tour the Air Force liaison office with 8th Air Force leadership during a visit to the station Feb. 27, 2018. Military Entrance Processing Stations, or MEPSs, conduct testing, perform medical assessments, provide career guidance and process all the military Services.

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Touring the Shreveport MEPS

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jonathan Ellis, second from right, mobilization assistant to the 8th Air Force commander, tours the Shreveport Military Entrance Processing Station, or MEPS, Feb. 27, 2018. The station services all branches of the military and processes approximately 6,000 applicants annually. Testing, individual service career counseling, medical testing and processing are all services the MEPS facility provides.

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Recruits prepare to ship out after swear-in ceremony

Published March 1, 2018
By Justin Oakes
8th Air Force Public Affairs

SHREVEPORT, La. -- A Military Entrance Processing Station, or MEPS for short, is the gateway for many entering military service (all branches). On average, the Shreveport, Louisiana MEPS processes approximately 6,000 applicants annually. On Feb. 27, 8th Air Force leadership visited the station and swore in more than a dozen future Airmen, Sailors, Marines and Soldiers.

Shreveport MEPS

Before the oath

Taking the oath

Navy, Army recruits swear in

Inpiring the recruits

After the oath of enlistment

Swearing in

8AF does the duck walk

Shreveport MEPS Air Force Liaison Office

Touring the Shreveport MEPS