Air Force to transform financial services

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Monique Randolph
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
Air Force financial services are undergoing a major change that will save millions of dollars and return hundreds of Airmen to the fight, said a senior Air Force financial management official here Sept. 12.

As part of a two-year plan, the Air Force Financial Services Center will open its doors Sept. 14 at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., in what will begin the largest single transformational effort the Air Force financial management field has ever seen, said John G. Vonglis, the principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for financial management.

Over the next year, the center will consolidate routine transactions currently handled by 93 base finance offices worldwide to a single location. It will ultimately serve as a one-stop shop for Airmen's financial matters and concerns.

"(The AFFSC) 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," Mr. Vonglis said.

"We are taking a very structured approach to our transformation," he sad. "The first phase of the transformation will provide a seamless transition for our financial services customers."

The AFFSC will take over many of the "back office" processes typically handled by base finance offices such as travel vouchers, pay requests and allotments. These processes will move to the AFFSC one base at a time, beginning this October with Air Force Space Command bases.

The most visible change will take place during the second phase in October 2008, when the AFFSC will stand up a 24-hour contact center where Airmen with finance needs can contact a representative by telephone, e-mail or the Internet.

"While people are far more important than machines, the need to recapitalize our Air Force is compelling. In that sense, we can no longer afford to operate the way we have in the past," Mr. Vonglis said. "Without abandoning the sterling customer service we are known for, transactional document processing will shift from base level and be picked up by people at AFFSC."

The AFFSC is currently staffed by 75 active-duty Air Force members. The remaining workforce is projected to arrive by March 2008.

"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."