What is the "base service date"?
Unlike OMS, the IPS application does not use service credits to account for gaps in service. Instead, it uses "base service date" (a date field in IPS) that IPS users use to account for gaps in service. In 2021, the IPS and OMS applications were updated so the base service date was not used in OMS calculations. This was good for OMS because of the many issues caused by the base service date and the intent was for IPS to begin using service credits (IPS is still not using service credits).
Therefore, the adjusted service date in OMS does not reference the base service date (BSD) field in IPS. Usually, the base service date matches the commissioning date so in most cases OMS users had never notice any discrepancy.
When there are gaps in service, OMS territories should add service credits in OMS and should NOT use the “base service date” field in IPS.
Since the base service date is no longer referenced some records may show a different length of service than before. Records where the BSD is different than the commission date will need to be updated. Please follow the instructions below.
In addition, a service credit will need to be added to records where there is a difference between the commission date and base service date (the amount of the credit will be the difference between the two dates). When an officer is identified where there is a difference (between the commission date and base service date - thus needing a credit) follow the instructions below.
Instructions for Updating Records
What needs to be done:
Open the record in OMS.
Save the record from the personal information screen. No changes need to be made before saving. This will ensure that OMS recognizes a change has been made and refresh the adjusted service date and length of service calculations.
Open the record in IPS.
Change the IPS base service date to match the commissioning date. This will also help the adjusted service date matches the commissioning date.
Return to OMS.
Add a service credit/debit to balance all officer records and add a comment to note why the credit is there. Users can use the "Service Credit" and "Service Penalty" credit types to balance records. For help, review this article.
Once this is done for a record the following should happen:
The adjusted service date will update. If the credit was added properly, then on most records the ASD should be what was previously in the base service date field.
The length of service will update.
The base service date in IPS will update to match the newly calculated adjusted service date. See below for the reason why.
Calculation Logic:
The adjusted service date is NOT influenced by manual changes to the base service date.
Old way ASD was calculated in OMSNext:
Base Service Date +/- Service Credits = Adjusted Service Date
New way ASD is calculated in OMSNext:
Commission Date +/- Service Credits = Adjusted Service Date
The length of service calculation does NOT reference the base service date in IPS. LoS is calculated in OMSNext:
Today's Date - Commission Date +/- Service Credits = Length of Service
There is logic for OMS to update the base service date in IPS:
If the base service date (BSD) = the adjusted service date (ASD) and the ASD is updated by adding credits in OMS then the BSD will be updated to match the ASD.