Personnelists cut IDs for JBPHH

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Phyllis Keith
  • 624th Regional Support Group Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii --  Five days a week the 624th Regional Support Group here makes ID cards for military retirees, active-duty, Reserve, and Guard, regardless of the branch of service, and family members.

The superintendent of military personnel programs for the 624th RSG, Senior Master Sgt. Jasen Holguin, said that his Air Force Reserve unit had been providing this service since the government shutdown in October 2013. "Because we were on military status we were able to stay open and provide ID card and other Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) services basewide to those who normally would go to one of the ID offices operated by civilian contractors," he said.

Holguin and Master Sgt. Maria Tailo, chief of personnel utilization with the 624th RSG, said that as long as they had the funding to put one of their traditional reservists on orders to man the customer service window, the extra work didn't interfere with the running of their personnel department.

"We're here and if we can lend a hand, we do," Holguin said.

Col. Maynard "Max" Mendoza, commander of the 624th RSG, said that even though his unit had a small footprint on the base, they knew they were integral to the total force. "Since the first government shutdown occurred, we have continued to extend ID card services to the active duty as part of our commitment to total force integration," he said.

Holguin said he estimated his office saw anywhere from six to 20 customers per day, 80 percent of them active duty.

Staff Sgt. Mashwelle Batres, the non-commissioned officer in charge of personnel employment with the 624th RSG, is a traditional reservist who often volunteers for active duty orders to help cut ID cards. She said that a lot of military personnel like to come to the 624th RSG because no appointments were required.

Holguin said that last week they were able to help out a two-star general who was about to retire. "His secretary called and we walked him right in and made his ID card," he said.

"A lot of people think of the Air Force Reserve as just "weekend warriors" who train one weekend a month, but many of us are here fulltime," said Tailo.

To contact the 624th RSG's customer service, call 808-448-3824, or visit them from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 281 Moffet Street, Building 4100, across from the Makai Recreation Center.