Travel pay processing receives transformation

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Brian L. Zator
  • 911 AW/FM
PITTSBURGH IAP ARS --  What is the Air Force Financial Services Center?

It is the centralized travel pay processing center for the Air Force. During the past three years certain major commands have migrated their travel pay processing to this site. Word has come down the chain that the Air Force Reserve Command bases are set to transform the way travel pay processing will be done.

In March 2011, the switch will be flipped and your travel vouchers will be scanned and the file sent to the AFFSC at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. for computing and processing.

On Oct. 8, 2010, an email was set to all base personnel informing them on this transformation. The email also included the latest version of the Reserve temporary duty Checklist.

This checklist will be required to be attached to every travel voucher starting in November. By starting this process four months early; our intent is to be ahead of the learning curve when we do convert to the AFFSC. Having the next four months get you, the traveler, ready for this transformation and will save what will be countless delays of lost voucher processing time at Ellsworth AFB.

Following the seventeen question checklist should ensure the voucher will be accurate and ready for processing at the AFFSC. This checklist should not be 'pencil whipped' just to get it down to Finance. The Financial Services section of Finance will then be required to complete the bottom thirteen questions of the checklist before scanning and sending the file to Ellsworth AFB.

Reviewing and assuring each question is answered properly should allow the voucher to be processed and paid within the 10-day standard. Failure to follow the checklist and attach all orders and receipts can only further delay the process and payment.

This change in procedures will greatly impact our travelers, their travel pay date and payment to the government travel card if the Reserve TDY Checklist is not utilized properly.

It is stated on the checklist that "It is your responsibility to retain a copy of the travel voucher, orders, and receipts. The Finance Office will destroy submitted copies after 90 days." Our travel section will have only view capability once the transformation begins. This affects all members when requesting items for their DD Form 214's.

So in order to prepare this installation for this monumental change, we are mandating the use of the Reserve TDY Checklist beginning Nov. 8. Our intent is to make this a seamless transition come March 2011.