Photo By Staff Sgt. Andrea Merritt | Spc. Benjamin Johnston, Troy, Ohio, native , a pay clerk with Detachment E, 230th...... read more read more
Spc. Andrea Merritt
1st Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs
COMBAT OUTPOST OLD MOD, Iraq – Soldiers who reside on combat outposts often miss out on services that Soldiers on larger forward operating bases have, such as a Post Exchange, a dining facility with a wide selection of food, or a facility that provides them access to their money.
Like at many other COPs, servicemembers based at the Old Ministry of Defense in Iraq do not have a finance office to go to when they need cash or have questions about their pay.
In an effort to help these service members, a financial support team from Detachment E, 230th Finance Battalion, which is attached to the 24th Financial Management Company, Special Troops Battalion, 1st Sustainment Brigade, traveled to Old MoD, March 20, to provide financial services to Soldiers on the camp.
"We give Soldiers an opportunity to get casual pay up to $350 a month. They can write checks, and they can enroll in the Savings Deposit Program. They can also fill out pay inquiries and start or stop allotments," said Sgt. Jennifer Davis, a Soperton, Ga., native and a financial support team noncommissioned officer from Det. E, 230th Finance Bn.
The financial support teams from the unit, which is based out of Fort Hood, Texas, visit approximately 12 different locations twice a month to provide services to Soldiers.
"I love missions. I'd rather be on missions than sitting in the office all day. I like coming out meeting new people and seeing the different camps," said Spc. Benjamin Johnston, a Troy, Ohio, native and a pay clerk with Det. E, 230th Finance Bn., who was the cashier for the one-day mission.
The Soldiers on the FST weren't the only ones looking forward to their visit to Old MoD. When they arrived, a hint of excitement stirred in the Soldiers of 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, who stay on the camp.
"Their visit is beneficial for us because we can't even get hair cuts without these guys coming to visit," said 1st Lt. Blakely Anderson, the mortar platoon leader for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Sqdn., 2nd Stryker Cav. Regt.
"It boosts the guys' moral because there are no financial services out here and everywhere on camp is cash only. This is it," said Blakely.
"It feels good to know they're waiting for us, to know that we're doing something good and that we're doing our part out here," said Davis.
By the end of the finance mission, the Soldiers on the FST assisted about 150 Soldiers on Old MoD with casual pays, enrollment in the Savings Deposit Program, and check cashing.
"When people think of finance, they think all we do is sit behind a desk all day. For the most part we do, but at the same time we still come out and provide financial support for Soldiers in these areas," said Davis.
| Date Taken: | 03.23.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 03.27.2008 14:43 |
| Story ID: | 17823 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 142 |
| Downloads: | 111 |
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