Air Force set to streamline military, travel pay procedures Published Jan. 9, 2008 By Senior Master Sgt. David Holmes 100th Comptroller Squadron RAF MILDENHALL, England -- The financial management career field is transforming its operations with the largest change in its 60-year history. RAFs Mildenhall and Lakenheath, along with all other Air Force units in England, will see their military and travel pay back-shop processes transfer to the Air Force Financial Services Center at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Jan. 11. That will help provide more effective and efficient financial services, which will be achieved by consolidating the local financial services offices "behind-the-scenes" military and travel pay processes into one central and very large operation at AFFSC. The workload currently performed at each base throughout the Air Force will migrate by April 2008, which started with the Air Force Space Command in October, and continues on to U.S. Air Forces in Europe in January. But don't worry; you'll continue to receive outstanding service, while the Air Force saves $210 million to direct to other high priorities. The initial stand-up of the AFFSC and workload transfer is just the first phase. In October, the second phase begins with the customer contact center. AFFSC will provide more options for customers to contact financial managers, including Internet self-help service and international toll-free and DSN telephone numbers. Much like other career fields transforming the way the Air Force fights and wins, Airmen will see fewer financial managers on base, but will have more flexibility in obtaining 24-hour service daily. Base financial walk-in service will remain for some processes; however, customers will be encouraged to use new service options when available. The financial services transformation cut-over team (put together by the AFFSC) visited RAFs Mildenhall and Lakenheath in June to train 100th Comptroller Squadron and 48th Comptroller Squadron personnel, and brief senior leadership on solutions they will use in the future. The transition is designed to be seamless to customers, and bases that have already migrated their processing to the AFFSC haven't seen any impact to operations or service to customers. The financial management community is transforming to better provide focused financial services to all Airmen in alignment with the Air Force's goals of ensuring its 700,000-plus men and women are provided with the state-of-the-art technology and outstanding support that they and their families expect and deserve. "Financial Management's transformation objective is to provide the Air Force 'a longer tooth and a shorter tail,' by returning resources from support operations to direct war fighting capabilities," said John Vonglis, principal deputy assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller. We have the technology, the wherewithal and the capability to do this," Mr. Vonglis said. "We're at the cusp where there will be some confusion and angst, because we're removing a comfort zone and venturing into something new. But we'll get through it and move forward. "The confidence our Airmen have (in financial services) today should only get stronger," he said. "This is truly working smarter and making people more efficient. I'm confident folks will be extremely satisfied." Stay tuned for more updates on changes and for more information visit the AFFSC Web site on the Air Force Portal by highlighting 'Life & Career' tab, then clicking on 'Money - Finance Central', then select 'Air Force Financial Services Center' link. Customer service hours for the 100th CPTS and 48th CPTS will be from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. until Jan. 11. The reduced services hours will be used to prepare for migration of workload to the AFFSC. We apologize for any inconvenience and can assure you this time will be used to best serve our war fighters. Editor's Note: Defense Travel System personnel will be available to assist Organizational Defense Travel Administrators as normal.