Fort Buchanan ID Card Section receives FY 2018 RAPIDS Site of the Year Award

Fort Buchanan received the FY 2018 RAPIDS Site of the Year Award, April 23, 2019, in a ceremony held at the installation's Soldiers Plaza for its outstanding performance in support of the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Systems (DEERS) and Real-time Automated Identification system (RAPIDS) for the period from October 1,2017 to September 30, 2018. Fort Buchanan competed against 1,000 other Service components at 1,600 ID card locations worldwide with a total of 904 Army sites.

The installation's ID card section was selected for this award based upon superior performance and innovative practices, procedures the site implemented to improve day to day operations and enhance the customer service experience.

The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness' recognition is presented annually to a site that greatly exceeds standards.

The head guest attending the ceremony was Major General Kenneth D. Jones, commanding general of the 81st Readiness Division and Fort Buchanan's Senior Commander; the host was Fort Buchanan Garrison Commander, Col. Guy D. Bass; presenting the plaque was William H. Booth, Director of the Defense Human Resources Activity and Michael V. Sorrento, director of the Defense Manpower Data Center.

Fort Buchanan's ID Card Section received a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of Karen M. Perkins, Human Resources Director IMCOM G-1 presented by Angela Cameron. The ID card section also received a recognition from the Puerto Rico Senate, a motion signed by its President, Hon. Thomas Rivera Schatz presented by former PR Senator Lucy Arce. Fort Buchanan's Director of Human Resources (DHR), Maria Morales received the awards and citations.

"While Puerto Rico was trying to recover (from Hurricanes Irma and Maria), ID card personnel, despite their own hardships--reported to work daily going above and beyond to support the mission, showing a strength and resiliency far from comprehension and based completely on their commitment to serve," said Maj. Gen. Jones. "This commitment was shown in over 10,000 ID cards issued during this period and over 300 customer comments in the ICE system with a satisfaction rate of 95%. The highest within the garrison. There are two key elements in the success story of Fort Buchanan's Directorate of Human Resources ID card facility…One is excellence in customer service. The second element is strategic partnerships," concluded Jones.

The ceremony honored members of the installation's ID card center and was attended by leadership and members of military organizations in Puerto Rico; Maj. Gen. (Ret.) and Puerto Rico's Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (CASA) Emeritus, Felix A. Santoni; CASA, Luis Alberto Soto; Garrison Directors, staff and members of the Fort Buchanan community.