Publication:Sea Talk Spring 2003/ID cards buy meals
CSI-SC develop new Meal Pass System for military personnel
By Emma Kelly & WO Shakey Lake
In 2002 Corporate Service and Infrastructure – Sydney Central (CSISC) staff have worked with the Garrison Support Services (GSS) contractor (Serco Sodexho Defence Services [SSDS]), and Technology Solutions Pty Ltd to produce the Enhanced Meal Pass System (EMPS).
Under the Enhanced Meal Pass System, military personnel swipe their own existing Military Defence ID card (compulsory in Defence establishments) in newly updated Meal Cipher 510 Machines to purchase meals thereby abolishing the need to have a separate encoded Meal Pass Swipe Card and the chance for error.
The new system not only saves CSISC money but is also convenient to CSI-SC Military Customers. If a military member does not have any cash, he or she can then use their own military ID to purchase meals.
The system also allows military personnel who are living out of service accommodation the option to purchase meals using their own Military Defence ID.
The Enhanced Meal Pass System gives better data integrity, security and reporting capability as well as saving CSI-SC staff up to twentythree to thirty hours on processing.
If military personnel are not in possession of their military ID card and have a legitimate reason, he or she can obtain their meal by manually entering their official number into the cipher 510 machine. The Garrison Support Services mess or galley supervisor must also swipe their administration card.
The Enhanced Meal Pass System has been successfully implemented in all CSI-SC bases as well as the CSI-SC region, including Sydney West South and Central and Northern NSW.
Other bases and CSI regions have also expressed interest in acquiring the Enhance Meal Pass System, including HMAS Albatross, HMAS Stirling and far north Queensland.
How does it work?
Military personnel, when 'living in' service accommodation within the CSI-SC region, elect their preferred meal payment options (eg. discounted fortnightly meal rate or casual rate). Military personnel 'living out' of service accommodation are automatically on the casual rate.
Military personnel then swipe their own Defence ID cards using the Cipher machines (modified to read Military Defence ID cards). The Cipher machine works by capturing data from the existing barcode on Military ID Card, by linking their entitlement to 'free meals' or discounted meals to their pay account. Entitlements are identified by pay accounts in receipt of meal allowance.
Transiting personnel from outside the Sydney region on Defence business are to hold the 'Transiting Personnel' button whilst swiping their ID to identify them as visitors and assist in MPAC not charging them for the meals.
On base duty-watch and other military personnel authorised to dine at Commonwealth expense are required to swipe their ID while holding the 'duty' button on the Cipher machine. Personnel posted to MWV and entitled to lunch at HMAS Waterhen are to hold the 'Smallboats' button whilst swiping their ID.
Live-in members and others authorised by CSI who are entitled to order a sandwich pack in lieu of a meal in the mess, will also use the Enhanced Meal Pass System to order sandwich packs.
Here, Military personnel can swipe their Military ID card whilst holding down the' sandwich' button on the Cipher machine producing two tickets; one for kitchen staff and the other retained for pick-up.
As well, Garrison Support Mess managers and Galley supervisors have an administration card to administer the' special meals' option such as 'hot box',' BBQ packs', 'cut lunch', 'in-flight' etc.
To find out more information on the Enhanced Meal Pass System please contact Ms Dana Reddy on 02 9377 2024 or email Dana.Reddy@defence.gov.au
