The center provides support throughout their military careers, from initial entry to retirement, including assignments, promotions and separations The Center was established 1 Nov. 1953, as Detachment 1, Headquarters Continental Air Command, to centralize the custody and maintenance of master personnel records of Reserve Airmen not on extended active duty.

The detachment officially began operations 1 March 1954, and soon had responsibilities for a wide variety of personnel actions, including administrative capability for mobilization of the Air Force Reserve.

When Continental Air Command was inactivated, ARPC was designated a separate operating agency on 1 Aug. 1968, with no significant change in mission.

Responsibility for maintaining personnel records of Air National Guard officers was added in July 1971, and enlisted Airmen in March 1978.

In 1978, its status changed to that of a direct reporting unit and organizational element of the Air Force Reserve.