Is it common to leave on your ship date for BCT from a local regional airport, and not from MEPS?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 02:45:10 -0400

I’m shipping for BCT on in a few weeks and am currently in the National Guard. My recruiter stated in ship date I’ll be leaving from a local regional airport and not the MEPS Facility. I have searched and can’t find anybody who has written about a similar experience. Is this a common occurrence or a miscommunication?

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Mar 15 at 2019 6:08 AM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 06:08:43 -0400

I will assume your recruiter will arrange all of your orders and travel beforehand; not common by the way.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2019 8:24 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 08:24:23 -0400

It is very common, in that MEPS are not airports and most folks have to fly to BCT.
Where a MEPS is not near an airport, the recruits will not leave from MEPS, they will set up at the airport or hotel next to the airport for the out-processing paperwork.
Very common in states with one MEPS where the recruit lives much closer to an airport than the one MEPS.

So, you made Corporal in the Guard prior to shipping to BCT, how does that work?
Because the normal route is for an MOS-qualified SPC without BLC gets offered a STEP promotion, is then transferred to the E5 promotion duty position, then appointed to CPL.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2019 8:37 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 08:37:14 -0400

In the national guard you took your final swear in oath when you enlisted. There is no reason to return to MEPS if you are NG. I went to my RSP post and was taken to the airport by a recruiter from there.

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made Mar 15 at 2019 1:32 PM

SP5 Peter Keane — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 13:32:13 -0400

Back in the stone age, before MEPS, there were AFEES where you went and took your oath. I reported on my ship date, took the oath and was told to go home and be at Logan airport in 14 hours.

Response by SSG Erik Willard made Mar 16 at 2019 12:42 AM

SSG Erik Willard — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 00:42:51 -0400

I flew to ft. Leonard Wood from Charlotte NC.but that was a long time ago

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2019 8:15 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 20:15:54 -0400

i definitely left from an airport. Took the long drive to Albany two days before leaving. slept at hotel, went to meps next morning to finish all paperwork. back to hotel for the night and to the airport the next morning. May be a distance thing since Albany MEPS and Plattsburgh are 160 miles apart.