Air Force Keynote Presentation.

The Honorable Robert F. Hale

Assistant Secretary of the Air-Force (Financial Management and Comptroller)

If had to pick three phrases that describe the outlook for our financial management (FM) community; they would be these: we are going to get (a little) smaller, we will get smaller smartly, and we will always be here.

We Will Get (a Little) Smaller

Current projections indicate a reduction of about 8 percent over the next four years in the total number of military and civilian personnel assigned to the Air Force FM community. That is a modest reduction and will certainly not result in RIFs or other such personnel actions. The reductions reflect an effort to reduce the size of all support services in the Air Force in order to free up resources to pay for improved military readiness and modernization. While modest, this planned reduction comes during a period when there are no policies-such as force cuts and base closures-that will automatically reduce FM workload. With workload constant, even a small reduction is a challenge.

We Will Get Smaller Smartly

We do have a vision for accommodating these reductions. First and foremost, we will continue to accomplish the FM mission to provide resource management and financial services to the Air Force. Indeed, in some cases we must strive to do an even better job at our mission. Our efforts to achieve auditable financial statements, using initiatives such as the tri-annual review, are a good example of an area where we must do better.

To accomplish our mission with modestly fewer people, we plan to automate certain functions and change our business practices. Some of this automation has already occurred. For example, the Automated Battlefield System (ABS) has helped reduce the personnel required on deployments. The Automated Business Services System (ABSS) is minimizing hand-processing of commitment documents. The Automated Purchase Card System (APCS) has automated the financial transactions associated with the IMPAC card.

Other automation initiatives are being deployed now or are close to deployment. The Employee/Member Self Service System (E/MSS) will permit changes in routine pay information and discretionary allotments over the Internet. E/MSS, which is available now for civilians and will soon be available for military personnel, means that fewer people will have to come in to our financial services offices. We have finally begun operational deployment of the DefenseTravel System (DTS), which will reduce workload for travel processing. The LeaveWeb System should reduce the effort required to process leave vouchers. And there are still other initiatives-including the FIRST budget system and OPTEMPO system for flying hours-that promise faster and better service.

While we have achieved some success in the area of automation, we cannot rest on our laurels. We must continue to search for better ways of doing business so that we can meet our mission effectively and efficiently.

We Will Always Be Here

While we may get modestly smaller, financial management will always be a key support service for the Air Force. Why? Because the Air Force needs our core competencies-whether it is the exercise of fiduciary responsibility; budget formulation and execution, financial services, financial advice, or support in war. In short the Air Force needs FM to carry out its mission.

To provide the best support to the Air Force, we must be sure that we take time out of our busy schedules to develop our people. That is why in May 1999 I published guidelines for the professional development of Air Force financial management personnel. These guidelines specify goals for experience, general and technical education, professional military education, continuing professional education, and test-based certification. I urge that you become familiar with these guidelines, which you can find on the SM/FM Home Page. You and your supervisor should use them to help formulate your own Individual Development Plan.

I especially hope that you will try to meet our goal for continuing professional education (CPE). We ask that all our personnel complete 80 hours of CPE every two years, with at least 10 hours per year. I also hope that you will consider gaining a test-based certification that is relevant to Air Force financial management. I want you to know that through the efforts of the American Society of Military Comptrollers there is now a certification program focused on defense financial management. I hope you will consider becoming a Certified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM).

Well-trained, dedicated people are the most important element in our efforts to accomplish our mission. Therefore, I am particularly pleased to recognize the Air Force FM award winners for 1999. At PDI 2000 we personally recognized each of our first-place award winners (pictured on the left). My congratulations to each of them and to all the dedicated, effective people who make Air Force FM work.