MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU AIR BASE, Romania -- We all know money doesn't grow on trees, but finance support personnel serving with the 16th Special Troops Battalion are doing everything possible to ensure Soldiers supporting missions here have access to funds required for local contracts and purchases.
The "Aces" of Alpha Detachment, 106th Financial Management Support Unit, 16th STB serve as the financial readiness arm of "Task Force Warhammer," comprised of 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion personnel. The "Aces" help make Warhammer logistical "kings," providing resources needed to meet local requirements.
One of the team's key tasks is to provide funding for potential host nation contracts and local purchases for units operating in the Atlantic Resolve - South region of Bulgaria and Romania.
The 106th FMSU does this by sending a pay agent and field ordering officer team, which makes small purchases on the local economy to procure items essential to mission success.
"Our role is to ensure pay agents are properly trained," said Sgt. Simone Graham, a
disbursing manager with the 106th FMSU. "In addition, we provide pay agents the resources needed to maintain accountability of funds and execute duties to best support the commander and the mission throughout Atlantic Resolve."
When serving in a garrison environment, the 106th FMSU can withdraw required funds from the on-base finance office. While operating in the Atlantic Resolve operational area this is not possible.
Service-wide innovations also contribute to mission success. The Army's "E-Commerce" initiative now allows 106th FMSU Soldiers operating in austere environments to receive wire transfer funds by using global payment services such as Western Union, dramatically decreasing the time it takes to obtain funds.
"Since we have been in Romania, we have disbursed over $125,000 in support of Atlantic Resolve South," said Spc. Abhisit Witchuwong, a disbursing technician with the 106th FMSU. "We have funded agents in Active Component, Reserve Component and Special Operations units operating across the Balkans."
Financial management, unit leaders said, is essential to maintaining logistical readiness and meeting U.S. commitments to NATO Allies across the Balkans.
The expeditionary "Aces" of the 106th FMSU play an important role in assuring readiness and financial stability not only to organizations within the 16th Sustainment Brigade, but also to rotational units in the Atlantic Resolve - South area of operations.
Social Sharing