Straight Talk: MPS serves the community

  • Published
  • By Col. Stacy L. Yike
  • 66th Air Base Group commander
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  How does the Military Personnel Section serve the Hanscom community? Let me count the ways! I asked 2nd Lt. Daniel Langston, MPS Force Management chief, to provide a sampling of all the great ways you can use your local MPS. Read on for further information.

Did you know that many MPS services can now be accomplished right from your desktop? This allows the MPS to better serve you and saves you valuable time.
The MPS currently offers the ability to schedule an appointment for the issuing of Common Access Cards (CAC), dependent ID cards, DEERS enrollment or to meet any other of your personnel needs. The appointment scheduler is currently located on the Electronic Systems Center Centernet website under the "Resources" tab. Most appointments have a 30 minute block, which allows the MPS to fully answer any questions you may have.

If you are not near a CAC enabled computer, you may schedule an appointment at home by visiting https://secure.netappointment.com/appman.php?rownumber=84.

In addition to the online appointment scheduler, many other routine personnel related tasks can be accomplished via the virtual Military Personnel Flight (vMPF) located on the left hand side of the Air Force Portal. The vMPF gives you a direct link to the Air Force Personnel Center, ultimately expediting your personnel requests.

A few examples of the items found on the vMPF include enlisted assignment preferences, joint spouse applications, retirement requests and retraining applications. The vMPF also allows you to retrieve a statement of service if your bank requires a statement for large purchases. Processing these applications via the vMPF saves you valuable time and the hassle of leaving your duty area.

In addition to the aforementioned services, many other personnel related tasks can be accomplished through your unit Base Level Service Delivery Module (BLSDM) manager. Examples of services available through BLSDM include reporting duty status changes, changing rater information and requesting a decoration printout (Décor 6).

If you can't find what you need virtually, you can call the MPS during customer service hours, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For the Customer Support Section (ID cards, SGLI, in-processing and DEERS) call 781-225-1320. For the Career Development Section (reenlistments, outbound assignments, retirements and separations, enlisted promotions and decorations) call 781-225-1340. For Force Management (evaluations, rater information, duty status and duty information) call 781-225-1330.

The MPS is also available for face-to-face assistance Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. If we missed your question about MPS, send us a note in Straight Talk. We are here to serve you!