ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. - First Army held a Sustainment and Financial Management Conference Jan. 20-22, with a focus that fiscal responsibility helps lead to mission success.
In opening remarks in the Pershing Conference Room of First Army headquarters, First Army Chief of Staff, Col. Dale Kuehl, noted that a shrinking Army was not coinciding with a more stable world. The challenge, then, is to do more with less, and making prudent use of resources is key to mission accomplishment.
Julie Lundy, First Army budget officer, said it is crucial that budget personnel realize the role they play in mission readiness. "It's very important for them to understand that…and that they know the process of how funds are allocated," she said.
During the conference, First Army logistics and budget specialists had the chance to further explain First Army financial management practices to subordinate units, and personnel from those units had the opportunity to provide feedback and have their questions answered.
"This is the first one we held and it was due to Operation Bold Shift," Lundy said. "With the divisions going away, we wanted to make sure everything was in synch between the brigades and First Army headquarters and to make sure the duties were aligned correctly."
Lundy reported that the approximately 55 attendees considered three days to be time well spent. "The conference went exceptionally well and those who came said they would like to do them more often," she said. "It allowed us to exchange ideas, because any time there is a new process, it needs to be tweaked to make sure everything is properly aligned. We wanted to make sure everyone is one the same page and understands what the expectations are."
Joy Bottger, First Army deputy chief of staff, G8, called the conference beneficial for both First Army headquarters and its brigades.
"We needed to get everyone on the same sheet of music, and make sure our processes were standardized," she said. "The brigades said they learned quite a bit and have more of an idea what's happening at First Army headquarters and have more of an understanding of how the processes work."
And that will all tie back into overall mission success. "In developing budgets, we want to make sure we don't come in too high or too low, that we ask for just what we need," Bottger said. "We have to make sure to collaborate with our partners and other staff sections to ensure there are enough funds."
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