Command works to streamline travel voucher processing

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jeff Kelly
  • AFRC/PA
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Specialists from Air Force Reserve Command Headquarters traveled to Ellsworth AFB, S.D., to help the Air Force Financial Services Center "speed up" processing reservists' travel vouchers.

Mike Oringdorff from Headquarters AFRC financial services and Ed Cimmino from headquarters' functional systems went to Ellsworth AFB May 18 for a two-day assistance visit.

"The team traveled to Ellsworth to possibly streamline travel computation processes taking more time than it should," said Jerrianne Werner, chief of AFRC Financial Services Division.

Travel vouchers sent to the new Ellsworth AFB facility are transmitted in one of two formats - electronically on a new automated system called Enterprise Information Management System or through a shared folder using Remote Access Drive.

"The plan is for everyone to use the electronic EIM system, but a few bugs have to be worked out before every base makes the switch," said Ms. Werner. "The goal is to have all units using the EIM system by the end of the fiscal year."

The major advantage of the EIM system is the time it saves by tracking the documentation throughout the entire process. With the older RAD system, visibility is lost to base level finance, and the vouchers have to be copied and moved manually for processing. As a result, travel voucher processing takes longer.

"Our team has been able answer questions and help in the training process at Ellsworth," said Ms. Werner. "And they have already made some changes that are going to help speed up the process. Ellsworth has doubled their bandwidth to accommodate everything that is coming in. That in itself will help with the time it takes."

The Air Force standard for processing vouchers is within five days. The Financial Services Center is working to establish meaningful metrics for management purposes. They process vouchers as quickly as possible and the recent changes should expedite the process.

"There is no reason why people should not be able to make their government travel card payment on time because their voucher hasn't been processed," said Ms. Werner. "They should follow up if they do not receive payment within 10 working days and notify the financial services office of nonpayment. We will take every step necessary to ensure the member's payment is received before their travel becomes delinquent."

Ms. Werner said if travelers do not receive the support needed from their host finance office, they can go to the Reserve finance office, which will assist or elevate the problem to headquarters. Reserve finance offices have the expertise necessary to help answer questions even if they do not process the actual paperwork, said Ms. Werner. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)