Team checks data to ease DIMHRS transition

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  • By Mike Molina
  • Editor
DENVER --  The Air Reserve Personnel Center data cleansing tiger team here is looking to ease the way as the Air Force transitions to a new military pay and personnel system. 

The team was established by ARPC leaders in preparation for record conversion to the Defense Integrated Military Human Resources System. DIMHRS, the latest innovation in military pay and personnel services, is expected to merge pay and personnel records into one system. 

"Our main focus is to ensure that as much data as possible is accurate before the DIMHRS switch is turned on," said Master Sgt. Laramie Reece, data cleansing tiger team lead. "If the data from the two systems conflicts it could cause serious repercussions for the new system. We want to make this transition as seamless and problem-free as possible." 

Sergeant Reece said that inaccurate data flowing into DIMHRS could affect pay and benefits, and mean the difference in a promotion or retirement, for example. 

"The work this team is doing could save huge amounts of money and manpower if we can prevent problems before they arise," he said. 

The ten-person team began work Sept. 29 and is comprised of Airmen and civilian employees from five directorates. 

In nearly a month, the team resolved more than 400 case management system generated issues, which deal with pay-related inaccuracies, and more than 2,000 non-pay items. 

"We're plugging along," said Lorraine Lubang, one of the team members and a 30-year ARPC employee. "The impact of this could be huge. It's important to understand what came before, as well as what's coming when they turn DIMHRS on." 

According to the Air Force DIMHRS Web site, the Air Force is scheduled to launch DIMHRS in 2009. Meanwhile the data cleansing team at ARPC continues to check personnel and pay records for inaccuracies or conflicting data. 

"Our goal is to try to clean it up as soon as we can, but there could be thousands of items that need to fixed," Sergeant Reece said.