SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- The Military Personnel Data System is scheduled to shut down for approximately 23 days for updates Dec. 1, 2012.

During that time, MilPDS will not be accessible, officials said.

The Air Force is upgrading and transferring MilPDS to Defense Information System Agency Defense Enterprise Computing Center because MilPDS is not a supportable platform since it hasn't had a major update since 2001 and is, consequentially, outdated.

According to technicians at the Air Force Personnel Center, the upgrade will improve system sustainability and reliability, put us in compliance with Department of Defense regulations, and will enable better data security.

"It should be faster for program users," said Tech. Sgt. Shawn'Tina Watt, 20th Force Support Squadron NCO in charge of force management section. "It will also be more user-friendly because of the new layout. It will have the same functions but it will look a little different."

To bring MilPDS to that level of operation it will completely shut down to bring the system up-to-date.

As consequence, some applications need to be submitted earlier than usual, Watt said.

"Personnel who want to retrain have until Nov. 15 to put in their application if they want to make it prior to the (shutdown)," added the native of Philadelphia, Pa.

Other deadlines include: Oct. 29 for applying for reenlistment, extension or separation; Oct. 31 for scheduling a oral proficiency interview for the foreign language proficiency bonus; and Nov. 1 for completing a base of preference or a in-place base of preference application.

"People have to meet these timelines if the actions they want taken are to be completed on time," said Watt. "The Air Force goal is to put as much information as possible into MilPDS before the shutdown."

"Consider making decisions, such as separation, earlier than usual," she continued, "Also print and save everything because if something doesn't go up right or some information is missing we will rely on you to provide that to us so we can ensure that your records are updated."

Once the shutdown is in effect many systems will not be operable, however, critical pay-related processes will be manually administered.

"The biggest thing we want is for personnel to understand that the shutdown will not affect their base pay," said Watt. "However, non-critical pay-affecting updates such as promotions, special duty pay and bonuses will be on hold in the system until after MilPDS comes back online."

After the system is once again online, pay actions held during the shutdown will be retroactive to the actual effective date, according to technicians at the Air Force Personnel Center.

This includes volunteer assignment applications.

"It is not that service members can't submit them, it just that they simply won't move forward," said Watt.

During the shutdown, there are other financial concerns involving separation issues, W2s and transferring to Shaw.

"Finance will be proactive in continuing to pay individuals who have date of separation issues but it will be manually," said Master Sgt. Andre Percell, 20th Comptroller Squadron flight chief for financial services and a native of Pensacola, Fla. "Individuals that are paid manually will not be paid with cash but electronically and it usually takes 48 hours to make a deposit."

"MyPay does update a week prior to a paycheck and it is imperative that everyone goes into myPay to verify that they are receiving a paycheck," he advises.

Percell also suggested that people verify that their W2s are correct and to either call or go to finance to make sure their base pay amounts are correct.

"December is the cut off time for taxes and the W2s may not be updated in time from the shutdown," said Percell. "You want to take a look at your W2s when they first come out to make sure that it is correct."

He said, that making sure the W2 is correct included verifying that any promotions, bonuses and other information were correct because they are taxed 25 percent and would affect the W2.

Many people traveling to Shaw are worried about being paid during the shutdown.

Percell said anyone who arrives or changes station to the Shaw during the shutdown just need to file a voucher within five days of arrival and finance will make sure that their pay is updated.

The shutdown will last 23 days. During that time none of the systems would be able to update. Any updates, like volunteer assignment applications, would be on hold until after the upgrade. After the system upgrade is complete, the majority of the held transactions will be updated in the system within 10 business days. Pay actions that were held, like promotions, during that time will be retroactive to the actual effective date. All systems will work like normal upon completion of the upgrade. The difference would be that the system would not only have better data security than before but it will also be more reliable, run faster and be more user friendly.

For more information:
· Log on to myPers at https://myPers.af.mil/
· Contact Total Force Service Center at https://myPers.af.mil/app/tfsc.
· Contact the local Force Support Squadron's Military Personnel Section. Shaw's MPS phone number is (803) 895- 1598. People who are currently deployed or are going to be during the shutdown are advised to contact their home station MPS.
Pay issues are personnel-driven, therefore any questions should be directed to MPS not finance.

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