Photo By Master Sgt. Paul Tuttle | Command Sgt. Maj. James Preston (left) and Col. Brett Nila of the 640th Sustainment...... read more read more
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – One doesn't generally equate radical change with financial organizations, but the 13th Finance Group at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, broke with tradition at a conference July 12.
The Third Army (Forward) 13th Finance Group met with leaders of the 1st Sustainment Command Theater, its subordinate units and members of the U.S. Department of Treasury to highlight the transformation of financial support units as the Army moves forward in its transformation.
The two-day conference spotlighted a standardized financial policy and the coordination of financial requirements on the battlefield, among other topics.
Col. Stephen Riviere, the commander of the 13th Finance Group, said his goal is to make sure that financial units understand the change and support the Soldier.
"The conference will help us to minimize, if not eliminate, any effect on the Soldier on the battlefield," he said. "Our intent is to have ... a seamless transition as we move into a modular finance structure where sustainment brigade commanders own the command and control of finance elements."
This is important to the Army's modularity concept – making smaller, more lethal units at the brigade level. Brigades are more maneuverable and can be incorporated from one division into another with little or no reorganization, making the Army more responsive to global threats.
Riviere, a native of Alexandria, Va., explained that this was the third in a series of conferences.
"We're big planners in the 13th Finance Group," he said. "We believe that people don't plan to fail, they fail to plan."
In his opening remarks to the conference, Brig. Gen. Kevin Leonard, commanding general of the 1st TSC, agreed with Riviere that planning change is a key to success.
"As Alvin Toffler said, 'too much change in too little time brings future shock,'" he said. "This conference is happening to make sure the plans are in place to make these changes effective, not just to make the change happen."
"Finance is going away from finance battalions to finance companies," Riviere said. "You'll still have financial management companies and detachments spread throughout the battle space providing support, so from the customer stand point – the Soldiers, the servicemen, the civilians and contractors – they shouldn't really see much of a difference.
"We're moving to a modular force that gives combat commanders more power where it's needed, so we, in a support role, will provide the same level of support we do today. We'll just deliver it through different means," he said.
The EagleCash Card is a key player in this transition. It's an on-going partnership between the Department of the Army, the U.S. Defense Finance and Accounting Service, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service and the U.S. Department of Treasury.
It's instrumental in reducing costs and resources and it can be used anywhere you would use cash – the PX, Post Office, vender kiosks or in food courts – for example.
"The EagleCash Card is an Army initiative to gain efficiency using electronic currency across the battlefield," Riviere said. "It has strategic, operational and tactical implications."
He explained that operationally, it reduces the logistical support necessary to move dollars. It trims down the number of missions by Soldiers and other support personnel to move large amounts of currency into and across the battlefield.
Because Soldiers can move their funds safely and more efficiently, it makes better tactical sense too.
"It's safer, more secure and it's a better way for Soldiers to access their funds through electronic means," he said. Soldiers don't have to carry cash – all transactions are done electronically.
The card is free, there are no transaction fees and they are more secure according to Capt. James Soule, the officer in charge of finance policy and the program manager for the EagleCash card.
The card is protected by a personal identification number and is used much like a debit or check card.
"It's more secure than carrying cash," the Berkley Heights, N.J., native said. "You can actually have an opportunity to recover money lost compromised on a lost or stolen card versus money that falls out of your pocket."
In addition, a Soldier can get cash if he or she needs it. "You can get cash back from AAFES (Army and Air Force Exchange Service) if funds are available," he said.
The changing Army needs responsiveness at all levels to be effective. Finance appears to be right on track.
| Date Taken: | 07.16.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 07.16.2007 10:03 |
| Story ID: | 11283 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Web Views: | 730 |
| Downloads: | 680 |
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