Web-based military personnel flight brings changes Published Feb. 23, 2007 By Senior Airman Chris Bolen 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- The times they are a changing. In the field of military personnel, the change is designed to improve service. The Air Reserve Personnel Center in Denver is in the early stages of transition to a web-based personnel service system referred to as personnel services delivery, or PSD. The change is designed to centralize personnel functions through web-based applications. The bottom line is to have the web replace most in-person contacts with military personnel flights and thereby realize the advantages of accuracy, expanded capability and cost savings. According to ARPC figures, 10 percent of personnel transactions now occur online with five percent of transactions handled by phone and 85 percent handled face-to-face at unit MPF customer service desks. The goal is to nearly reverse those figures with 85 percent service online, 10 percent by phone and five percent face-to-face. "The change is an attempt to stream-line the personnel operation and make it more efficient," said Lt. Col. Dan Harrison, 434th Mission Support Flight commander. "The new system makes each individual more responsible for their own affairs." The most visible and useful means to accomplish the PSD quest, the virtual Personnel Center-Guard and Reserve portal, known as vPC-GR, is taking on a life of its own. First brought to life in March 2006, vPC-GR is being rolled out in phases with each successive phase adding more capability to the system. In vPC-GR's first months, reservists could correct duty history online. As the system matured in capability, members could, among other things, find out and correct current points, obtain a 20-year letter re-issue, choose a Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan and sign up for Tricare Reserve Select. For Airmen at Grissom the changes will soon become apparent. "We are now directed to tell people to go to the web to do more of their personal stuff on-line," said Master Sgt Steven Douglas, 434th MSF, deputy superintendent, "It's a good thing, it gives the individual more independence to take care of their own affairs." "Our role is becoming advisors rather than doers," Colonel Harrison said. "It is like the commercial side, this is already out there, you don't fill out forms and walk them to human resources." An awards and decoration request page is the latest feature added to the site and on the horizon, functions for separations, re-enlistments, promotions, retraining and more are slated to be added. Most retirement actions are now done on line. However, the human element has not totally been removed from the system and members experiencing difficulties can call the vPC-GR Contact Center at (880) 525-0102, DSN 926-6528, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. mountain standard time, Monday through Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. MST, on the first Saturday and Sunday of each month to talk with customer service counselors. Or log on at: https://arpc.afrc.af.mil/vPC-GR/ It is the wave of the future Sergeant Douglas commented. "Most young people are technically savvy, and the old way of doing things is going the way of the dinosaur."
