Sailors now can check personnel records online

[CommunityEditor]

The days of having to order a CD-ROM through the mail to make sure your records are up to date are coming to an end.

Under the Web Enabled Record Review, announced Jan. 14, sailors with a computer that has a common access card reader can log into BuPers Online. There, they’ll see if all their evals, awards and assignments — all the things put in front of a selection board — have made it safely to Navy Personnel Command.

“The beauty of this capability is if an individual knows they are eligible for a specific board, they can go online and immediately view everything that’s in their record and everything that’s pushed to a selection board,” said Dwight Stanton, director of the Military Personnel Records Management Division.

“It simply saves the member a lot of time, as you no longer have to order a CD, but that option is still there.”

Stanton said those on deployment or with limited online connectivity might still be better served ordering a CD. The process takes a few weeks.

Like the CD, the online service also allows sailors to download and print service-record documents.

But, Stanton said, immediate access can eliminate a lot of worry and wait when preparing for a board.

“Obviously a member still has the option, if something is missing, to submit those documents in a package sent to the board president — but members need to realize that documents in a package aren’t allowed to be put in the permanent file, and sailors should also take the proper steps to ensure their record is updated, too.”

Stanton said they’ve decreased the time it takes to get missing documents into sailors’ records, shrinking the backlog from nearly a year to just a few weeks for most documents.

“For affiliated members, those currently serving in the active or reserve, they go to the head of the line, and their records should be updated in no less than two weeks,” he said.

“Obviously those preparing for a selection board take precedence, but also anything that would be career-enhancing, pay-impacting or affecting benefits also goes to the front of the line.”

And, he said, members will be able to log back in and quickly check if their records have been updated — no time-consuming ordering of another CD.


Article: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/01/navy_online_records_012509w/

[YomanDenver]

This isn't anything new, and it's roughly as affective as a PSSR, IMO. It's only good when the documents are submitted to Pers.

For those of you that are still active, being a Yeoman, I'm telling you all right now, keep up with your records. Check them out anytime you can, especially right after you've completed a qualification or receive an award.

[Doc Wilson]

This is now one of a couple ways to access them and none are complete. This really needs an overhaul.

[jeffersj]

This isn't anything new, and it's roughly as affective as a PSSR, IMO. It's only good when the documents are submitted to Pers.

For those of you that are still active, being a Yeoman, I'm telling you all right now, keep up with your records. Check them out anytime you can, especially right after you've completed a qualification or receive an award.

Good advice, but this applies to all military personnel, active and inactive. Not sure if this is still the case, but drilling reservists were at one time considered inactive personnel.

Also, still not a bad idea to get a CD and store it with a hard copy of some documents (evals, quals, page 4's, etc.) in a safe place. Never know when you have to document something. If you can get your medical/dental records - make a copy in case you need to document something.

Whatever you do, DO NOT submit the only copy of a document to the YN's/PN's to be put in your record - keep a copy (or better yet, the original if you can) in your personal files. They mean well, but just as sure as there are little green apples, they may lose it and guess what? They don't have a problem, the Navy doesn't have a problem, and you do.

[YomanDenver]

Whatever you do, DO NOT submit the only copy of a document to the YN's/PN's to be put in your record - keep a copy (or better yet, the original if you can) in your personal files. They mean well, but just as sure as there are little green apples, they may lose it and guess what? They don't have a problem, the Navy doesn't have a problem, and you do.

I can't speak for every YN out there, but I always tell people to make a copy of whatever they're submitting before they give it to me. If your Admin Office isn't instructing you to do the same, take the time and make a copy. I can't tell you how many times a copy has been accepted as the original due to "administrative oversight."

[tmurphy]

I love the idea of having your records online but it seems like a royal pain in the butt if you have missing documents. My NEC's, awards and ribbons are all jacked up. It is our overall responsiblity to make sure everything is correct and up to date but getting those changes does require some research from the looks of it.

[jeffersj]

I love the idea of having your records online but it seems like a royal pain in the butt if you have missing documents. My NEC's, awards and ribbons are all jacked up. It is our overall responsiblity to make sure everything is correct and up to date but getting those changes does require some research from the looks of it.

You are correct. The Sailor has the ultimate responsibility to ensure their record is up to date.

Yes, it will take some work on your part. I don't even want to think about the off-duty man-hours invested and out-of-pocket expenses I incurred to ensure my field record was up to date, as well as the ones for my Sailors when evaluation and examination time came around.

Also, bear in mind that some documents will not make it into the permanent record until you re-enlist. Page 4's are one example from when I was in. That's why selection boards allow candidates to submit packages with missing documents for consideration.

[YomanDenver]

You are correct. The Sailor has the ultimate responsibility to ensure their record is up to date.

Yes, it will take some work on your part. I don't even want to think about the off-duty man-hours invested and out-of-pocket expenses I incurred to ensure my field record was up to date, as well as the ones for my Sailors when evaluation and examination time came around.

Also, bear in mind that some documents will not make it into the permanent record until you re-enlist. Page 4's are one example from when I was in. That's why selection boards allow candidates to submit packages with missing documents for consideration.

Don't forget, bounce anything in your ETJ off the BOL record. Some things, of course, won't be submitted or counted (ie., GMT, E-Learning courses), but you should see your warfare qualifications and awards showing up correctly on both, if not, fix it when you notice it.