Marine Corps Total Force System
Encyclopedia
The Marine Corps Total Force System (MCTFS) is the single, integrated, personnel and pay
system supporting both Active Duty and Reserve components of the Marine Corps
. The system also includes the capability to report certain entries to enhance personnel management for Civilian
s, other service personnel, retired Marines. The MCTFS is jointly sponsored/owned by the Marine Corps
and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service
(DFAS). The MCTFS maintains more than 500,000 Active, Reserve and Retiree records that are available to be processed for pay purposes, personnel management or for the production of necessary management reports. The MCTFS uses a single database
, a single set of edits and a single set of processes to achieve a high degree of integration
to support the Marine Corps
Total Force System (TFS). MCTFS is colloquially referred to as '3270' because the system is accessed through a IBM 3270
terminal emulator.
functionality
for all active and reserve Marines within a single system and personnel management for retirees, by using a single, logical database which incorporates the records of all active, reserve and retired Marines. Additionally, the MCTFS will provide limited functionality for training
and security
management matters that pertain to personnel and pay management.
, processing
, and maintaining
of military personnel
and pay data on a continuing basis within the Marine Corps
. It provides information for pay, personnel administration
, and manpower
management
. It uses an integrated, single logical data base to process transactions
, at one central location at the Defense Enterprise Computing Center (DECC) in St. Louis. This supports all operating forces and supporting establishment organizations, which total over 800 reporting units (RU's). Use of this information facilitates:
and manpower Life Cycle Management (LCM) documentation maintained by the Commandant of the Marine Corps
(Code MIO). Data maintained in MCTFS on Marines is categorized as the Official Electronic Military File (OEMF) for that individual. As such, the OEMF is subordinate in precedence to the Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) maintained by the Commandant of the Marine Corps
(Code MMSB). The data contained in the OEMF must be carefully safeguarded under the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974
. Commanders who fail to do so may be held personally accountable.
Center (DFAS-KC) (though it is physically resident at the DECC Mechanicsburg
) and contains all data elements resident in the MCTFS. Information concerning the overall security parameters of the MCTFS is contained in the MCTFS Decision Paper IV as well as within other chapters of the MCTFSPRIUM. Records containing specified data elements for all military personnel (Active and Reserve components, to include retirees) comprise the Central Master File (CMF). The central database contains all data elements resident in the MCTFS.
Payroll
In a company, payroll is the sum of all financial records of salaries for an employee, wages, bonuses and deductions. In accounting, payroll refers to the amount paid to employees for services they provided during a certain period of time. Payroll plays a major role in a company for several reasons...
system supporting both Active Duty and Reserve components of the Marine Corps
Marine corps
A marine is a member of a force that specializes in expeditionary operations such as amphibious assault and occupation. The marines traditionally have strong links with the country's navy...
. The system also includes the capability to report certain entries to enhance personnel management for Civilian
Civilian
A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...
s, other service personnel, retired Marines. The MCTFS is jointly sponsored/owned by the Marine Corps
Marine corps
A marine is a member of a force that specializes in expeditionary operations such as amphibious assault and occupation. The marines traditionally have strong links with the country's navy...
and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service
Defense Finance and Accounting Service
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service is an agency of the United States Department of Defense that provides finance and accounting services for the civil and military members of the Department. Headquartered in Indianapolis, IN, it was activated on Jan. 18, 1991...
(DFAS). The MCTFS maintains more than 500,000 Active, Reserve and Retiree records that are available to be processed for pay purposes, personnel management or for the production of necessary management reports. The MCTFS uses a single database
Database
A database is an organized collection of data for one or more purposes, usually in digital form. The data are typically organized to model relevant aspects of reality , in a way that supports processes requiring this information...
, a single set of edits and a single set of processes to achieve a high degree of integration
System integration
In engineering, system integration is the bringing together of the component subsystems into one system and ensuring that the subsystems function together as a system...
to support the Marine Corps
Marine corps
A marine is a member of a force that specializes in expeditionary operations such as amphibious assault and occupation. The marines traditionally have strong links with the country's navy...
