PERSCO matches faces with spaces

  • Published
  • By Capt. Aaron Burgstein
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  Before an air and space expeditionary force is deployed, AEF Center officials first source out requirements to major commands, which assign them to individual wings that fill them with Airmen.

When that system has a hiccup, personnel support for contingency operations office Airmen at forward-deployed locations move in to solve the problem.

“Sometimes there’s a delay in getting a name,” said Capt. Karen Ashton, chief of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing’s PERSCO office. “When that happens, we go back to (U.S. Central Command) Air Forces to resolve the issue and ensure the mission won’t be affected.”

Besides working deployment shortfalls and hiccups, the Airmen also work general personnel issues at their forward-deployed location. Those issues range from promotions to re-enlistments and performance reports.

“Because we’re a deployed shop, we have a limited capacity,” Captain Ashton said. “However, if we can’t help the person, we can (contact his or her) home station or the Air Force Personnel Center.”

Besides basic personnel services, PERSCO Airmen help keep track of more than 22,000 Airmen deployed during each rotation. They report the number of people here and their duty status, Captain Ashton said.

“We ensure 100 percent accountability of everyone in the wing and its geographically separated units at all times,” she said.

A PERSCO representative meets every person coming into the base, whether it is a group of 300 onboard a rotator or a smaller group on a C-130 Hercules.

“We inprocess and outprocess every person attached to the base,” Captain Ashton said. “We’re responsible for knowing where they are, how many are here, and we help them get in and out for their entire stay.”

Another important function of the PERSCO Airmen is discrepancy reporting. This involves letting higher headquarters officials know about any shortfalls people have when they deploy, from improper training to lack of equipment.

“If people get here and they’re not ready and trained to do their function, we report it back to the AEF Center which passes it to the major (commands),” Captain Ashton said. “This helps resolve the issues, be it lack of winter clothes or a training shortfall.”

The reporting is not meant as a punitive measure. It is designed to help improve the process by ensuring people are trained and equipped to contribute and help complete the mission.