Command Sergeant Major / Sergeant Major,
Thank you for encouraging your Soldiers to become proficient in IPPS-A. You are truly empowering them. Please continue to support them in HR Universities and any job-specific training they have in your respective footprints.
While I know most every Soldier in the Army is assigned a weapon system, we (as leaders) must understand that IPPS-A might now be the most often-used weapon system we have in the Army. Together, let’s figure out how to use it to its maximum effective use.
I apologize for the length of this iteration of messaging, but the SMA stated that this had to be the year of IPPS-A and we fully intend to meet that vision! I want to provide you with some updates, guidance, and resources to share with your units:
Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Season Resources
Please remind your Leaders that Soldiers
must utilize IPPS-A’s tools and resources to learn and execute the proper procedures for PCS absence submissions. Understanding and using the system correctly will ensure accurate and timely arrivals/departures, orders, awards, slotting, and assignments, and will prevent Failure to Lose (FTL)/Failure to Gain (FTG) discrepancies, which effects your accountability no matter what side of the house you are on.
Soldiers should also be aware of
IPPS-A’s PCS Resources page. This page will provide your Soldiers with the tools they need to make PCSing as seamless and productive as possible and is an excellent starting point for the Season.
Army Fitness Test (AFT) Data for Promotions
With the recent transition to the Army Fitness Test (AFT), encourage your Leaders to familiarize themselves with the Promotion Recommended Roster (PRR) and Promotion Consideration Roster (PCR) processes in IPPS-A. They may refer to the
Human Resources Command (HRC) Junior Enlisted Promotions Job Aid.
Updating Personal Information
Please remind your Soldiers to confirm/update their personal information in IPPS-A (they can log into IPPS-A and navigate through NavBar > Menu > Self Service
> Personal Details). They may also search Personal Details in the “Search in Menu” located at the top of the Self-Service landing page. Keeping this information — specifically contact information — up-to-date and accurate can help them get assistance from their sponsors when PCSing this season.
Absence Request Improvement
Make sure to inform your Soldiers that attaching a Leave and Earning Statement (LES) is no longer necessary to validate accruals. Members can now view their absence balance while submitting an absence request. When Members request a chargeable absence, Leaders can now view the balance in IPPS-A to support their decision to approve or deny the submission. We are excited to announce this feature, since it is something the field has requested. IPPS-A is a Soldier system!
DD Form 214 Series Update
In my last message, I directed you to the
Army Directive issued to ensure the Total Force is prepared for IPPS-A’s DD Form 214 subsumption.
Please note that implementation of the DD Form 214 Series in IPPS-A will start 17 May 2025. Make sure your Leaders review the latest guidance and get ready for this HR transformation capability to support Warfighters. The DD Form 214 Series will represent the standard record of service for all components.
You may find recently published guidance here:
ALARACT 049/2025:
https://ipps-a.army.mil/Portals/129/Documents/ARN43656-ALARACT_0492025-000-WEB-1.pdf
MILPER 25-162:
https://ipps-a.army.mil/Portals/129/Documents/MILPER%2025-162.pdf
You may also refer to our
DD Form 214 page for more information, including a calendar of DD Form 214 Series events and training resources.
Leader’s Dashboard
Our team has developed an exciting new tool for IPPS-A! The Leader’s Dashboard allows Leaders, regardless of echelon or MOS, to easily and rapidly see a snapshot of their Soldiers’ deployability, personnel readiness, and accountability.
This tool helps Leaders focus on data analysis, rather than creating and maintaining their own tools. It also gives organizations more time to focus on training and readiness (instead of spending time collecting data).
You can access the dashboard here:
https://hr.ippsa.army.mil/sabir/leader/main/leader-dashboard.
We will continue to use feedback from the field to improve the dashboard, so I urge all of you — and your Leaders — to learn and use it. The team has provided a QR code (below) and
hyperlink that takes you to a survey for instant feedback and improvement. Stay tuned for more products and information on the Leader’s Dashboard.
Terminal/Transition Absence Request
A reminder for your Soldiers: when submitting a Terminal/Transition Absence Request, users may receive the following message “no separation assignment found.” This message is just a warning and does not stop the ability for this transition absence to be approved for separation. I will provide more updates on this as I get them.
For information and resources, your Leaders may also visit our website at
https://ipps-a.army.mil/.
Thank you for your continued support and for encouraging your Soldiers. Please let us know if you have any questions or need help — we are here for you!
V/r,
SGM Paul J. Smith
Senior Enlisted Advisor
DCS - G1, IPPS-A FMD
Learn more about IPPS-A