Photo By Master Sgt. Matthew Keeler | (Left to Right), Pfc. Hassan Walker, financial specialist, an Augusta, Ga., native,...... read more read more
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CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRAH, Iraq - Soldiers with the 9th Financial Management Company, 22nd Human Resource Company, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), traveled to Camp Bucca, Iraq, Dec. 7 for their last pay mission.
“We are the only financial unit between Contingency Operating Base Basrah and Camp Bucca,” said Sgt. Estelsy Negron, dispersing manager with the 9th FMC, and a Los Angeles native.
The 9th FMC has run missions to Bucca to help offer service members stationed there with Eagle Cash programs, cash issues, and other financial concerns, she said.
With the closing of Bucca at the end of the month, this is their last mission and requires more work than usual.
“We are responsible for taking apart the Eagle Cash kiosks and shipping them back [to the United States],” said Negron.
Eagle Cash is a debit card that allows service members to transfer money from their bank accounts and purchase items at stores that have special Point-of-Service machines that read the amount on the card. With these machines, service members no longer have to worry about handling cash or carrying around their debit cards.
POS systems are lent to vendors to help the vendor and service members by allowing them to use Eagle Cash to pay for their products.
“We give the POS systems to the vendors, so it’s easier for service members to buy coffee, Internet, movies, and other personal items,” said Negron.
Ryan Hayden, a firefighter stationed at Camp Bucca, and a Ventura, Calif., native, said that Eagle Cash has become deployed service members’ preferred method of handling money because it is easier to handle than cash, and expedites the transaction process.
“When we [Financial Management Support Teams] used to visit for a pay mission…we were constantly busy with service members because they needed cash to buy goods from local vendors,” said Negron.
This is Negron’s fourth deployment, and her second after Eagle Cash became available.
“It is a more secure way of dealing with money than using a debit card,” said Negron.
When Negron was deployed in 2003 before Eagle Cash, she would have to carry up to $200,000 on FMST missions because the need for cash was so great, she said.
Another part of closing down Bucca for the 9th FMC was to collect the POS systems from the vendors.
“We are held responsible for everyone of the POS lent to the vendors here and at COB Basrah,” said Negron.
Since the Army and Air Force Exchange service at Camp Bucca officially closed, they turned in their devices to the 9th FMC.
“It’s pretty sad to see it close,” said Sadique Madathilatte, an AAFES employee at Camp Bucca, and a Kozhikode, Kerala, India, native. “But I am excited to see my family again”
Madathilatte arrived in country in 2003, and has worked for AAFES for nearly eight years.
“Here at Bucca, AAFES normally does a monthly deposit that we collect, and count,” said Negron. “We have to make sure the amount of bills and coins that their count says matches the amount that they have on hand.”
With the withdrawal of American forces set for December 2011, as stated in the Security Agreement with Iraq, some vendors will miss the American service members.
“I love the Americans, and it will not be the same without them around here,” said Yasir Al Badrn, a technician for Meena Internet, and a Basrah, Iraq, native. “I’ve been here for three years, and I will be sad when they close down Bucca.”
Meena Internet was one of the businesses that had an agreement with the 9th FMC, and was lent POS systems. With the 9th FMC collecting its equipment, the company had to return their devices, too.
With the Eagle Cash kiosk broken down and packaged to mail, the POS systems collected, and the deposit counted and checked, the 9th FMC departed Camp Bucca for the last time.
“I am going to miss visiting, “said Sgt. Jerry Evans, military pay chief with the 9th FMC, and a Huntsville, Ala., native. “The soldiers there were always friendly and great to deal with.”
| Date Taken: | 12.07.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 12.12.2010 15:11 |
| Story ID: | 61808 |
| Location: | CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 184 |
| Downloads: | 5 |
This work, Final finance mission for 9th FMC to Camp Bucca, by MSG Matthew Keeler, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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