If you do NOT see the Table of Contents frame to the left of this page, then
Click here to open 'USArmyGermany' frameset

US Army Data Processing Units
Division - Corps - Field Army - Theater

Looking for more information from military/civilian personnel assigned to or associated with the U.S. Army in Germany from 1945 to 1989. If you have any stories or thoughts on the subject, please contact me.


Doctrine

Machine Record Units

CSC Spt Gp, Eur

USAREUR DP Center

Com Z DP Center
MOBIDIC

MATCOM DP Center

TASCOM (Supply)

7th Army Logistics
MASS
7th ICC
MILSTRIP
SEACAPS

9th Hosp Center

Corps Data Centers

Division Data Centers

Berlin Bde DP

Data Gateway Station

Related Links
MRU Units

DP Units
2nd DPU
4th DPU
7th DPU
9th DPU
11th DPU
16th DPU
17th DPU
19th DPU
25th DPU
36th DPU
65th DPU

DP Installations
DPI M056
DPI M103
DPI M127
DPI M130
DPI M202
(looking for more)

The Early Days - Machine Record Units
 

The IBM Punch Card Systems in the US Army, Charles M. Province
(Click on image to open the page)
 
Mr. Province provides some great information - based on first-hand experience - on the electronic accounting machines used by Machine Record units for personnel and supply accounting from the 1940s to the mid-1960s when they were replaced by second-generation computers, such as the RCA 301 and 501 systems.


IBM 705 Electronic Data Processing Machine, mid-1950s
 
1959
(Source: Introduction to Automatic Data Processing, ST 11-183, US Army Signal School, Fort Monmouth, NJ, 1 Oct 1959)
Chapter 4 (Applications of ADPS) includes a description of the TAGO Automatic Data Processing System.

In March 1957, an IBM Type 705 data processing system was installed at the Pentagon to help improve the Army's personnel administration and record keeping process though automation. The new system was comprised of the large scale computer and a supporting transceiver communications network.

A description of this network has been scanned and is available in a PDF file.

If anyone has more details on this system and on the USAREUR Machine Records Units and Signal units (transceiver network) that played a role in delivering corresponding personnel data to the Pentagon, please contact the webmaster.

USAREUR Data Processing Center
 
1964
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, Aug 1 1964)
USAREUR Adjutant General (AG) Division is consolidating (during August) its data processing units.

The DP units are as follows (Source: STATION LIST, 30 June 1964):
4th AG DP Unit (Mbl)(Type Z), Patch Bks, Vaihingen (TOE 12-510D58) -- 7th Army Special Troops
11th AG DP Unit (Mbl)(Type Z), Patton Bks, Heidelberg (TOE 12-510D58) -- Special Troops, USAREUR
36th AG DP Unit (Mbl)(Type Z), Patch Bks, Vaihingen (TOE 12-510D58) -- 7th Army Special Troops
65th AG DP Unit (Mbl)(Type Z), Patton Bks, Heidelberg (TOE 12-510D58) -- Special Troops, USAREUR

Among other advantages, the consolidation will facilitate standardization of operating procedures and elimination of duplicate management functions at each DP unit.

The mission of the DP units is to operate the Data Processing Branch of the AG Division. The Division is responsible for collecting, auditing, and maintaining personnel, organizational and equipment data from personnel actions, administration sections and units. The Branch furnishes timely information and generates reports, statistics, programs and records requested by the Dept of the Army, HQ USAREUR and local commands.

Communications Zone Data Processing Center
 
1964
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, May 12 1964)
Unit Data Processing Equipment School

The Unit Data Processing Equipment School (UDPES) is operated at Maison Fort, France by Com Z Hq. The school provides qualified operators and supervisors for punch-card operated automatic data processing systems of all US military forces in Europe and the Mediterranean.

Graduates of UDPES come from Army, Air Force and Navy units in Europe, with ranks ranging from private to colonel; also US employees from the three services and local nationals hired by the US military in host nations.

Until April of this year, the school offered four separate courses:
a three-week course in basic machine operation;
a one-week course in the operation of the IBM-604 calculator;
a two-week basic course for the IBM-407 accounting machine;
a one-week advanced course for the IBM-407.

As of April, all four courses have been merged into one general course.

 
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, Oct 15 1964)
In 1964, two computer service centers, one at Maison Fort (Orleans) and the other at Verdun, were formed as part of the Com Z's new integrated materiel inventory management system. The objective of the new system was to consolidate the existing seven technical supply control activities (1) and convert them to one centralized operation.

