MPD to service members: Clearing joint base early saves time and effort

By Damien Salas, Pentagram Staff WriterJuly 30, 2015

MPD to service members: Clearing joint base early saves time and effort
Right, Maj. Bridget Dalziel receives assistance July 23 from JBM-HH Military Personnel Division Out Processing Lead Christine Aikens, with PCS orders to Fort Eustis in Newport News, Va. Dalziel is one of dozens of service members who MPD helps transf... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Since March 1, the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Military Personnel Division has used out-processing software to streamline the process of clearing post for transitioning service members. The system helps quickly find debts owed by service members to standard Army post agencies such as Army Community Service, housing, Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, saving service members going on leave time and effort.

"OutProc is a pre-clearing system that the Army has incorporated to assist with transitioning off post," said JBM-HH Military Personnel Out-Process Lead Christine Aikens. "We get notifications from first sergeants that let us know a service member has received their permanent change of station, expiration of term service, retiring or chaptering orders. And they need to start clearing the post."

First sergeants are only responsible for notifying MPD that a service member has received orders. To begin the pre-clearing process, service members must request to be put in the OutProc system, according to Aikens.

"There has been a lot of success with this process as more service members learn that the system is available," she said. "Meeting face-to-face with MPD at the beginning of out-process means not having to visit other offices- which saves time- and service members like that."

Pre-cleared means the service member does not have to visit an agency's physical office to out-process. However, service members may still have to physically visit an office before out-processing is complete.

MPD asks that customers give as much time as possible to clear post before going on PCS leave. Doing so is the only way to make sure out-processing is completed in a smooth and timely fashion, according to Aikens.

"Once the request [to out-process] is received from the service member, MPD notifies the agencies on post through OutProc to check on debts owed by the service member," said Aikens.

"If there are none, an electronic signature is placed on the two-page form, letting MPD know they are pre-cleared."

Though the new software has streamlined out-processing, issues arise when requests are put in last minute, according to Aikens.

"MPD's goal is to get the service member pre-cleared by as many agencies as possible, so they don't have to run around collecting signatures," said Aikens. "Giving MPD at least 10 days' notice will help ensure that deadlines are met."

The forms required by military regulation before a service member goes on leave include orders, a signed privacy act release statement, DD form 93 (Record of Emergency Data), Service Member Group Life Insurance Form and their DA 31 form (request and authority for leave).

"We like to give the service members 10 days before their transitional leave start date, just in case they need to visit an agency," she said. "In cases with less than 10 days, we offer to put the service member in the OutProc system to see if they pre-clear at any agencies, but that can take up to two days, which gives even less time to settle any last minute debts."

Service members leaving JBM-HH can reach out to the Transition Services Branch located in Bldg. 202 on Fort Myer, at 703-696-0296 to schedule out-processing appointments.

Additional assistance is available for Soldiers who are required to PCS in less than 90 days by contacting either MPD Chief of Reassignment Charles Smith, MPD Chief Doug Russell or JBM-HH Human Resources Director Ken Washington. All three are able to assist service members before they leave the MPD office dissatisfied, according to Washington.

Chief of Reassignment- 703-696-0004

MPD Chief- 703-696-3695

JBM-HH HR Director- 703-696-5779/3520