What is the primary system used by Regional Offices (RO) to request STRs?

The primary system utilized by Regional Offices (RO) to request Service Treatment Records (STRs) is the Personnel Information Exchange System (PIES). This system is designed specifically for the purpose of enabling Veterans Affairs personnel to obtain military personnel records and related documents efficiently. By utilizing PIES, ROs can request the necessary STRs to support claims and provide effective assistance to veterans during the claims process.

In the context of VA operations, PIES serves a crucial role in ensuring that the processing of veterans’ claims is conducted smoothly and that the necessary documentation is available for review. This is especially important for assessing the medical history and treatment records of veterans in relation to their claims.

Other systems mentioned, such as the Defense Personnel Records Information Retrieval System (DPRIS), provide access to different types of military records but are not primarily focused on STR requests. The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) is a repository for military records but does not function as a direct request system for ROs. Lastly, the Clinical Records Archive relates more specifically to clinical data rather than personnel records, emphasizing that while they might be useful in various contexts, they do not serve the primary function that PIES does for the Veterans Affairs Regional Offices.