New system helps units account for Soldiers during times of crisis

By: Silas Allen
Missouri National Guard Public Affairs




JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Missouri National Guard has a new resource to help keep track of its Soldiers during times of crisis.

The U.S. Army Disaster Personnel Accountability and Assessment System, commonly known as ADPAAS, was developed by the U.S. Army to help units account for their Soldiers in disaster scenarios such as floods, hurricanes or ice storms.

Lt. Col. John Oberkirsch, the Missouri National Guard's deputy director of G-1, said the system will allow Soldiers to report back to their units with information about their location and situation, meaning units will be able to receive updates in real time from their Soldiers.

"Leadership can see what's going on up to the minute," Oberkirsch said.

In the past, Oberkirsch said, Soldiers could alert their units via telephone or e-mail, or by showing up in person. But if the unit's armory was in an area affected by a disaster, telephone and e-mail communication might not be a possibility.

The system adds a new layer of redundancy, providing new ways for Soldiers to contact their units. Once the system is implemented, Soldiers will be able to report their situations through the system's Web site or through a national toll-free number in addition to contacting their units through traditional means.

Sgt. 1st Class Chad Francis, of the Missouri National Guard's Standard Installation and Division Personnel Reporting System office, said Soldiers will also be able to register their families as well as pets into the system. Developers decided to allow Soldiers to register pets after many pets went missing in Hurricane Katrina. Other than the training, all that will be required of Soldiers is for them to register themselves in the system.

"That way, in the event of an emergency, they're all registered," he said.

Oberkirsch said that each Soldier will be required to complete a training session on the system before Dec. 1, 2009. The training will consist mostly of a Powerpoint presentation. But, he said, the best way to understand the site is by simply looking it over.

"You just need to get in and use it," Oberkirsch said. "It's not a complicated training package. It's pretty straightforward."

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.