(Webmaster Note: the center in Maison Fort, Orleans, handles supply control; the one in Verdun handles stock control. Each of the original supply control activities had their own computer hardware - different makes and models. Between 1964 and 1967 when Com Z was forced to move to Germany, efforts were made to standardize when acquiring newer computers for the two centers.)

The new integrated materiel inventory management system will cover all facets of materiel planning, supply management, stock accounting, financial accounting, depot supply operations and depot maintenance.

The two computer service centers will not duplicate each other's processing, but each will share the work load using the same data.This information will be updated at each data processing center on a daily basis.

More than 300,000 different items are handled daily in the Com Z. Half of these are under Com Z control and stocked in the command's depots. The command forecasts that its customers will requisition about $400 million worth of items in the next year. The total inventory (including major items) on hand in the depots of the Com Z is worth more than $1.7 billion.
 
(1) (Source: STATION LIST, 31 Dec 1963)
US Army Supply & Maintenance Agency
, Maison Fort, Orleans, France, APO 58
US Army Chemical Control Activity, Poitiers, France, APO 44
US Army Ordnance Control Activity, Maison Fort, Orleans, France, APO 58
US Army Engineer Control Activity, Maison Fort, Orleans, France, APO 58
US Army Medical Control Activity, Poitiers, France, APO 44
US Army Quartermaster Control Activity, Giessen, Germany, APO 169
US Army Transportation Control Activity, Maison Fort, Orleans, France, APO 44
US Army Signal Control Activity, Poitiers, France, APO 44

Materiel Command Data Processing Center
 

USAMATCOMEUR Data Processing Center, Kreuzberg Kaserne, Zweibrücken, 1969
 
1969
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, June 19 1969)
The data processing center operated by MATCOM is located at Kreuzberg Kaserne in Zweibrücken. Its mission is to keep track of the command's $1.5 billion inventory (over 400,000 items). The person in charge of the DP center is a civil service computer programmer, Mr. Zeno S. Stanguilo.

About 325 people work at the center in Kreuzberg Ksn, a mix of military, DAC's and local national civilians. They handle more than 250,000 requisitions a month. About 100 of the staff work directly with the computers. Of these, 38 operators work in two rooms with large key-punch machines.

90 percent of the requisitions are received through a complex transceiver network that connects the various MATCOM sites. The transceivers are card-punch machines that are tied directly to the Zweibrücken center through telephone lines. The other 10 percent are either mailed or hand-carried to the center.

Once a requisition is received it is grouped with others and processed into the system. The computers are programmed to determine if items are available, in what quantity and where they are located (in which depot) and then notify the center of the results of the search. The computers can also determine if an item is in short supply. Personnel review the shortage list weekly and make a decision if a reorder is required. Four different criteria are used to make that decision:
-- quantity (of that item) on hand
-- priority of the need
-- quantity already ordered (and expected to arrive at Bremerhaven)
-- quanitity already in use

Under Operation FRELOC in 1967, all of the computers of the two data processing centers were loaded onto rail cars and moved to Kreuznach Kaserne in Zweibrücken. Only early this year were the computers moved from the rail cars (located at Hochmühlbach) and installed at the DP Center in Zweibrücken.


Fact Sheet: TASCOM (Supply) System, 1972
 

Seventh Army Card Processing System (SEACAPS)
 
1964
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, Oct 19, 1968)
The Seventh Army Card Processing System (SEACAPS) is an automated spare-parts supply management system. It is part of a program initiated in the early 1960s with the goal of converting USAREUR divisions to the Combat Service Support System which puts a multi-functional medium-size computer at the division-level.

The brain of the system is the UNIVAC 1005 Card Processor, an improvement over the UNIVAC 1004 (the plug-board program was replaced by an internal stored program). In addition to the 1005, the system is also comprised of a 1004 Card Reader and 1004 Card Punch. The 1005 is fed pre-punched cards that contain information on the spare parts that a division battalion needs. It matches that request with information on parts that are on hand and determines if the request can be filled or if the request needs to be sent to a higher level.

Each battalion keeps the pre-punched cards for the supplies that they are authorized to stock.

Division Data Centers
 

The Division Data Center under DISCOM, 1972 (FM 12-4, 1972)
 
1972
(Source: FM 12-4, Division/Separate Brigade Adjutant General, September 1972)

Division Data Center

a. Organization. The Division Data Center (DDC) is organized as shown in the above figure. It contains an office of the DDC (ADPS operations officer), an ADP rnanagement and planning section, a systems maintenance sectlon, an ADP operations section, a files malntenance and document control section, and an equipment maintenance section.

b. Mission, Assignment, and Capabilities.
(1) Mission. The mission of the DISCOM DDC is to provide automated data processing service to support the division logistics system (DLOGS) and the personnel management and accounting card processor system (PERMACAPS) in the accomplishment of personnel, pay, and selected logistic functions to include maintenance reporting and management. This mission includes ADP support to the functional personnel and administrative services elements under the staff supervision and direction of the division adjutant general.

