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AF automates high school senior assignment deferment program

By Capt. Lesley N. Lilly, Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs / Published April 13, 2011

For the last few years, I've had the privilege of serving as a functional manager for enlisted communications assignments. When I first arrived, I questioned our assignment policies all the time. However, as I became aware of the reasons each rule was developed, and the consequences of not following them, I quickly came to appreciate them. Our current assignments system may not be perfect, but it is truly based on fairness and equity.
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Airmen can complete the high school senior assignment deferment application on the Virtual Military Personnel Flight website where it will be automatically routed to their squadron commander and to the appropriate assignment team at the Air Force Personnel Center.

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RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- In an effort to better serve its customers the Air Force automated the High School Senior Assignment Deferment program application.

The HSSAD program increases stability for military family members entering their senior year of high school. Active-duty officers lieutenant colonel and below, and enlisted members senior master sergeant and below, stationed in continental United States locations can apply.

Members who meet eligibility requirements can defer an assignment for up to one year. Approval is not automatic. Air Force needs will still dictate approval or disapproval of individual requests.

Airmen can complete the application on the Virtual Military Personnel Flight website where it will be automatically routed to their squadron commander and to the appropriate assignment team at the Air Force Personnel Center here.

Senior Master Sgt. Dennis Carlson, AFPC's assignment procedures superintendent, said automating the HSSAD application process gives Airmen the convenience of applying for the deferment without having to manually route the application through their squadron commander and local military personnel section.

"Online applications allow individuals to complete personnel actions from any computer," Sergeant Carlson said. "They can be deployed, at home, or on leave and still take care of a number of personnel actions on their own."

The Air Force is consolidating and modernizing many of its business processes, and transforming online personnel services was one initiative to help the service accomplish its goals.

"The Air Force is committed to ensuring that all active-duty Airmen are given the tools and resources to perform personnel services online," said Col. David Slade, AFPC's assignments director.

For more information about the HSSAD, visit the Air Force Personnel Services website and search for "HSSAD" or call the Total Force Service Center at 800-525-0102 or DSN 665-5000.