by Capt. Lesley N. Lilly
Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs
4/13/2011 - RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- In an effort to better serve military families, Air Force personnel officials have automated the High School Senior Assignment Deferment program application. The program increases stability for military family members entering their senior year of high school.
Active-duty officers lieutenant colonel and below, and enlisted members senior master sergeant and below, stationed in continental United States locations can apply. Members who meet eligibility requirements can defer an assignment for up to one year. Approval is not automatic. Air Force needs will still dictate approval or disapproval of individual requests.
Airmen can complete the application on the Virtual Military Personnel Flight website where it will be automatically routed to their squadron commander and to the appropriate assignment team at the Air Force Personnel Center here.
Senior Master Sgt. Dennis Carlson, AFPC's assignment procedures superintendent, said automating the HSSAD application process gives Airmen the convenience of applying for the deferment without having to manually route the application through their squadron commander and local military personnel section.
"Online applications allow individuals to complete personnel actions from any computer," Sergeant Carlson said. "They can be deployed, at home, or on leave and still take care of a number of personnel actions on their own."
Air Force officials are consolidating and modernizing many business processes, and transforming online personnel services was one initiative to help accomplish service goals.
"The Air Force is committed to ensuring that all active-duty Airmen are given the tools and resources to perform personnel services online," said Col. David Slade, AFPC's assignments director.
For more information about the HSSAD, visit the Air Force Personnel Services website and search for "HSSAD" or call the Total Force Service Center at 800-525-0102 or DSN 665-5000.
