IPPS-A, or Integrated Personnel Pay System, is a system for the US military that will change the way the Army pays its soldiers. It is expected to be deployed by 2025. However, there are some concerns. This article explores the cost and impacts of the program, and how the Army can mitigate these concerns.
Integrated Personnel Pay System – Army (IPPS-A)
The Integrated Personnel and Pay System for Army (IPPS-A), or iPPS, is a new system for managing Army Soldiers’ human resources and pay. The new system uses online tools and replaces older human resource systems. It aims to make human resource management simpler, easier, and faster.
Its capabilities are extensive. It supports the entire Army, including the active and Reserve components. It manages Soldier HR records from accession through separation. It also interfaces with the Defense Joint Military Pay System. Integrated Pay System will enable the Army to manage the pay and personnel of its entire force.
The IPPS-A will modernize Army Human Resources and develop a talent management system. It will also improve access, timeliness, and auditability of Army pay and personnel information. It is a major leap forward in Army HR. It will help the Army reduce IT costs, improve Soldier readiness, and improve Soldiers’ lives.
Test phase for release 3 moved from September 2021 to June 2022
The Army has delayed the test phase for IPPS-A by one year. The delay is to help the Army prepare for the new systems before they’re put into use by soldiers. The Army will bring in users from the field to test the system during this time.
The delay is due to data issues, Army officials said. However, the delayed date won’t affect Soldiers who are currently using the legacy human resources systems. Soldiers will still be able to access their legacy HR systems until the new systems are fully implemented. If they have issues, they should contact their personnel offices and leadership chains of command.
Impact on Soldiers
While IPPS-A may not come online immediately, it will be a big step forward for the military and will help soldiers stay up to date with their records. The new system will allow soldiers to request leave from their smartphone and track it through the chain of command. It will also replace older systems for HR and leave requests. The Army is currently testing the new system and will roll it out in September 2022.
The Army’s new human resources system, called IPPS-A, is coming online in September. Before IPPS-A goes live, soldiers will need to update their records to be compatible with the new system. They will also have to validate and certify them. The Army Reserve’s CSM Andrew Lombardo describes the new system and the challenges it poses for the military.
Cost
The Army awarded CACI an initial contract worth $159 million in 2015. They renewed the contract in 2018 and are planning to spend another $112.5 million on IPPS-A. This contract will replace the Army’s legacy systems and modernize personnel operations. CACI specializes in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)-based systems and serves more than 100 government agencies. Its solutions increase system productivity, enhance business processes and enable cost-effective measurement of results.
The Army’s IPPS-A personnel system is a major overhaul of the existing system. It was originally slated to roll out to the active-duty and reserve forces by December 2019, but that date has been delayed to September 2022. It is the third and final release of the system, and has already undergone several delays and cost growths. The first phase of the implementation was pushed back to October 2014, and the second phase is now scheduled for the mid-2020s.
Cyber protection measures
The Army’s IPPS-A has implemented several cyber protection measures to protect Soldiers’ personnel and pay data. These measures include electronic signatures, audit trails of all transactions, and encryption of data. They are also designed to improve personnel management and compliance with Army requirements. These improvements will help maintain the accuracy of personnel and pay information and detect transaction discrepancies. They will also provide a centralized personnel and pay system accessible only to authorized users.
Cyber protection measures are a vital part of military planning, and IPPS-A has worked with the Army National Guard to implement these measures in a way that protects the army’s sensitive information. They also assist in identifying potential threats and reducing risks to various entities.