Verifying records, personal information vital to career progression Published March 18, 2009 RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Successful career progression for Airmen requires hard work, planning and dedication, but even more importantly, an accurate personnel record. Of all the actions Airmen can take to affect their chances for promotion and professional development, the most important is ensuring their personal information is correct. Missing or inaccurate information, such as enlisted or officer performance reports, decorations, awards and citations, can affect promotion scores and developmental team vectors for senior airmen through general officers. Fortunately, the Air Force makes it easy for anyone to check and correct their records online through the virtual Military Personnel Flight, or with a single call to the Total Force Service Center at 1-800-525-0102. "Every Airmen should make it a priority to review his or her record on a routine basis and prior to any board where the record may be reviewed," said Maj. Gen. K.C. McClain, Air Force Personnel Center commander. As a helpful reminder, Airmen receive e-mail notifications around their birthday each year, advising them to review their electronic personnel records maintained within the Military Personnel Data System. "Be proactive and take control over your career progression by reviewing your personnel records regularly," General McClain emphasized. To complete a records review, log in to vMPF, read through all records, and print a hard copy for personal safekeeping. If errors are discovered, Airmen can often make needed changes to the record in vMPF, where update links are provided. For errors not correctable on-line, the Total Force Service Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to assist Airmen in correcting their information. The electronic version of a member's record is printed and maintained at the Selection Board Secretariat at the Air Force Personnel Center. Categorized as either the Officer Selection Record or Senior NCO Selection Record, records are kept for the purpose of meeting promotion and evaluation boards. "While the Selection Board Secretariat will do its best to ensure your records are complete and accurate, your personal involvement and due diligence are the key to getting corrections made to a record prior to a promotion or evaluation board," said Lt. Col. Robin McKinley, the Selection Board Secretariat operations chief. "We also recommend officers and senior NCOs, as a minimum, request a copy of their selection record prior to their promotion or evaluation board to ensure all necessary documents are filed and all information is correct," Colonel McKinley added. Requesting a copy of your record can be done several ways. Air Force Instruction 36-3003 allows a member to request a permissive TDY to view the hard copy of their record. If unable to go permissive TDY, you may call DSN 665-2371 for a records review via phone. If you would like to obtain a copy of your record, you may fax a signed request, which must include your name, social security number and signature, to DSN 665-2421. You may also request an e-copy by sending a digitally signed e-mail request to records.review@randolph.af.mil. For more information, visit your Force Support Squadron or call the Total Force Service Center at (800) 525-0102, commercial (210) 565-5000 or DSN 665-5000.