Department of Defense
Sketch, MarvelApp, Miro
UX/UI Design, Prototyping, Usability Testing, Information Architecture, Service Design
#02
Redesigning a legacy system for the U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command, modernizing its brittle technology and enhancing security features. Utilizing a suite of UX research and design methods to improve the user experience and support the mission of eliminating the need for paper.
The United States Military Entrance Processing Command (MEPCOM), a key component of the U.S. Department of Defense, oversees the screening and processing of applicants for the U.S. Armed Forces. With 65 processing facilities worldwide, MEPCOM evaluates hundreds of thousands of enlisted personnel annually.
Since its initial deployment in 1996, MIRS had become significantly outdated, with brittle technology that was difficult to update with new features and security enhancements, highlighting the need for a thorough modernization. Due to the antiquated system, the DoD uses between 3-4 million pieces of paper per year to support its military enlistment system. In collaboration with Tandem, we embarked on a comprehensive redesign of the MEPCOM Integrated Resource System (MIRS)to eliminate this need.
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Paperless enlistment processing has long been a goal of our strategic planning process - USMEPCOM
Via MEPCOM Press Release: Air Force Staff Sgt. Jasmin Gorham, an Air Force Liaison at the Milwaukee Military Entrance Processing Station, demonstrates how the Air Force will process applicants using MIRS 1.1 MVP to Stephanie Miller, the Defense Department’s director of accession policy
To tackle this project, we employed a comprehensive suite of user experience (UX) research and design methods within an agile environment. Card sorting exercises helped us understand how users categorize information, creating an intuitive information architecture. Detailed user flows mapped out the entire user journey, identifying pain points and opportunities for streamlining processes. Contextual inquiries, user interviews, surveys, and questionnaires provided deep insights into user behaviors, needs, and preferences, allowing us to tailor the system to real-world usage scenarios. Iterative usability testing with prototypes identified usability issues, while personas guided our design decisions to ensure the system met the needs of its primary users.
Working in an agile environment allowed us to iterate quickly based on user feedback and deliver incremental improvements throughout the project lifecycle. We used low-fidelity wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes to visualize the new system design, facilitating feedback and collaboration with stakeholders. Affinity diagrams organized and synthesized research findings, helping us identify common themes and patterns.
By integrating these UX research and design methods within an agile framework, we created a robust, user-centered redesign of the MIRS system. The new system not only addresses the technological deficiencies of the old platform but also significantly enhances the user experience for MEPCOM personnel, ultimately supporting their mission more effectively.
