GROTON, Conn. - The Personnel Specialists (PS) and civilians at Personnel Support Detachment (PSD) New London are the hard working administrative people at Naval Submarine Base New London (SUBASE) who deal with numerous challenges for service members across SUBASE.
From pay and travel issues, preparing worksheets and ordering tests for petty officer advancement exams, enrolling the newest members of families in DEERS, to ensuring new identification cards are given to the right personnel, they are all a part of PSD's responsibility.
The job of a Navy PS is broad, as they provide enlisted personnel with information and counseling related to Navy occupations, opportunities for general education and job training, requirements for promotion, and rights and benefits. PS's maintain and audit pay and personnel records of military personnel, and determine military pay and travel entitlements and deductions. They also prepare the financial/ accounting reports related to individual pay and travel transactions, and operate associated accounting systems. PS's also assist enlisted people and their families with special problems or personal hardships.
In 2005, the Navy combined the Personnelman (PN) and Dispersing Clerk (DK) rates and made the Personnel Specialists (PS) rate that exists today.