Airmen reminded to update vRED Published June 17, 2003 RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- In the five months since the official launch of the virtual record of emergency data, more than 383,000 airmen have updated their contact information. While this number is impressive, there is more work to be done, according to Air Force Personnel Center officials here."It's imperative we have every airman -- active duty, Guard and Reserve -- fill out their emergency contact information," said Maj. Jerry Couvillion, chief of the center’s casualty services branch. "The information is essential for our casualty notification teams in case an airman becomes incapacitated or worse yet, killed."Better known as vRED, this online form replaced the paper Department of Defense Form 93, Record of Emergency Data, as the only way for airmen to provide personal emergency information. By filling out the form from any Internet-connected computer, Air Force casualty officials have immediate access to critical information needed to contact family members if an airman becomes missing, suffers a serious illness or injury, or dies, he said."Accurate and current family-contact information prevents unnecessary delays," said Couvillion. "It also avoids hours or even days of uncertainty during which casualty teams are sometimes left to track down next of kin."New procedures require all airmen to update their information electronically every six months, before deployments and after permanent changes of station. "Once the member initially completes the form, they will be able to go in at any time and update specific information as needed," he said. "It's simple, and it saves time over the old paper form."On the AFPC Web page, http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil, people can enter the virtual military personnel flight by clicking on the "vMPF" logo at the top of the page. New users will need to establish an account. The online application asks questions such as which relatives should be contacted and what their addresses are. This process takes most people about 20 minutes, said officials.For more information about the vMPF or vRED, call the Air Force Contact Center toll free at (866) 229-7074. (Courtesy of AFPC News Service)