ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
The Secretary of Defense initiated a campaign in September of 2001 to improve the effectiveness of all personnel operations throughout the Department of Defense.
The vision for the Air Force was to create a paperless system using an Automated Records Management System in which personnel, both active duty and retired, could access military personnel records at any given time with the internet. The vision is now a reality.
"ARMS is making processes more efficient and reducing manpower at the base level and overall improving the way we do business. We're following the motto of 'working smarter not harder'," said Mr. Don Poskus, 316th Mission Support Squadron Systems Management and Support chief, when asked how this move impacted not only Andrews, but bases across the Air Force.
Military Personnel Flight members across the Air Force have been sorting through and cleaning up all Unit Personnel Records Group folders for all active duty members since September 2006. Over the next few months, all records will be shipped to Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. The records will be scanned into a computer system and made available to all users within weeks of arriving at the Air Force Personnel Center.
The Air Force e-records program was created with two goals in mind. One is to provide a better and more convenient personnel records service program that is accessible 24 hours a day seven days a week. Another goal was to lower operations costs while providing a more time efficient process for all members using the system.
Here at Andrews, more than 6,000 UPRGs have been sorted through, organized and boxed to be shipped. All records were packed, sealed and shipped on February 15.
Andrews team members should be able to view their records using the ARMS link through the Air Force Personnel Center website at the beginning of April, according to Capt. Tracy Barnett, 316th Military Personnel Flight commander. Read the Capital Flyer for updates on ARMS availability.