Say goodbye to military personnel records. The labor-intensive tasks are being handled by AI for the Army.
The service is requesting proposals for AI-driven HR solutions to replace outdated troop documentation practices. According to authorities speaking at the annual meeting of the Association of the United States Army on Tuesday, a “disruptive technology pilot” connected to the Army’s Integrated Personnel and Pay System–Army (IPPS-A) is planned for the upcoming year.
The HR Intelligent Engagement Platform pilot aims to “push the envelope” by integrating smart technology into existing processes, according to Col. Matt Paul, IPPS-A project manager.
“We’re doing some prototyping through the Army’s open solicitation and a competitive down-select process to see how we can use AI.” They want to look into how AI can increase the effectiveness of their numerous HR and non-HR-related processes, Paul told the Army Times.
A mobile help desk and leave forms
Officials are evaluating an agentic AI technology that could act as a help desk for soldiers in the IPPS. Paul brought up a smartphone app for diagnosing and resolving issues. In the future, AI might be utilized to automatically initiate HR transactions and create forms.
He explained that if a soldier needed leave documentation, they would be asked. After responding, the soldier can obtain an authorized leave form.
“The IPPS-A team is expected to award a contract for the pilot program this year, but there is no set timeline for its deployment,” Paul said.
The $600 million IPPS-A program was finally launched in January 2023 after years of delays. Users have complained about the system, especially in its early stages. Authorities stated that they are continuously implementing updates and soliciting feedback as new procedures are integrated from existing systems.
IPPS-A growing pains
In May of last year, IPPS-A began generating DD-214 discharge papers so that soldiers could view drafts on their mobile devices and fix any mistakes before leaving the service. The approach was initially referred to as “a minimal viable product” by Col. Becky Lust, director of the Army’s functional management division.
Lus went on, “I don’t think we have added some functionality in any release since then.”
What is to come
Soldiers must make multiple stops at physical locations for paperwork processing and approval during the time-consuming process of checking them into new units and removing them from old ones. IPPS-A officials intend to automate this procedure in the coming months. Paul and Lust said they plan to implement a new mobile-based workflow within eight months.
In order to verify their presence and initiate the military personnel division’s in-processing, soldiers are expected to scan a QR code upon arrival at the location. The IPPS-A would then show them “activity guides,” which would essentially walk them through every place they would need to see.
