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New tool to help support deployed Airmen
Posted 7/20/2011 Updated 7/21/2011
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by Tech. Sgt. Steve Grever
Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs
7/20/2011 - RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- Air Force officials are testing a new capability to expedite the personnel assistance deployed total force Airmen receive from Personnel Support for Contingency Operations, or PERSCO, teams.
PERSCO teams at deployed locations in U.S. Air Forces Central's area of responsibility will be phased in to receive access to the Air Force Case Management System by the end of the year.
This system is designed to help PERSCO teams coordinate with the Air Force Personnel Center to resolve personnel inquiries.
A deployed PERSCO team at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, is the first unit to have access to CMS.
While members are encouraged to use the Air Force Personnel Services website at https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil or call the Total Force Service Center directly, some deployed Airmen may seek guidance from their deployed PERSCO teams to assist them with personnel issues.
Instead of working these issues by phone or e-mail, PERSCO team members can now use a centralized case management system to coordinate with AFPC.
"While PERSCO teams do whatever it takes to assist Airmen in need, they are currently not equipped or staffed to provide home-station military personnel section support in the AOR," said Capt. Paul Sortor, the TFSC-forward's officer in charge. "PERSCO expends a great deal of time coordinating home-station support through use of telephone and e-mail across multiple time zones. These methods have not proven to be highly effective or timely in meeting the needs of deployed Airmen."
The primary mission of PERSCO teams is to support the combatant commander by providing force accountability, casualty reporting and sustainment functions to assist in managing the deployed force. Centralizing the Air Force's personnel support capabilities is one of the key components in transforming personnel services for total force Airmen.
"Centralizing this function should expedite TFSC's processing times and provide agile combat support by allowing PERSCO teams to focus on their war-time mission," said Col. James Davis, TFSC's director.
This latest test is one of several initiatives the Air Force has launched in recent months to enhance personnel services for deployed total force Airmen. Some other notable improvements include centralizing personnel functions like processing re-enlistments and campaign medals.
Active-duty and civilian deployed members requiring personnel assistance can call TFSC at DSN 318-665-5000, select active duty and press the pound key to reach the dedicated deployment cell. Guard and Reserve members can reach the TFSC by calling DSN 312-926-6528. On Aug. 1, the Guard and Reserve number will be replaced with DSN 312-847-3294. For more information on personnel services, visit the Air Force Personnel Services website at https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil. Users will need to set up a new account and access the site with a common access card or username and password. |
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