(2) Assigment. The dlvision data center is organic to the headquarters and headquarters company, division support command.

(3) Capabilities. The division data center has the following capabilities:
(a) lnstalls, operates, and maintains automatic data processing equipment and associated equipment organic to the unit.

(b) Provides operational automatic data processing support for personnel, pay, and selected logistics functions of the division.

(c) Operates, as required, as a centralized facility in one location or as a decentralized (split) facility in two separate locations.

(d) Contains personnel and equipment to operate on a two-shift basis.

(e) Performs organizational maintenance on ADP equipment and generators.

(f) Is fifty percent mobile in organic vehicles.


c. Employment. The division data center is capable of operating in both garrison and field environments. In a garrison operation, the division data center operates as a single, centralized entity. In field operations, the division data center is split, with one element located in the division rear to provide ADP support for personnel and pay functions and the other element located in the main support area to provide ADP support for selected logistic functios. The exception to this rule is when the division rear is collocated with the HQ DISCOM in the main support area. When the division data center is split, personnel and equipment assets are divided to assure that each computer complex is capable of providing adequate and efficient service to major users (one of whom is the division adjutant general).

d. Command and Staff Relationships.
(1) DISCOM commander. The DISCOM commander commands and controls the division data center and coordinates its use with all major users through his DDC ADPS operations officer in accordance with organizational policies outlined in paragraph 1-7, AR 18-1.

(2) Adjutant general. The adjutant general is a major user ot the DDC. He provides input directly to the DDC within policies established by DA and the division commander and as implemented by the DISCOM commander. Output is received directly by adjutant general functional elements from the DDC for appropriate checks and distribution to product users as required. Conflicts in policies ooncerning input, output, and other support furnished the adjutant general by the DDC are resolved between the adjutant general and the DISCOM commander.

3) Split concept employment control. When the DDC is split in a field or combat situation, the DOC element which performs the personnel and pay functions operates in the vicinity of the division rear under the direct supervision and control of the OIC, division rear.


(4) DDC ADPS operations officer. This officer supervises DDC operations for the DISCOM commander and maintains close liaison with major users. He resolves operating, programing, work-flow, and associated problems with major functional users of the division on a direct coordination basis. Conflicts are referred to the DISCOM commander by the DDC ADPS operations officer, and to the adjutant general by bis functional element users.

(5) Functional element chiefs, office of the adjutant general. Division and branch chiefs of the office of the adjutant general coordinate their ADP support needs directly with the DDC ADP operations officer. They also receive and check output from the DDC and effect distribution to division staff and command elements.

e. Concept of Operations.
(1) General. Whether the DDC is in a split or consolidated configuration, it furnishes ADP support incident to requirements of the office ot the adjutant general and its functional elements in personnel and administrative direct support matters. DDC support includes application of programs prescribed by the personnel management and accounting card processor (PERMACAP) system (see AR 680-4 and DA Pam 600-8) and other programs and tasks prescribed by the DISCOM commander.

(2) lnput. The division data center, through its ADP operations section, performs the data reduction which applies to personnel (and pay) functions by keypunching from hard-copy documents to card machine input media. The adjutant general company has the capability to produce certain personnel input transactions on paper tape through use of the automatic typewriter (by-products of special orders). The DDC converts paper tape to card input or uses it for direct input to the ADPE. Personnel and pay input is handcarried to the DDC by AG company personnel (and the finance company personnel) since no data transceiving capability is authorized these users.

(3) Output. After the input has been processed, output (reports, cards, etc.) is returned to the AG Company (or finance company). Each functional element user provides a screening capability to insure output is correct and complete. Users are also responsible to coordinate related files maintenance and document control to resolve input, processing, and output errors. Methods of distributing recurring and special reports
may be mutually agreed upon which are advantageous to supported divisional units, the functional elements of the office of the adjutant general, and the DDC.

(4) Principal personnel function. In the personnel function, field army data processing activity {DPA) interface cards are created during the update of the division personnel management and accounting card processor {RCS AG-552) (Acronym PERMACAP) files which are maintained in the DDC for the division adjutant general. These cards contain information for updating the officer and enlisted personnel data banks at Department of the Army. The DDC coordinates with the division adjutant general in transmitting these cards to the DPA for further processing and transmission to DA. The technical requirements concerning the DPA interface with the DDC are contained in Army Regulations 680-4 (PERMACAP). Feeder data to support the preparation and maintenance of PERMACAP files is received on a cyclic basis from the PSD, offlce of the adjutant genera].

