Comptroller Airmen deflate financial woes

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Michael Battles
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Every week, Osan Air Base receives an influx of new personnel and the Airmen from the 51st Comptroller Squadron Finance Office are tasked with alleviating their financial worries.

Airmen attend an in-processing brief shortly after arrival to help them file their travel vouchers, update and adjust military pay requests and process any claims or travel entitlements procured during travel -- and finance Airmen are there to help.

"When service members arrive at Osan, they usually don't know what to expect," said Tech. Sgt. Rodney Mcinnis, 51st Comptroller Squadron customer service chief. "We want them to at least know their finances are in order."

On average, the finance customer service section works roughly 12 hour days, processing nearly 500 travel vouchers within the first 10 days of each month. Throughout a normal three-month season of permanent change of station moves, the Osan finance office will process nearly $1.5 million in travel vouchers.

"The PCS season is especially busy," Mcinnis said. "The amount of inbound personnel can triple during that time."

During a normal week, a stateside base processes roughly 30 travel vouchers, Mcinnis said. Osan processes nearly five times that amount because of the greater amount of changeover the base experiences.

The finance office currently operates with a staff of 18 personnel, with 12 of the Airmen focusing on customer service.

"The amount of people we have in the office compared to the amount we in-process shows how much we are doing," said Senior Airman David Rossman, 51st CPTS Finance Office customer service representative.

For service members who need help with financial issues that are not related to in-processing, coming in after the 10th day of the month is best, he said. Most in-processing vouchers have been processed by that time, which frees up more of the office.

The finance office recommends that inbound personnel also verify and check their leave and earning statement upon arrival. If an error is found, contact the finance section as soon as possible.