Happy Thanksgiving Day Eve everyone,

Thought I'd share this with everyone since it's relevant to our group.
I want to wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Thanks - Dawn

 

Dawn Cooper

Program Assistant

National CMOP IT Program Office

3675 E. Britannia Dr.

Tucson AZ 85706

520-209-3009

  

 

From: USAF Manpower Personnel and Services
News[[log in to unmask]] [mailto:USAF Manpower Personnel and
Services News[[log in to unmask]]] 
Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 7:39 AM
To: Cooper, Dawn R.
Subject: November 25, 2009: Records transfer marks historic milestone

 

Welcome to USAF Manpower, Personnel and Services News

 

 

Release No: 159
Nov. 25, 2009


Records transfer marks historic milestone

by Daniel Elkins
Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs Office

ST. LOUIS - The ceremonial transfer of approximately 177,000 official
military personnel files from the Air Force to the National Archives and
Records Administration here Nov. 18 marked a milestone as the final
service to make its historical documents a part of the public record.

 "This is an especially historic day for the United States Air Force,"
said Ron Hindman, the National Personnel Records Center director. "With
the establishment of the Air Force as a separate military service in
1947, the air arm of our nation's military was official created. We
celebrate the next stage for the Air Force as the first official
military personnel files begin a second life as archival documents of
the United States."

The ceremonial transfer this week took place at the National Personnel
Records Center here and included representatives from the National
Archives and Records Administration, Air Force Personnel Center and the
offices of Missouri Senators Kit Bonds and Claire McCaskill.

In a 2004 agreement between the Department of Defense and the U.S.
archivist, official military personnel files, or OMPFs, were deemed
permanent records of the United States. In a subsequent agreement, it
was decided that the personnel files become archival 62 years after an
Airmen was discharged, retired or died in service.

On the Air Force's 62nd birthday Sept. 18, 2009, the first group of
records was officially transferred to the national archives for
permanent retention. Among the Air Force personnel files now part of the
public record of the national archives are those of such airpower
pioneers as Gen. James Doolittle and Brig. Gen. William "Billy" Mitchell
as well as other records of persons of exceptional prominence to include
Capt. Lance P. Sijan and Capt. Mary T. Klinker.

 "It's important that everyone knows how truly significant this
milestone is and understands that the contributions and differences they
made in the lives of others around the world will be safeguarded as a
historical document for this nation," said Col. Julie Robel, chief of
the sustainment division for AFPC at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.

Comprising 5,058 cubic feet, the volume of records in the initial
transfer equates to the combined cargo of one and a half C-17 Globmaster
IIIs. As Air Force personnel files continue to reach maturity at 62
years, they will be transferred to national archives ownership. 

Mr. Hindman said only about 3 percent of all records created in the
federal government are given the designation as archival records. 

"They are considered the most intrinsically valuable records of the
federal government because they best document the democratic experience
for our future generations," he added.

Mr. Hindman said each of the personnel files are rich with content
material and document the individual member's participation in the
military.

"Genealogists, family members, historians and a variety of researchers
already have and will continue to seek material obtained in these
valuable records to better understand military service, family ties and
the price of freedom," he said. "Already these OMPFs are among the most
sought records in the national archives, and we expect this to continue
as more and more records are opened to the public."

Prior to the transfer of records to the national archives, access to
these personnel files was limited to veterans, their primary next of kin
and federal agencies largely for validating benefits. The ownership of
these records by the national archives now makes them open to the
public. While the Privacy Act no longer applies to archival records,
exemptions of the Freedom of Information Act continue to protect the
personal privacy of the members and their families and Social Security
numbers are redacted before release. 

For more information and the access to the national archives, visit
www.vetrecs.archives.gov.

                                                            -- 30 --

 

 

USAF Manpower, Personnel and Services News
For more news and information, visit

The Air Force Manpower Agency, http://www.afma.af.mil/ 

The Air Force Personnel Center, http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/ 

The Air Force Services Agency, http://www.afsv.af.mil/ 

Follow us on Twitter at AFCareers and AF_Services
Please do not respond to this message. See link below to make
subscription changes. 




You can now manage all your Air Force subscriptions from one location.
Go to http://www.af.mil/information/subscribe/index.asp 
 
You are currently subscribed to afpcns as: [log in to unmask]
If you wish to cancel your subscription at anytime, simply send a blank
e-mail to
[log in to unmask]
il.

List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance
To unsubscribe from this list, click the below link. If not already present, place UNSUBSCRIBE RECMGMT-L or UNSUB RECMGMT-L in the body of the message.
mailto:[log in to unmask]