(5) Military pay. Members of the division are paid under JUMPS Army. The DDC converts the hard copy transaction to JUMPS - Army punch card input format and furnishes these cards to the division flnance officer who verifies transactions and transrnits them through AUTODIN facilities to the Finance Center, US Army Finance Support Agency (USAFSA), Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, for computation of military pay. Individuals are subsequently paid according to prearranged selected options, to include individual's election to be paid once or twice each month by either cash or check for each payment. He may elect to receive mid-month and end­of-month payments and also have monies accrue in his account payable on demand by the local ftnance officer.

f. Functions.
(1) Office of the DDC section. This section is the control element of the center. It consists of the ADPS operations officer, and the administrative personnel and facilities by which he exercises control over the DDC. The ADPS operations officer serves as the principal advisor to the DISCOM commander on all matters pertaining to ADP operations in the division. This section performs the following functions:

(a) Exercises management and operational control over all DDC operations and insures proper allocation of resources to accomplish the DDC mission.

(b) Develops policies to insure efficient and effective utilization of DDC personnel and equipment.

(c) Plans, coordinates, and performs administrative and logistical activities necessary to support the DDC.

(d) Coordinates with user activities, implements policies of higher headquarters, and advises the DISCOM commander.

(2) ADP management and planning section. This section consists of the deputy chief/operations officer of the DDC, accounting machine supervisor, and general clerk. It is responsible for control of manual files maintenance, document control, general scheduling, and reports generation within the DDC. The ADP management and planning section functions are to:

(a) Coordinate and establish scheduling of functions and processing of workload for the DDC.

(b) Coordinate the receipt of input and the distribution of output for the DDC.

(c) Exercise supervision over all card files.

(d) Provide supervision over general systerns design and programing.

(e) Coordinate the activities of the systems maintenance section and the files maintenance and document control section.

(3) Systems maintenance section. This section is composed of the senior systems analyst and programers. It is responsible for design and programing of all special one-time reports required by the division, and for accomplishing program changes directed by higher headquarsters. The systems maintenance functions are to:

(a) Perform systems analysis and programing for the DDC.

(b) Implement DA directed modifications to DA developed programs.

(c) Research, design, and program local systems and reports.

(d) Maintain all prograrn and run instructions within the DDC.

(4) Files maintenance and docunent control section. This section is composed of analysts and specialists in the personnel, pay, and logistics functional areas. It monitors and controls the flow of input to the DDC and conversely, the machine output from the DDC to the systems users. The functions of this section are to:


(a) Provide detailed control of all files and documents internal to the DDC.

(b) Maintain all card flies in the DDC.

(c) Coordinate with supported units to insure proper operation of the total system.

(d) Check for erroneous data generated by the system and assist users and system maintenance personnel in determining problems and corrective measures required.

(e) Maintain all record input to the DDC to include scheduling, logging, and editing.

(f) Release all record output from the DDC to include scheduling, logging, and editing.

(g) Monitor work flow of production runs through the DDC.

(5) ADP operations section. This section is composed of data processing technicians, and ADP and associated equipment operators. The chief of this section is responsible for the daily operations of the ADPE within the DDC, and has supervisory control over card punch, machine operations and equipment maintenance. He is further reaponsible for detailed scheduling of machine operation and for training of operator personnel. The functions of this section are to:

(a) Conduct a two-shift operation.

(b) Schedule the daily workload of the user in each function, based on a general schedule provided by the ADP management and planning section.

(c) Tailor the strength of each shift of each computer complex to meet anticipated workloads.

(d) Insure proper utilization and maintenance of the computer equipment and deter mine changes in processing as required.

(e) Conduct training of operators in the proper methods of machine and systems operation.

(f) Operate the central processor and ADP peripheral and auxiliary equipment required to produce the user reports.

(g) Perform data reduction of user hard copy input to machine readable form.

(6) ADP and generator maintenance section. The personnel in this section are those required to perform DDC equipment maintenance. This section operates in close coordination with the ADP operations section. lts functions are to:

(a) Provide generator produced electrical power for the DDC when needed.

(b) Maintain all ADP equipment within the DDC.

(c) Maintain all generators assigned to the DDC.

(d) Coordinate with contract engineer provided by manufacturer to assist in proper operation and maintenance of ADP equipment in the DOC.

Reference
Army Regulation 18-1 contains the details of objectives and policies for Army Information Systems.


