Up in 'ARMS': Airmen’s records to be electronic only

Published Feb. 5, 2008
By 2nd Lt. Melissa George
21st Mission Support Squadron

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Airmen will soon be able to access their unit personnel records groups, or UPRGs, online here.

Beginning Feb. 1, the Military Personnel Flight will undergo a screening and packing process of an estimated 4,200 active-duty military UPRGs. These UPRGs will be sent to the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph AFB, Texas, in preparation for electronic conversion.

Throughout the month of February, members will not be able to access any information found within their UPRG as a brief blackout period lasting approximately three weeks will be in effect. During this time, the member's hard copy UPRG will be scanned into the Automated Records Management System, or ARMS, found on the Air Force Portal.

Members in need of information in their records during the blackout period should e-mail 21mss.dpmdr.ex@peterson.af.mil with their name, social security number, the specific document required, why it is needed and a fax number. The document will be pulled and faxed as soon as possible. The MPF custodian is the deciding factor on what constitutes an emergency pull during this timeframe.

Once AFPC has completed the scanning of all Peterson UPRGs, the hard copy versions are to be destroyed.

On March 1, the MPF and commander's support staff personnel will be granted full access to ARMS while individual members are expected to have access to their information via ARMS.

All personnel in the MPF retain access to each Airman's UPRG electronically. AFPC has issued a quota of two per unit, and in the future there will be access for chiefs, 1st sergeants and others with need to know authority.

Members with questions should call the MPF customer service office at 556-7189, 556-4052 and 556-7696. After Feb. 12, the MPF customer service can be located at its new number, 556-4673.