Kirtland Airmen ‘paying the way’ in Balad

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Candace Romano
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq --  For every T-barrier installed, aircraft taking off or printer toner cartridge replaced at Balad Air Base, a financial transaction goes unnoticed by most. 

A team of five Airmen deployed here from Kirtland AFB, are "paying the way" for the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing. 

"It's motivating to see purchase requests come and go through the office," said Tech. Sgt. Russ Martell, paying agent. "It shows us how we're directly helping the mission, whether it's purchasing new medical equipment or funding construction on the flightline. It's great to know we're directly contributing to the fight." 

Most noticed by the 332nd AEW members is the finance personnel's expertise in answering questions about military pay and deployment entitlements. In January, the finance office started combat zone entitlements for more than 1,500 Tuskegee Airmen. 

On top of varying combat zone tax exclusion benefits, the average Airman without dependents on a typical 120-day deployment will make an additional $1,320 in entitlements; Airmen with dependents will put about $2,280 in the bank, according to Senior Airman Heather Tomlin, customer service technician. 

While the finance office is best known for cashing checks and starting deployment entitlements, they also provide customer service, perform accounting transactions, and fund mission requirements. The budget for fiscal year 2006 was more than $70 million, according to comptroller Maj. Bradley McDonald. 

The finance office facilitates the purchase of all mission-essential supplies, from toner cartridges to heart bypass machines and helps with the budget for force protection requirements such as T-barriers. 

"People don't realize we do a lot more than just customer service," said Staff Sgt. Mike Powell, an accounting liaison technician with 12 years of finance experience. "We finance everything on Balad, whether it's granting the services squadron a purchase request for playing cards or financing a project for construction. Ultimately, we want our customers to leave here financially satisfied to the best of our abilities." 

Customers who walk in to cash a check are normally greeted by Senior Airman Nikia Sylvester, cashier, a Williamstown, N.J., native on her first deployment. Many are surprised to see her under lock and key in the vault, a small room where cash assets are carefully monitored and every cent is accounted for. 

"The first reaction I get from people is, 'Are you claustrophobic in there?'" Airman Sylvester said, chuckling. "Even though the space is small, I'm still able to perform my duties without any restrictions ... I'd like to say I put a smile on peoples' faces when they leave the counter in hopes they're able to enjoy their time at Balad."
Major McDonald, a Kimberly, Idaho, native on his second deployment, said he hand-selected the team based on their technical aptitude, professionalism and work ethic. 

"After all the training we did together back at home station, watching them carry out their jobs here and seeing that translate into tangible mission accomplishments is very rewarding," the major said. "They're making a difference for individual Airmen and the wing as a whole. Not only that, what's also impressive is they're giving back in other ways too - through Honor Guard, the PAAC [Panther's Airman Advisory Council] and other volunteer activities. Each one is seizing the opportunity to make a difference, on and off work." 

The selection of these top Airmen made the transition to a deployed environment smoother. 

"We looked at all our knowledge bases and made sure we all knew more than one part of the job," said Sergeant Martell, a 17-year Air Force veteran and former "ammo" Airman. "This way, we could substitute for any one person if they were unavailable."
The Airmen were able to avoid the initial challenge of learning to work with the personalities and quirks that often come when working with new people. 

"We knew the strengths and weaknesses of the team before we even got here," said Sergeant Powell. "It made it easier for us to decide what each person's duties would be and to capitalize on their strengths." 

Being part of something bigger than themselves was a common motivator for these Airmen coming to Balad. 

"I've been in [the Air Force] for almost four years. I wanted to be able to say I was part of something," said Airman Tomlin, a Vancouver, Wash., native. "Being here really helped me see how I'm a part of the mission." 

The finance office is financing combat airpower, "right here, right now," by taking care of servicemembers' finances and entitlements so they can support their families at home and making sure they can finance combat airpower where it's needed. 

"When we hear the planes take off, we know we've bought the fuel and equipment for them," said the technical sergeant. "You just tell us where to 'drop the dime.'"