JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
Starting at the end of May and going through February 2013, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph will help test a new procedure to centralize steps military members take to get their permanent change of station orders and other actions prior to out-processing.
The project, spearheaded by the Air Force Personnel Center, will transfer PCS relocation tasks from Randolph military personnel sections to the Total Force Service Center-San Antonio.
"The centralization is part of a bigger initiative to transform personnel services delivery with a goal of saving Airmen time and effort when they access personnel services," Master Sgt. Andrea Hall, AFPC Personnel Reliability Program and Air Force Relocations Operations superintendent, said. "The Air Force Personnel Center is committed to caring for Airmen and one way we do that is ensure they are able to access all personnel services."
As a result of relocation centralization, members will take care of the bulk of their PCS requirements through the Air Force Personnel Services website - or AFPERS - via the "My Account" function.
Members participating in the test will not go through the local MPS relocations section until their final out-processing appointment, Staff Sgt. Sara Digennaro, AFPC NCO in charge of Air Force Relocations Operations, said.
The TFSC will email permanent party members assigned to Randolph a list of requirements and links to AFPERS that will allow them to digitally send required documents back. Airmen will also be able to interact and ask questions with the TFSC technicians 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Digennaro said.
Local base out-processing items will still be handled using the out-processing checklist on the virtual military personnel flight website.
"Testing the relocations process centralization is an important step toward reducing the MPS workload while still providing first-class personnel customer service," Hall said. "This test will help identify what can be handled through online services that will determine the way ahead.
"Once members are notified of their assignment, all the actions that come thereafter will be handled by the folks at the TFSC."
AFPC will survey members who change stations during the trial run to gather feedback that can be used to improve the process. The feedback will then be used to determine whether or not to expand centralized relocations to all bases within JBSA.
And with enough positive feedback?
"The process could eventually be used throughout the Air Force," Hall said. "We'd be taking a function that's traditionally been accomplished at more than 82 locations and centralize it here at Randolph. If we're successful, it'll be a big accomplishment for the Air Force."
With PCS relocation, Randolph hopes to trailblaze "the way of the future," Hall said.
But for now, AFPC personnel are focused on the foreseeable future - late May to February 2013 to be exact.
"As with any new program there will be challenges along the way; however, this process will help determine more efficient ways to use limited resources," Hall said.