New app helps leaders ensure Airman, Guardian financial readiness
The Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center recently unveiled a groundbreaking app that puts real-time financial data in leaders’ hands to help Airmen, Guardians and their families maintain financial readiness.
The AFIMSC Financial Management Directorate leveraged existing pilot efforts at two installations and partnered with several Air Force organizations to develop the “Commander’s Application” as a one-stop financial operations toolbox designed specifically for commanders, senior enlisted leaders and first sergeants.
The desktop-based program integrates with other devices including government-issued cell phones and iPads to deliver data so leaders can proactively address issues impacting their military members’ finances and combat readiness.
“The integration of such a comprehensive tool into their everyday operations marks a significant step forward in maintaining the highest standards of readiness and well-being for all members of the Air and Space Forces team,” said Maj. Leonard Belo, AFIMSC Financial Operations Division Technical Advisor. “Department of the Air Force commanders need to be able to make sound decisions with the best information available, and we’ve created a solution to help them ensure Airmen and Guardians are financially prepared to carry out their duties and remain focused on the mission.”
The vision for the tool originated at Misawa Air Base, Japan, in 2022 when the installation comptroller team there first developed the “Command Triad Application.” Originally designed as a small-scale tool for a single base, the team knew it had the potential to be scaled for broader use. Meanwhile, across the other pond at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Master Sgt. Alex Westing introduced the “Pay Day Dashboard” he developed to provide real-time financial operations visibility for 52nd Fighter Wing members.
“I saw the value of the tools our FM teams were developing and worked to consolidate and expand them, making them available to a broader audience outside the FM community, including commanders, SELs and first sergeants,” said Melissa Blakesly, AFIMSC Financial Management director.
The FM team engineered automation tools to pull data directly from various finance systems so the application can identify financial issues that otherwise could go unnoticed. For example, Airmen and Guardians with significant debt or financial strain may not be in the best state of mind for high-stress operations, such as flying a mission or maintaining critical systems. With access to this data, commanders can intervene early to offer support from connecting Airmen to financial resources to adjusting their duties, if needed.
Harvesting these tools, the AFIMSC FM team took the lead by collaborating with the bases and other FM partners including the Air Force Financial Services Systems Office and the Directorate of Workforce Management and Executive Services Regional Training Center to merge the technologies into a single platform.
“It takes a village and working together to create a solution that truly supports our commanders and enhances the command’s experience,” Belo said.
In January, commanders at Dyess Air Force Base, Laughlin AFB and Goodfellow AFB, Texas; Altus AFB and Vance AFB, Oklahoma; and Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, were the first to test the application and provided feedback for the FM team to refine the platform before its broader launch.
This pilot phase will help further improve the application, ensuring it meets the diverse needs of commanders across different units, Belo said.
Maj. David Lee, 100th Comptroller Squadron commander at RAF Mildenhall, said the application is a “game-changer, not only for the installation comptroller but for all my fellow commanders, senior enlisted leaders and first sergeants. By having this financial information at our fingertips, we now have the ability to quickly track issues and address them before they escalate. We no longer have to wait for reports and can provide leadership with immediate ownership and access to items that impact financial readiness.”
AFIMSC presented the Commander’s App during the 7th Annual Financial Services Officer Worldwide Conference the week of Feb. 10 in San Antonio. The FM team demonstrated the app’s innovative features and capabilities to more than 400 Airmen and Guardians. With the theme “Innovate Together: Nurturing Partnership for Organizational Excellence,” the conference focused on identifying FM best practices and innovative solutions. It also provided a platform for engaging with senior leadership to discuss strategic changes shaping financial operations.
“What we’ve achieved with the Commander’s Application demonstrates that FM is at the forefront of innovation in customer service across the DAF,” said Angie Trego, AFIMSC Financial Operations division chief. We’re leading the way and it’s a major shift in how we manage financial issues. When you look at the Commander’s Application, it’s clear that it’s bigger than FM. This app is designed to benefit every single person in the Department of the Air Force.”
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