PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. -- PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colorado – Peterson Space Force Base was selected as the Department of Air Force testbed for a new travel application called myPCS. The application digitizes and streamlines the permanent change of station, or PCS, claims process, similar to the Defense Travel System, or DTS.
“myPCS modernizes the PCS experience by enabling members to complete the in-processing workflow virtually, eliminating the requirement to attend in-person mass briefings,” said 2nd Lt. Jerome Gaillard, 21st Comptroller Squadron Financial Operations Flight commander.
The myPCS application will speed up claims by automating calculations, including per diem rates and financial processes involved with PCS orders, advances, and claims, to improve accuracy, provide faster advances and settlements, and allow the claimant to track the claim and settlement processing timeline online.
“The old way of handling paper documents and sending them to various places to be manually processed is being phased out,” said Mary Anne Chambers, a contractor involved with developing the application. “This helps members and (Department of Air Force) have more streamlined processing saving time and money while being more compliant with audit requirements and reporting required.”
Currently, servicemembers arriving here may use workstations available in the finance office to access the CAC-enabled myPCS app, although the application is available using any CAC-enabled device. Once signed in, the system guides them through a step-by-step itinerary builder where they confirm their information provided by the Air Force Personnel Center’s Orders Processing Application including family members, residency and mode of travel. En route reimbursable expenses may also be entered here. Qualifying temporary lodging expenses may also be processed through myPCS.
The platform then consolidates digital information from the OPA with the service member’s inputs, which eliminates the need for the multiple manual forms to be filled out as previously required during in-person PCS in-processing.
“Automated system validations have drastically reduced submission errors and voucher rejections, allowing our technicians to accelerate payouts,” Gaillard said. “Reimbursements are typically processed within three to five business days of final submission (by the service member).
“Members who have utilized myPCS have been very impressed with how user friendly the application is as well as the time it saves,” he said.
The Department of the Air Force is the first service branch to use the application with Peterson SFB being the first base to test the new automation.
“Peterson Space Force Base was chosen as the test bed as (Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller) looked to initiate at a location that allowed for sampling of Guardians and Airmen,” Chambers said, “to incorporate the new processes within one service branch initially as the capabilities grow and business processes are ironed out.”
Initially the system is only open for active duty members and their family members moving to Peterson SFB from other CONUS duty locations. Following testing here, the application will be available at Vandenberg and Patrick SFBs, and Wright Patterson Air Force Base in October. Schriever, Buckley and Los Angeles SFBs will see the program in November, followed by a phased Air Force-wide implementation beginning in January through June of 2027.