MPS services Airmen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kristin High
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  The Military Personnel Section provides military personnel services and programs for active duty members and their families, Guard and Reserve members, and military retirees, here.

The MPS manages a wide range of programs that impact each individual's career: identification cards, defense eligibility enrollment system, citizenship, special leave, temporary duty assignments, promotions, retirements, awards and decorations, passports, deployments, Service Group Life Insurance and reimbursement for adoption programs.

"We help approximately 2,000 customers per month," said George King, 2nd Force Support Squadron verifying official. "Many of our customers include more than 60,000 retirees from the Ark-La-Tex area."

Most of the services the MPS provides takes about 15 minutes from start to finish. In April, the 12-person flight processed more than 1,300 ID cards.

"We have to interface with every military person in the community in one way shape or form because everyone needs an ID card," said Nate Waters, Compass Contracts Group site manager. "You need it to access benefits. You need a Common Access Card to access government computers and the network to accomplish daily tasks."

Essentially, without the MPS, there would be a complete work-stoppage, not only on Barksdale but around the world, he added.

To add on to the plethora of services, there is a rapid, self-support website to help generate preliminary paperwork for ID card services.

"This can be used for Airmen and their families who live further away or don't live near their dependents," said Waters. "Otherwise, walking in is the fastest option for services."

The MPS customer service hours are Monday through Friday 7:30 am to 4:30 p.m.

For more information, visit www.dmdc.osd.mil/self_service or call 456-3710.