Military Personnel Section

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rebecca Imwalle
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Few people look forward to sorting through military personnel information, but because Airmen depend on promotions, reenlistments and duty assignments to be processed smoothly, an Air Force specialist tucked away in an office cubicle spends time and effort doing just that to ensure their fellow servicemembers can focus on the mission.

Airmen from the 28th Force Support Squadron military personnel flight dedicate their careers to the advancement of wingmen by ensuring all paperwork and required actions are completed quickly and accurately.

Staff Sgt. Charles Abt, 28th FSS NCO in charge of promotions and reenlistments, explained that his job can be intricate and detailed.

"I ensure these things are carried out correctly and fix any issues I might come across. I also take care of demotion actions and extensions when people need retainability for various reasons, to include TDYs, assignments and retraining." Abt said.

Due to the number of personnel files they deal with daily, attention to detail is a quality MPS must take seriously.

"Our job has a huge impact on the Air Force and our Airmen," Abt said. "When you're dealing with assignments and certain paperwork doesn't get done, [people] don't get orders. If paperwork is not done correctly, it can affect their finances, so it's very important for everything to be done properly."

Tech. Sgt. Amanda Pierce, 28th FSS NCO in charge of MPS, added that she works closely with the 28th Comptroller Squadron Finance Section to ensure Airmen receive correct base pay and entitlements.

"There have been many times where an Airman has come in a day prior to separating and wanted to reenlist," Pierce explained. "This creates a process that requires teamwork and follow up actions with finance to ensure they get paid."

When Pierce runs into situations like this, communication between MPS, Finance and the Airman's first sergeant is vital.

"There is a sense of accomplishment when you are able to help someone," she said.
The best thing for Airmen to do when they need help is to ask questions and be specific about issues, Abt added. This helps identify the best way to assist them. 

"I really do enjoy my job," Abt said. "I love coming in here and helping out our customers. You get a sense of satisfaction knowing that you're making a difference and helping Airmen."