New system to streamline Guard orders process

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Gary Hicks
  • National Guard Bureau
ARLINGTON, Va. (AFPN) --  Beginning Oct. 1, Air National Guard officials will implement a new system for issuing orders.

The Air National Guard Reserve Order Writing Systems will consolidate systems used throughout the 54 states and territories for temporary duty travel, permanent change of station, and all administrative orders into one easy-to-use system, officials said.

"(The system) is a tested and proven Web-based program that will allow Airmen to do their jobs more efficiently and effectively," said Brig. Gen. Charles Ickes, deputy director of the Air National Guard.

By streamlining the order-writing process, Guardsmen will have more time to train during drill weekends, he said.

They will not need to run around the base getting their orders processed.

“For that drill weekend, (each) Airman will be getting the valuable training he or she needs,” General Ickes said.

The system was designed to be simple to use and provide officials with much information about how resources are used.

"When the system is up and being used . . . we will have day-to-day, real-time tracking of our travel and training funds for the first time," General Ickes said. "We will have a much better feel for where the money is."

The Air Force portal will be used to allow access to Guardsmen from dot-com domains. A 24-hour a day, seven-day a week help desk will assist Guardsmen with both technical and procedural questions.

Users will be able track their orders during the approval process, print them when published and have access to their order history and their number of duty days.

"As a commander or resource manager, this will give you immediate, real-time information," said Brig. Gen. LaRita Aragon, Oklahoma Air National Guard assistant adjutant general. "How much money do we have to send someone, somewhere? How many days do we have left?"

Having access to this kind of data will save commanders a lot of headaches, General Aragon said.

"I tell my commanders there are two areas that can send you to prison quickly -- finance and personnel," she said. "(This system) ties those two things together to help you. It tells you if you have the days and if you have the dollars."