3rd Soldier Support Battalion
The 3rd Soldier Support Battalion operates the DS dimension of the personnel information and casualty management systems and to provide essential personnel services to commanders, soldiers, and Army civilians. The PSB commands and controls personnel detachments (two to six) and a modular postal company. The PSB commander also serves as personnel officer to synchronize information between and among units (G1s/S1s). The PSB is responsible for critical tasks associated with the database management of the personnel accounting and strength reporting (PASR), casualty operations management, and personnel information management systems. The PSB is also responsible for identification documents, personnel evaluations, promotions and reductions, officer procurement, and soldier actions.
Tracking, locating, paying and processing soldiers was made easier thanks to a few troops with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Soldier Support Battalion. Microsoft Excel spreadsheets had been used before to track soldiers. These were not very accurate or effective. To remedy this, prior to deployment for SFOR 8, 3rd Soldier Support Battalion began devising a way to improve methods of gaining and maintaining accountability of soldiers, regardless of where they are located in the box. Using the Tactical Personnel System (TPS) extensively, the SSB begins accountability and inprocessing from the information on the manifest. From there, they create a database. Previously, it would take 2-3 hours to manifest personnel. Now the SSB can process 500 personnel in 25 minutes.
