{"id":30363,"date":"2020-03-20T20:21:48","date_gmt":"2020-03-20T20:21:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/03\/20\/recruit-processing-stations-still-packed-as-pentagon-urges-social-distancing\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T06:50:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T06:50:29","slug":"recruit-processing-stations-still-packed-as-pentagon-urges-social-distancing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2020\/03\/20\/recruit-processing-stations-still-packed-as-pentagon-urges-social-distancing\/","title":{"rendered":"Recruit processing stations still packed as Pentagon urges social distancing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

While most moves, travel and deployments<\/a> have come to a screeching halt throughout the military<\/a>, the services are continuing to ship recruits off to basic training, provided they pass initial screening for coronavirus<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But during a time when millions of Americans are being urged to stay home, or at least keep a 6-foot distance from others, recruits are still sitting shoulder-to-shoulder at Military Entry Processing Stations as they complete their intake procedures before heading to initial entry training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The flow of recruits has not ebbed as the coronavirus pandemic has spread, according to a MEPS station staffer who reached out to Military Times on Thursday. The recruits are transported on crammed buses and shepherded into small meeting rooms of 40 to 50 people at a time \u2015 more at larger stations like Los Angeles and New York City \u2015 with just inches between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey have made the decision \u2015 I don\u2019t know how high \u2015 that we will continue with the accessions mission,\u201d the staff member said of the defense secretary\u2019s office, which directly oversees Military Entrance Processing Command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response to the concerns raised, the Defense Department told Military Times that commanders \u201cshould be doing everything in their power\u201d to follow current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe services continue to bring new recruits in, but the needs of immediate throughput must be balanced with force health protection measures,\u201d the statement reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But on the ground, that has been easier said that done, the MEPS staffer said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe general guidance is do the best you can, but…it\u2019s not even really MEPS\u2019 fault,\u201d he said. \u201cThe recruiting commands are the ones who determine the throughput. They bring the applicants. And the facilities are what they are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t