Story by: Sgt. Stephanie L. Carl
FORWARD OPERATING BASE RIPLEY, Afghanistan ---- Since April, Soldiers from the 125th Finance Battalion have conducted more than 100 pay missions to forward sites throughout Afghanistan.
Without access to conventional finance offices, service members at forward operating bases rely on these missions to receive cash and address pay concerns.
"Whatever we can do in our office, we can do at the FOBs," said Pfc. Devin Jones, Kandahar Airfield finance specialist.
This includes casual pay, cashing checks, savings deposit plans and pay inquiries.
During a December mission to a forward operating base, Jones was personally responsible for about $80,000, which was used to disburse casual pay and cash checks. Ultimately, the goal was to give service members access to cash.
"Money boosts morale," said Jones. "Sometimes they want it for bazaars. Other times they want it because they are coming back (to Kandahar) and want to be able to eat at Burger King."
An appreciation echoed by Soldiers who benefited from the access to cash during this particular pay mission.
"Being able to get cash definitely helps with morale," said Sgt. Kevin L. Wildman, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, team leader. "It helps the Soldiers get through the days, knowing that they can go to the (post exchange) conex and get the things they need or want."
Regardless of why the Soldiers want the money, they can only receive it during pay missions, which occur three to five times a month for four to five days at a time.
The other important service the finance Soldiers provide is handling pay inquiries.
"During our visits, we are better able to resolve pay problems," said Sgt. 1st Class Albert Schliesleder, Kandahar finance operations chief. "We're also able to receive and process documents a lot faster than if the Soldiers had to wait to come see us."
The major incentive for the pay missions is that they add to the readiness of individual units.
"If we didn't get out to see the service members, they would have no other way of getting funds," said Schliesleder. "If they had to come back here, it would interrupt operations."
For leaders in the field, that is definitely a benefit.
"I was able to help one of my Soldiers get back-pay when finance came out here," said Sgt. Otis J. Petty, Company C, 65th Engineer Battalion, currently working at FOB Ripley. "We definitely appreciated them coming to us, recognizing that our Soldiers are usually out on missions. Finance took that step to come out to us."
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| Date Taken: | 01.19.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 01.19.2005 13:16 |
| Story ID: | 880 |
| Location: | FORWARD OPERATING BASE RIPLEY, AF |
| Web Views: | 121 |
| Downloads: | 95 |
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