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386th financial management keeps personnel, operations funded

  • Published
  • By Capt. Ken Scholz
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Supporting the operational and personal financial needs of thousands of service members stationed in multiple countries is just another day on the job for the men and women of the 386 Air Expeditionary Wing financial management section.

"We fund everything from generators to toilet paper," said Tech Sgt. Faustina Lang, financial analysis technician at the 386th.

As a high-school math whiz, Lang chose the finance career field to pursue her love of numbers.

"This is my third deployment," Lang added, noting that she enjoys the job but it's the people that make her experience here a positive one.

Of the five-person shop, consisting of both a financial management analysis and a customer support section, Lang is the one responsible for maintaining a more than $18 million budget daily.

"We do a lot more than travel vouchers and allotments," said Staff Sgt. Kyle Irish, a finance customer service technician.

"We make sure the bills are paid, balance accounts and help the embassy when needed," Irish explained.

TSgt Jeffery Brown, a pay agent, oversees balancing pay agent's accounts and working with the wing's non-appropriated funds.

The customer service section not only helps personnel during their in-processing period, they also explain and initiate entitlements like the Savings Deposit Plan, hardship and family separation pay as well as meal deductions.

"It's nice helping people get paid over here," said Senior Airman Crystalyn Hudnall, a finance customer service technician.

"They're doing their job. Ours is to help them get paid for it," Hudnall said.

Among entitlements, the finance personnel see on average more than 40 people a day who require their support for Eagle Cash Card services, check cashing, currency exchanges and any other number of pay and travel inquiries.

"There's a huge variety that comes in," Hudnall said.

There's also the operational support side of the financial management section which ensures there's money for vehicles, maintenance and parts, among other necessities.

"We validate all requirements and are prudent with the tax payer's dollars," said Maj Wayne Mosely Jr., the 386th's comptroller, "We make sure we buy necessities, not niceties."

"There's definitely teamwork here," said Mosely, mentioning his team works extensively with the contracting squadron. "We could have all the money in the world but couldn't spend it without [the contracting personnel]."

At the end of the day, the mission of the financial management section is the people. Without the Hudnalls, Browns, Irishes, Langs and Moselys, the bills of the 386 AEW would not get paid. "It's nice to see the immediate impact we have here," Mosely said. "No money, no mission."