 

The Division Data Center under DISCOM, 1976 (FM 54-2, 1976)
 
1976
(Source: FM 54-2, The Division Support Command and Separate Brigade Support Battalions, September 1976)
Automatic Data Processing Officer

The automatic data processing officer serves as chief of the Division Data Center (DDC) and as the division automation management officer (DAMO). In each DISCOM there is an office of the DDC, an ADPS operations section, and an ADP maintenance section. The DDC provides the personnel, data processing equipment (which is 100 percent mobile), and other equipment necessary to provide data processing service to the staffs and units of the division in the accomplishment of personnel and administrative logistics functions; i.e., the Standard Installation and Division Personnel System (SIDPERS); some pay support functions; property book functions; division logistics system (DLOGS) class IX (repair parts) supply (except medical, ADPE when under contract, and COMSEC); and maintenance reporting and management (MRM) as a subsystem supporting the division maintenance function (for more details, see AR 18-7).

(1) Office of the DDC. This section is the control element of the center. The ADP officer exercises overall command and control of the DDC. The office of the DDC is staffed to perform the following functions:

(a) Exercises management and operational control over all DDC operations and insures proper allocations of resources to accomplish the DDC mission.

(b) Develops policies to insure efficient and effective utilization of DDC personnel and equipment.

(c) Plans, coordinates, and performs administrative and logistical activities necessary to support the DDC.

(d) Coordinates with user activities and implements policies of higher headquarters.

(e) Performs systems analysis and programing for the DDC.

(f) Implements DA directed modifications to DA developed programs.

(g) Researches, designs, and programs local systems and reports.

(h) Maintains all programs and runs instructions.

(i) Plans for integration of data bases of newly assigned or attached units.

(j) Through programer analysts and control specialists, monitors and controls all input into the DDC and, conversely, the machine output to the systems users; provides detailed control of all files and documents internal to the DDC; maintains systems and coordinates with supported units to insure proper operation of all applicable systems; checks for erroneous data generated by the system, and assists users and systems maintenance personnel in determining problems and corrective measures required; maintains record of all input to and release of output from the DDC to include scheduling, logging, and editing; and monitors work flow of production runs through the DDC.

(2) ADP Operations Section. This section is composed of data processing technicians, and ADP and associated equipment operators. The chief of this section is responsible for the daily operations of the ADPE within the DDC. He is further responsible for detailed scheduling of machine operation and for training of operator personnel. The functions of this section are to:

(a) Conduct a two-shift operation.

(b) Schedule the daily workload of the user in each function, based on a general schedule provided by the ADP management and planning section.

(c) Tailor the strength of each shift to meet anticipated workloads.

(d) Insure proper utilization, and maintenance of the computer equipment and determine changes in processing as required.

(e) Conduct training of operators in the proper methods of machine and systems operation.

(f) Operate the central processor and ADP peripheral and auxiliary equipment required to produce the user reports.

(3) ADPS Maintenance Section. The personnel in this section are those required to perform DDC equipment maintenance. This section operates in close coordination with the ADP operations section. Its functions are to:

(a) Provide generator produced electrical power for the DDC when needed.

(b) Maintain all ADP equipment within the DDC.

(c) Maintain all generators assigned to the DDC.

(d) Coordinate with contract engineer provided by manufacturer to assist in proper operation and maintenance of ADP equipment in the DDC.

(e) Maintain all air conditioning equipment assigned to the DDC.

(f) Maintain computer, generators and air conditioner PLL.

 
Links to Division DDC's:
3rd Infantry Division DDC (Larson Bks, Kitzingen)
8th Infantry Division DDC (Rose Bks, Bad Kreuznach)
1st Armored Division DDC (Monteith Bks, Führt)
3rd Armored Division DDC (Drake Ksn, Frankfurt)
 

Berlin Brigade Data Processing
 

UNIVAC 9300 (Museum of Computer and Communication Technology)
 
1969
(Source: STARS & STRIPES, Aug 29, 1969)
The first UNIVAC 9300 computer to be used by the US Army will soon be installed at Berlin Brigade headquarters. The computer will be operated by the headquarter's data processing branch. The data processing branch is a centralized data processing unit under the ACofS, Comptroller. The unit provides data processing services to the US Army, Berlin and Tempelhof Air Base.

Projects to be processed by the UNIVAC 9300:
military pay
personnel accounting
stock accounting & inventory control
appropriation accounting
blank forms inventory
and various other projects

The computer consists of a CPU with 16,000 memory positions, four magnetic tape drives, a card reaerd and card punch, and a printer capable of 600 lines per minute.

 
Related Links: