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News > Missing personnel records impact more than promotions
Missing personnel records impact more than promotions

Posted 4/23/2012   Updated 4/20/2012 Email story   Print story

    


by Erin Tindell
Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs


4/23/2012 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO - RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- When Senior Master Sgt. Randy Scanlan wasn't promoted to his current rank the first time his records met the board, he was a little confused.

As a maintainer and an aerial gunner, he deployed often and received many decorations. When he was asked if he wanted to review his records before they met the board, he said no and figured they were "good to go." However, they were far from complete, and he later discovered his records were missing 14 medals.

"The board had no idea what my capabilities and experiences were, so that may have prevented me from making it the first time," said Scanlan, who is currently the Air Force Personnel Center Career Assistance Adviser functional manager.

"I used to believe it wasn't my job to get items into my records," he said. "After arriving at AFPC, I realized your personnel records affect every aspect of your career. It is imperative that you review your own records for accuracy. I thought it wasn't my job, but I was wrong -- it was my responsibility."

Missing or inaccurate enlisted or officer performance reports, decorations, awards and citations can not only affect promotions, it may also prevent Airmen from being selected for special-duty assignments, professional development opportunities or re-enlistment considerations. This is why it's critical all Airmen take the time to review their personnel records to ensure they are complete and accurate, officials said.

"Leaders need to communicate to our youngest Airmen, both officer and enlisted, when they first enter the service the importance of reviewing their personnel record as they grow in their career," said Will Brown, the Air Force Evaluations and Recognition Programs branch chief. "No one knows an Airman's record better than the Airman the record pertains to."

As the Air Force continues to drawdown to meet congressionally-mandated end-strength, having accurate records is also valuable during force management measures to reshape the force. Records impact force management programs such as high year tenure, date of separation rollbacks, selective early retirement boards as well as crossflow opportunities for officers and retraining opportunities for enlisted members.

Brown said missing or inaccurate records may also impact Airmen when it is time to retire or separate.

"Civilian employers may want to look at your performance reports when applying for jobs," he said.

Officials offered the following tips for personnel records:

-- Check personnel records frequently via the Personnel Records Display Application located on AFPC's secure website and the Air Force portal.
-- Keep copies of anything you sign, such as an evaluation report, and keep the copies in a personal file.
-- If you are meeting a board (for promotions, special assignments, etc.) always review your record before the board meets in enough time to fix anything wrong.

Airmen who notice discrepancies in their records should contact an installation military personnel section to help correct them.

For more information about personnel records and other personnel programs, visit the Air Force Personnel Services website at https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil.



tabComments
5/4/2012 12:42:54 PM ET
Make a binder and put everything in it; it will save you.
nice huy, FL
 
5/2/2012 9:14:00 AM ET
Throughout my career I've kept a list of recurring customer dissatisfaction factors. When I recently retired, this issue was in the top five that helped me make the decision 5 years earlier than I could have. Millions of dollars of advanced computer records systems, checklists and procedures and the organization cannot even keep its members records accurate. I do not see this problem in the corporate world anywhere close to the situation in the AF.
SMSgt Retired, Langley AFB
 
5/1/2012 8:42:40 AM ET
This is another example of a disturbing trend. When one agency is failing to do their job the fix is not make someone else do it. Unfortunately that seems to be becoming the norm. We need to hold people accountable not let them get away with failure.
MSgt, Tinker
 
4/27/2012 1:51:55 PM ET
Couldn't agree more with TSgt and Michael - as many trips as I've made to the MPF over the years as many times as lost or missing documents has caused heartache with finance it's amazing to me that the most mea culpa one ever gets out of support services is oops. Nothing short of a felony seems to get any sort of negative consequences to fall. I understand the youth and inexperience of the airmen - I worked in an MPF for a while I understand the tedious nature of the job - that's still no excuse for the mediocre performance without an ounce of improvement other than to make us more and more responsible for our own future via automation. It seems to me that nothing's changed from then Capt Ron Keys's Dear Boss Letter of 1973.
Maj D, Tyndall
 
4/25/2012 6:00:45 PM ET
I agree with Michael, those responsible for maintaining our records seem to be lacking in the accountability department. For 14 years I have trusted my personnelists to do their jobs. Just like they trust me to do mine. I understand it is my responsibility to review my records, but it's their JOB to make sure anything they receive is not lost and makes it to where it needs to be. Otherwise, why do I employ them.
TSgt, Korea
 
4/25/2012 11:19:11 AM ET
Another avenue that would help alleviate this problem is to hold those accountable that maintain our records. MY responsibility is to provide records or documentation to certain AF agencies. Once I hand it over it is now THEIR responsibility to not lose the record. This is the REAL issue. No one is being held accountable for losing our paperworkrecords. I'm not saying we should not review our records but this problem is HUGE and has been for many years.
Michael, Tyndall
 
4/23/2012 7:26:08 PM ET
Something that could help alleviate this is if AFPC would accept 'certified true copy' hard copy documents for digitally signed EPRs which never made it to AFPC after they were first completed.
Arnie, deployed
 
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