Rodeos Bring Finance to Soldiers in Afghanistan

Photo By Sgt. Elizabeth Clark | BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Spc. James Lovett (left) and Spc. Keon Sands, both financial management technicians with 2153rd Financial Management Support Detachment, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division Resolute Support Brigade, work on pay issues during a finance rodeo at Resolute Support Headquarters, Afghanistan, May 13. “To be honest, I thought I was going to be cooped up in an office, but it’s been a nice change of pace,” Lovett said. “I really enjoy getting out, meeting new people and being able to service the Soldiers, reach out to them and make it easier for them to get the financial experience.” (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Elizabeth White)  

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

05.13.2018

Story by Sgt. Elizabeth Clark 

3rd Division Sustainment Brigade

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - A team of Soldiers with the 2153rd Financial Management Support Detachment, Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division Resolute Support Sustainment Brigade, are corralling finance issues during rodeos on bases around Afghanistan.

Since arriving in theater approximately two months ago, the finance team has traveled to various posts providing Soldiers and civilians with finance assistance.

“A lot of people don’t have the time to get out to Bagram in order to take care of their financial needs,” said Spc. Keon Sands, a finance management technician with the 2153rd FMSD, a Florida Army National Guard unit. “The rodeos are awesome because we get to bring finance to the Soldiers.”

“Our mission is to provide financial services to troops, vendors and contractors all throughout northeastern Afghanistan,” Sands said. “To pay these vendors, pay these Soldiers and put them in a position where they can take care of their finances, their families back home and give them some financial stability.”

At each base, the team spends a few days helping as many Soldiers, contractors and vendors as possible. Large amounts of people take advantage of the short amount of time the team has, asking questions and filling out paperwork the team can process once they return to Bagram.

During the rodeos, the team assists with cash exchanges, setting up or answering questions about the Savings Deposit Program and fixing pay issues, said Spc. James Lovett, another finance management technician with the 2153rd FMSD.

“We’re just going out to a more remote location or a location that doesn’t have a finance office so we are able to offer the services that all the Soldiers and contractors deserve,” he said.

The team has traveled most of the time they’ve been in Afghanistan, Lovett said, and they spend the rest back at Bagram Airfield, processing the paperwork they received during the rodeos.

But he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“To be honest, I thought I was going to be cooped up in an office, but it’s been a nice change of pace,” Lovett said. “I really enjoy getting out, meeting new people and being able to service the Soldiers.”

Even though they travel constantly and handle a large amount of customers between a small team, these Soldiers give their all to the mission, Sands said. They are committed to ensuring that the Soldiers, vendors and contractors have all the finance assistance they need to accomplish their missions.

“It’s a really rewarding feeling to be able to put a smile on these Soldiers faces or be able to help them out with things they’ve been trying to take care of for months,” Sands said. “It makes me feel as though I’ve played a big role in this deployment.”

• Date Taken: 05.13.2018
• Date Posted: 05.22.2018 05:00
• Story ID: 277841
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF
• Hometown: ORLANDO, FL, US
• Hometown: TALLAHASSEE, FL, US