CHRA’s Army Benefits Center-Civilian Celebrates 25 Years

By Shama CrumesMarch 27, 2026

CHRA’s Army Benefits Center-Civilian Celebrates 25 Years
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A cake decorated for the 25th anniversary of the Army Benefits Center-Civilian (ABC-C) is displayed at the Fort Riley Conference Center on Jan. 22. The center, comprised of approximately 165 Army civilians, is part of the Civilian Human Resources Agency and delivers a full spectrum of benefits support. (Photo Credit: Shama Crumes) VIEW ORIGINAL
CHRA’s Army Benefits Center-Civilian Celebrates 25 Years
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Current and past directors of the Army Benefits Center-Civilian (ABC-C) gather for a photo during the center's 25th-anniversary celebration at the Fort Riley Conference Center on Jan. 22. Since its formation, the ABC-C has provided steadfast benefits administration and support to the Army's civilian workforce. (Photo Credit: Shama Crumes) VIEW ORIGINAL
CHRA’s Army Benefits Center-Civilian Celebrates 25 Years
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The Army Civilian employees of the Army Benefits Center-Civilian (ABC-C) pose for a group photo at the Fort Riley Conference Center on Jan. 22 to celebrate the center's 25th anniversary. The ABC-C provides benefits education and counseling to Army-serviced civilian employees throughout their careers and into retirement. (Photo Credit: Shama Crumes) VIEW ORIGINAL
CHRA’s Army Benefits Center-Civilian Celebrates 25 Years
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Current and past directors of the Army Benefits Center-Civilian (ABC-C) gather for a photo during the center's 25th-anniversary celebration at the Fort Riley Conference Center on Jan. 22. Since its formation, the ABC-C has provided steadfast benefits administration and support to the Army's civilian workforce. (Photo Credit: Shama Crumes) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT RILEY, Kan. — The Army Benefits Center-Civilian the ABC-C has navigated over a quarter- century of providing consolidated benefits services to Army-serviced civilian employees.

Since its formation, the ABC-C has adapted to the shifting landscape of benefits administration, providing steadfast support to the Army's civilian workforce. The center is looking forward to the next 25 years of service and innovation.

The ABC-C, made up of approximately 165 Army civilians, is part of the Civilian Human Resources Agency, which was established in 2003 as part of an Army-wide initiative to centralize human resource functions. The ABC-C delivers a full spectrum of benefits support, including benefits education and counseling to employees throughout their careers and into retirement.

"We are incredibly proud to mark this significant milestone," said Cary Stone, ABC-C director. "For a quarter of a century, the ABC-C has been committed to ensuring our Army-serviced civilian employees receive the comprehensive and reliable benefits support they deserve. This anniversary is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team."

Continuous Transformation

1999-The ABC-C was formed

2000-The ABC-C started taking calls

2018- The ABC-C advanced its servicing platform by completing the 5-year consolidation of Workers’ Compensation and the creation of the Injury Compensation Center of Excellence.

2019-We launched the Government Retirement and Benefits (GRB) Platform, a secure, self-service portal that puts you in control of your benefits! Access information, manage your elections, and utilize powerful planning tools – 24/7!

2025-We transitioned to OPM’s Online Retirement Application (ORA) Portal, streamlining retirement processing for federal employees with our secure, fully digital online system.

2025: A Year of Service and Dedication

In 2025 alone, the ABC-C team processed over 17,000 retirements, 18,000 retirement estimates, and 4,600 military buyback transactions. The center also answered over 7,500 inquiries through its Service Now ticketing system and online resources.

"These accomplishments demonstrate our ongoing commitment to continuously improve our services and support the needs of our Army-serviced civilian employees," Stone said. "Despite numerous challenges, our team remained committed to ensuring everyone received their hard-earned benefits," Stone said.

Strong Leadership

Leaders from the Civilian Human Resources Agency praised the center's role in supporting the workforce.

"This 25-year milestone is a direct result of steady and visionary leadership," said Kelly Nzerem, Director of CHRA Consolidated Services Division. "We are immensely grateful to Ms. Stone and the four directors who preceded her. Their collective resolve has built an organization that not only provides exceptional service to our civilian employees but also directly contributes to the Army's mission readiness by ensuring our workforce is secure and supported."

The center's specialists offer expertise on a wide array of federal benefits, including the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance, the Federal Employees Retirement System, the Civil Service Retirement System, Federal Workers’ and Unemployment Compensation and the Thrift Savings Plan.

"We are marking 25 years of service with sincere gratitude for the employees whose hard work and diligence built the foundation of our success," said Nzerem.

Open House and Future Focus

"As we look to the future, the ABC-C's role is more critical than ever," said Karen Pane, Civilian Human Resources Agency director. "Their focus on providing accessible, tailored benefits information for every career stage—from a new hire to an employee planning for retirement—ensures our workforce feels supported and confident in their benefit choices."

To commemorate its 25th anniversary, the ABC-C hosted a small ceremony, where the current employees and the former directors were recognized, followed by an Open House at its Fort Riley location. The event showcased the organization's history, its evolution in benefits servicing, and its vision for the future.

Additional ABC-C Resources:

Website: https://abc.chra.army.mil/abc

Employee Benefits Virtual Café webinars

Pre-Retirement Benefits Overview Briefings

Newsletter: https://go.mil/abc-c_newsletters

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArmyBenefitsCenterCivilian/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArmyBenefitsCenterCivilian