Town hall: Airmen hold key to their own finance Published Dec. 10, 2010 72nd Comptroller Squadron TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Recently, the 72nd Comptroller Squadron hosted the first-ever Town Hall meeting to discuss financial topics with key leaders from across the installation. The most critical issues discussed focused on ensuring proper and timely pay for all Airmen at Tinker. "We understand reality --that members are being asked to accomplish more pay-related transactions on their own through electronic systems. Our goal today is to educate leaders on the tools available and the common pitfalls that occur," stated Maj. Crystal Moore, 72nd Comptroller Squadron commander. Financial issues have made Air Force headlines recently as the service adopts new systems and transitions service to the Air Force Financial Services Center at Ellsworth AFB, S.D. The transformation centralizes pay processing and integrates web-based systems that allow members to conduct transactions 24/7. Along with the transformation, came a 75 percent finance manning-reduction from fiscal 2007 levels, leaving a mere nine authorizations at Tinker AFB from the 36 authorizations four years ago. The meeting shared the top ten financial tools all leaders should know: No. 10 - Remember to review your LES monthly. Members can view their LES by going online to www.dfas.mil. No. 9 - Get to know your organization finance representatives. Each unit has a first line of defense through organizational Defense Travel Administrators, Government Travel Card representatives, financial analysts, etc. Many times, they have training to answer questions. No. 8 - Remember to pay your GTC and avoid misuse. Each member has a responsibility to be a good steward of the GTC, ensure proper use and pay the bill in a timely manner. No. 7 - Understand available online resources. Members can go online to the Air Force Portal and click on vFinance to access all available online resources. A myriad of different systems are available for Airmen to use within the world of finance. All Airmen are encouraged to spend time familiarizing themselves with functions of the more basic systems they will be using. No. 6 - Review travel orders for accuracy upon receipt. Members should review all travel orders for accuracy. Common items are: itinerary, additional authorizations such as excess baggage or rental car, and proper dates of travel. No. 5 - Notify finance immediately with any significant life changes. Members must inform the local finance office of any significant changes in their life, to include marriage, divorce, childbirth, meal card, long moves, etc. Most life-change notifications must be done in person. No. 4 - Don't forget to respond to emails from 72nd CPTS/Finance. Email is an official channel of communication between Air Force members and is Finance's most common means of communication when informing members of debts, BAH recertifications, and other actions. A failure to respond can result in unnecessary loss of man-hours or even irrevocable loss of pay. No. 3 - Remember to file TDY/Deployment voucher within five days and check status frequently. TDY/Deployment vouchers are filed through eFinance, which is found on the left column of the Air Force Portal. Members must file deployment vouchers prior to starting R&R leave or deployment entitlements will continue, causing a debt requiring repayment. No. 2 - Remember to in-process within five days of arrival to Tinker. This very important task can cost thousands of dollars if not done in time. Many financial transactions are completed with the PCS travel voucher. Housing allowance, subsistence allowance, travel pay and dislocation allowance are a few. No. 1 -After online and squadron level resources are exhausted, email 72nd CPTS/FM Customer Service or Call 72nd CPTS at 739-5180 for response and assistance. The preferred method of contact is via email at 72cpts.fm.customerservice@tinker.af.mil or 72nd CPTS/FM Customer Service on the AF Global. Members will receive a response within 24 hours (weekends & holidays excluded).