Bringing home the green backs

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. M. Davis
  • Public Affairs
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  Team Vance will see more green in the future thanks to the meticulous record keeping of the base Accounting Liaison Office who won $12,500 in the major command's Wing Commanders Incentive Program.
"This achievement was only possible through teamwork," said Tech. Sgt. Ben Dalton, NCO in charge of the ALO. "Reducing interest penalties and maximizing discounts taken require a concerted effort by the Computer Sciences Corporation business office, base contracting office, Defense Finance and Accounting Service and the base Accounting Liaison Office."
Military installations can save money by paying invoices within a certain time frame, Sergeant Dalton explained. Many of the base invoices offer discounts if the bill is paid on time or within a certain amount of time. Air Education and Training Command tracked how much each base saves and started a quarterly program for base accounting offices to compete against each other.
The three categories bases can compete are:
Lodging Bednight - $6,200
Best, Most Improved in Discounts Taken - $7,500
Best and Most Improved in Interest Penalty Payment Reduction - $5,000
The accounting and finance office won in the latter categories as "best" in the command, bringing home cash for Vance Air Force Base.
Their winning accounting practices were showcased for inspectors during the wing Operational Readiness Inspection earlier this month.
"This was yet another mark of excellence showing the inspector general team that the 71st Comptroller Squadron gets the job done," Sergeant Dalton said.
The 71st CPTS can chalk this up as one of many wins. The most recent was in the last quarter of 2004, when the squadron won the "Discounts Taken" category and earned a $7,500 award.
The squadron also won the 2001 Financial Services Office of the Year at both the AETC and Air Force levels.
It's not about winning money; it's about doing a great job that counts, Sergeant Dalton said.
"The tenacious follow up required to track down documents and monitor them all the way through the payment process with the level of success is truly remarkable," he said.
The new 71st CPTS commander, Maj. Dennis Hunt, echoed Sergeant Dalton's sentiments.
"I couldn't be more proud of how they overcame hurdles to achieve their success," the commander said. "We have a great team doing outstanding work."