Financial services begins transformation Published June 27, 2008 By 2nd Lt. Brian Gineo and 1st Lt. Michael Vesoulis 325th Comptroller Squadron TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The comptroller career field is undergoing drastic changes that will affect the entire base populace. Beginning in August, many customer service transactions will occur at the new Air Force Financial Services Center. The AFFSC, located at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., will migrate back-shop operations of most base-level financial services flights. The daily processing of military pay affecting documents and travel vouchers will be consolidated to gain efficiencies and save money. There are some growing pains and technological/systems issues in this consolidation effort; however, Tyndall Air Force Base and Air Education and Training Command stand ready for a new way ahead. Two waves of AETC bases have already undergone the changeover. Based off lessons learned at these installations, AFFSC business rules have been established and local training continuity guides are being created to ease the transition. The following are answers to frequently asked questions regarding this change: Q: What is the AFFSC? A: The AFFSC is an innovative, streamlined, centralized financial services center made up of two parts: a central processing center to process many Air Force pay documents; and a customer contact center, which will open in October to provide 24/7 support for base-level military pay and travel operations. Q: Who is transforming to the AFFSC? A: The entire AF is in the process of transforming to the AFFSC. Q: What does the AFFSC mean to me? A: The AFFSC will provide centralized and standardized processes AF-wide, continuity and stability in the financial management workforce and 24/7 customer service. Q: Where will I file my travel/military pay paperwork? A: All paperwork will continue to be filed in the FSO, across from the Military Personnel Flight customer service, in building 662. Q: Will this delay my travel payment? A: Travel payments for manually computed vouchers should be processed within ten business days of receipt. To ensure your voucher is paid correctly, complete your voucher, accurately following instructions on page two, attach copies of all receipts, split disburse your full Government Travel Card balance and include a complete copy of your travel orders. Bring the voucher, receipts and orders to the FSO for technicians to quality check before submitting to the AFFSC. Go to www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/eforms/dd1351-2.pdf to complete the travel voucher prior to visiting the FSO. Q: Is the Defense Travel System affected by this change? A: No, DTS is a stand-alone system and is not affected by this transformation initiative. For questions regarding your orders and vouchers within DTS, please contact your unit Organizational Defense Travel Administrator. Q: Will customer service personnel still be available for assistance? A: Yes, the Financial Services Flight customer service will continue to be open for assistance. However, because of the consolidation effort, the flight's manning will be reduced 50-60 percent over the next two years. We will do our best to provide excellent customer service with the limited resources. Customers can help expedite service by completing paperwork prior to visiting the FSO and using self-service applications such as MyPay and DTS whenever possible. Customers can contact the AFFSC call center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with questions regarding document preparation. Q: Where can I find more information on the AFFSC and this transformation? A: To access the AFFSC website from the AF portal: 1. Click on 'Bases-Orgs-Functional Areas' 2. Click on 'Functional Area A-Z Listing' 3. Scroll down and click on 'Air Force Financial Services Center'