Assignment system upgrades in progress Published Dec. 6, 2002 RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- The nearly 30,000 officers and enlisted members who access the online Assignment Management System each day are experiencing technology's classic "good news, bad news" story.An upgrade will improve access speed and allow AMS to support the total force development concept, but until it is complete, users worldwide only have access for 20 hours per day.To allow technical upgrades and keep internal personnel processes up to speed, customers will not be able to access AMS weekdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. CST. The work is in progress and should be completed by mid-January, said officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here."Our new three-cycle officer assignment system, upgrades in other AFPC Web servers to improve overall customer access to personnel data, and great interest in the new force development concept all combined to drive the number of daily transactions beyond today's AMS server capabilities," said Col. Christopher Miller, director of assignments."We're moving out to fix the short-term problem, and regret the inconvenience it may cause," Miller said. "But we're intent on making the system work better to provide airmen world-class assignment service and to make it a springboard for future enhancements."AMS lets all airmen view their personal information, lets commanders weigh in on officer assignment preferences and provides a platform for eVector, an online mentoring tool. Enlisted people can view and volunteer for quarterly assignments and officers can fill out and update their preference worksheets.During system down times, airmen with urgent assignment issues can call the Air Force Contact Center toll free at (866) 229-7074 or DSN 665-5000, or get help online at http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil. (Courtesy AFPC News Service)