Total Force System (TFS). MCTFS is colloquially referred to as '3270' because the system is accessed through a IBM 3270
IBM 3270
The IBM 3270 is a class of block oriented terminals made by IBM since 1972 normally used to communicate with IBM mainframes. As such, it was the successor to the IBM 2260 display terminal. Due to the text colour on the original models, these terminals are informally known as green screen terminals...
terminal emulator.
Mission
The mission of the MCTFS is to provide integrated personnel and payPayroll
In a company, payroll is the sum of all financial records of salaries for an employee, wages, bonuses and deductions. In accounting, payroll refers to the amount paid to employees for services they provided during a certain period of time. Payroll plays a major role in a company for several reasons...
functionality
Function (engineering)
In engineering, a function is interpreted as a specific process, action or task that a system is able to perform .-In engineering design:In the lifecycle of engineering projects, there are usually distinguished subsequently: Requirements and Functional specification documents. The Requirements...
for all active and reserve Marines within a single system and personnel management for retirees, by using a single, logical database which incorporates the records of all active, reserve and retired Marines. Additionally, the MCTFS will provide limited functionality for training
Training
The term training refers to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills and knowledge that relate to specific useful competencies. It forms the core of apprenticeships and provides the backbone of content at institutes of...
and security
Security
Security is the degree of protection against danger, damage, loss, and crime. Security as a form of protection are structures and processes that provide or improve security as a condition. The Institute for Security and Open Methodologies in the OSSTMM 3 defines security as "a form of protection...
management matters that pertain to personnel and pay management.
Purpose
The system provides for recordingRecording
Recording is the process of capturing data or translating information to a recording format stored on some storage medium, which is often referred to as a record or, if an auditory medium, a recording....
, processing
Data processing
Computer data processing is any process that a computer program does to enter data and summarise, analyse or otherwise convert data into usable information. The process may be automated and run on a computer. It involves recording, analysing, sorting, summarising, calculating, disseminating and...
, and maintaining
Maintaining
Maintaining was a comic strip by cartoonist Nate Creekmore. Nate is a two-time winner of the Scripps College Cartoonist of the Year and an Associated Press award for achievement in college cartooning. Nate's strip first appeared in the newspaper at Lipscomb University in Nashville. Maintaining was...
of military personnel
Military personnel
Military personnel is a blanket term used to refer to members of any armed force. Usually, military personnel are divided into branches of service roughly defined by certain circumstances of the deployment of the personnel. Those who serve in a typical large land force are soldiers, making up an...
and pay data on a continuing basis within the Marine Corps
Marine corps
A marine is a member of a force that specializes in expeditionary operations such as amphibious assault and occupation. The marines traditionally have strong links with the country's navy...
. It provides information for pay, personnel administration
Military administration
Military administration identifies both the techniques and systems used by military departments, agencies, and Armed Services involved in the management of the armed forces...
, and manpower
Manpower
Manpower may refer to:*Human resourcesOrganizations:*Manpower Inc., an international employment agency, headquartered in the United States*Manpower Incorporated, a criminal enterprise in the Honor Harrington science fiction series...
management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
. It uses an integrated, single logical data base to process transactions
Database transaction
A transaction comprises a unit of work performed within a database management system against a database, and treated in a coherent and reliable way independent of other transactions...
, at one central location at the Defense Enterprise Computing Center (DECC) in St. Louis. This supports all operating forces and supporting establishment organizations, which total over 800 reporting units (RU's). Use of this information facilitates:
- Planning and execution of manpower personnel functions, including:
- Personnel Management/Accountability/Security.
- Military pay.
- Training.
- Distribution.
- AssignmentAssignment'Assignment may refer to:* Assignment , a type of modification to a variable* Assignment , a task given to students by their teachers to be completed out of the class time....
