Financial transition team discusses way ahead with Hanscom personnel

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Lisa Spilinek
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  The Air Force's new Financial Services Center can be described as a win-win-win situation for commanders, Airmen and those in the financial management career field.

Hanscom leaders and personnel learned about benefits and changes related to the new center during briefings conducted here Nov. 6.

Under the Air Force's financial transformation initiative, most military pay transactions that are currently handled at the base level will eventually be processed at the newly opened Air Force Financial Services Center, located at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., which Airmen will be able to access from their duty station or home via telephone or the Web 24/7.

Not only will the transition of financial services better fulfill customer needs, by eliminating time-consuming trips to the base finance office, those who work in the career field will be able to consolidate their efforts and evenly spread the workload of supporting various Air Force bases. Additionally, the initiative will save the Air Force both money and manpower.

"[The Air Force Financial Services Center] is a significant investment for the Air Force. It will save the Air Force $210 million and return approximately 600 positions back to the warfighter," said John G. Vonglis, the principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for financial management, in an Air Force News article dated Sept. 12.

The briefings at Hanscom were conducted by a three-person team consisting of representatives from Air Force Materiel Command, the Financial Services Transition team and the Financial Transition Cut-over team, which oversees the migration of processes from the base level to the Air Force Financial Services Center.

1st Lt. Aaron Lemke of the Financial Services Transition team said changes would be noticeable to the Hanscom populace in October 2008, which marks the beginning of Phase II of the financial services transition. During Phase II, base personnel will be able to utilize the 24-hour Air Force Financial Services Center for support regarding pay questions or changes.

Yet, changes will happen within the 66th Comptroller Squadron Finance Office here approximately six months earlier. March 2008 marks the implementation of Phase I of the transition at Hanscom. During this time, base personnel should still visit the Finance Office for pay support, but back room transactions will be conducted via people at the Air Force Financial Services Center rather than by 66 CPTS personnel, Lieutenant Lemke said.

Maj. Robert White, 66 CPTS commander said, "We are committed to continuing the outstanding service our customers have come to expect. Phase I of the transition will be seamless to the customer, while Phase II will increase the service options available to our customers."

The Air Force Portal contains a wealth of information on the financial transition process, including a list of frequently asked questions. To view, select the 'Money and Finance' link under the 'Life and Career' tab.