Marine Corps Total Force System

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 Civilians, 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 an IBM 3270 terminal emulator.

Mission
The mission of the MCTFS is to provide integrated personnel and pay 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.

Purpose
The system provides for recording, 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:
 * Planning and execution of manpower personnel functions, including:
 * Personnel Management/Accountability/Security
 * Military pay
 * Training
 * Distribution
 * Assignment/Mobilization
 * Promotion
 * Classification
 * Separation
 * Preparation of budgets
 * Development of improved manpower management techniques
 * Recruiting


 * Recording historical data of the U.S. Marine Corps

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 1974 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.

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 City 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.