/MobilizationMobilizationMobilization is the act of assembling and making both troops and supplies ready for war. The word mobilization was first used, in a military context, in order to describe the preparation of the Prussian army during the 1850s and 1860s. Mobilization theories and techniques have continuously changed...
. - PromotionPromotion (rank)A promotion is the advancement of an employee's rank or position in an organizational hierarchy system. Promotion may be an employee's reward for good performance i.e. positive appraisal...
. - Classification.
- SeparationSeparation (United States military)In the U.S. armed forces, separation means that a person is leaving active duty, but not necessarily leaving the service entirely. Separation typically occurs when someone reaches the date of their Expiration of Term of Service and are released from active duty, but still must complete their...
. - PreparationPreparationPreparation may refer to:* Preparedness* Prepared food* Prepared supplement* Prepared drug* Prepared dosage form* Preparation , the method by which a tooth is prepared when removing decay and designing a form that will provide adequate retention for a dental restoration* Preparation , treatment of...
of budgetBudgetA budget is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods...
s. - Development of improved manpower management techniques.
- Recruiting.
- Recording historical data of the U.S. Marine CorpsMarine corpsA marine is a member of a force that specializes in expeditionary operations such as amphibious assault and occupation. The marines traditionally have strong links with the country's navy...
.
Reporting purposes
The data collection of the MCTFS is based on the principle of singular reporting. Whenever practical, an event is reported when and where it occurs to ensure accuracy and timeliness of reporting. An item of information is entered into the system only once; thereafter, only changes, deletions, or corrections to this information are reported. MCTFS uses a centralized strategy and management style with decentralized execution at the lowest reporting level. The information maintained within the MCTFS is used for the functions described above. Additionally, the purposes for which information is maintained within the MCTFS are adequately described per the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974Privacy Act of 1974
The Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. § 552a, Public Law No. 93-579, establishes a Code of Fair Information Practice that governs the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of personally identifiable information about individuals that is maintained in systems of records by federal agencies...
and manpower Life Cycle Management (LCM) documentation maintained by the Commandant of the Marine Corps
Commandant of the Marine Corps
The Commandant of the Marine Corps is normally the highest ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff...
(Code MIO). Data maintained in MCTFS on Marines is categorized as the Official Electronic Military File (OEMF) for that individual. As such, the OEMF is subordinate in precedence to the Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) maintained by the Commandant of the Marine Corps
Commandant of the Marine Corps
The Commandant of the Marine Corps is normally the highest ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff...
(Code MMSB). The data contained in the OEMF must be carefully safeguarded under the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974
Privacy Act of 1974
The Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. § 552a, Public Law No. 93-579, establishes a Code of Fair Information Practice that governs the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of personally identifiable information about individuals that is maintained in systems of records by federal agencies...
. Commanders who fail to do so may be held personally accountable.
Reporting feedback
Prompt and complete feedback is essential in the MCTFS. Reporting Units (RU) are provided access to several files holding cyclic data retrievable by the unit as desired. This feedback results in the reentry of corrected data, if required. Usage of the information contained in the data files depicted in the MCTFS Input/Output Model Figure 1-1 of the MCTFS PRIUM is encouraged by all levels of command and management. Feedback to these levels of command and management via reports and to the RU's via online files is critical to the quality control of information within the MCTFS.MCTFS database
The MCTFS central database is maintained by DFAS, Kansas CityKansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
Center (DFAS-KC) (though it is physically resident at the DECC Mechanicsburg
Mechanicsburg
Mechanicsburg is the name of some places in the United States of America:*Mechanicsburg, Illinois*Mechanicsburg, Boone County, Indiana*Mechanicsburg, Henry County, Indiana*Mechanicsburg, Ohio*Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania...
) and contains all data elements resident in the MCTFS. Information concerning the overall security parameters of the MCTFS is contained in the MCTFS Decision Paper IV as well as within other chapters of the MCTFSPRIUM. Records containing specified data elements for all military personnel (Active and Reserve components, to include retirees) comprise the Central Master File (CMF). The central database contains all data elements resident in the MCTFS.