Financial Managers meet to discuss financial readiness

By Spc. Joseph BlackDecember 28, 2017

Hearing how to use money as a weapons system
1 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Brook Hess, Budget Analyst, Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command, listens to a guest speaker discuss the benefits of auditability, a measure of whether an organization maintains complete and easily accessible records, during a financ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
USARCENT Chief of Sustainment speaks about teaching junior leaders
2 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brigadier Gen. Jonathan McColumn, U.S. Army Central Chief of Sustainment, provides information to other panel members during a financial management forum, Dec. 4, 2017 in Qatar. The forum provided an opportunity for leaders to meet and discuss ways t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Hearing how to use money as a weapons system
3 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Colonel Brian Smith receives a token of appreciation from Brig. Gen. Kenneth Hubbard, U.S. Army Central senior financial manager, after speaking at the 2018 Financial Management and Comptroller Forum, Dec. 4, 2017 in Qatar. The forum provided an oppo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Senior Leaders eat, discuss future of military finance
4 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Air Force Col. Timothy Kodama, U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Herlitz Henderson and other senior financial leaders discuss past experiences and future possibilities within financial management during a lunch meeting Dec. 4, 2017 in Qatar. The lunch allowed... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Driving it home
5 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Marine Corps Col. Grady Belyeu, Marine Corps Forces Central Command senior budget analyst, emphasizes a point during a panel session at the 2017 Financial Management and Comptroller Forum, Dec. 5, 2017 in Qatar. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Joseph B... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Building camaraderie through fitness
6 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sergeant 1st Class Tyrone Griffin, Brig. Gen. Kenneth Hubbard, Col. Cody Zilhaver, Sgt. Maj. Herlitz Henderson and Lt. Col. Leah Jones participate in a team-building fitness competition as part of the Financial Management and Comptroller Forum, Dec. ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Leaders discuss financial future
7 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lieutenant Col. David Vandevender receives the microphone from Maj. Daniel Lambert during a panel discussion Dec. 6, 2017 at the Financial Management and Comptroller Forum in Qatar. The panel allowed for the audience to ask questions and included tal... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
In it to win it
8 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Pamela Thomas prepares to complete a pushup event during a team-building fitness competition as part of the Financial Management and Comptroller Forum Dec. 6, 2017 in Qatar. The competition included physical challenges like buddy carries, ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Al UDEID AIRBASE, Qatar - Military finance professionals met for the Financial Management and Comptroller Forum December 4-7 on Al Udeid Airbase, Qatar.

The four-day forum was held to bring financial managers from across the Central Command area of responsibility together and teach best practices in finance operations, said Sgt. Maj. Herlitz Henderson, U.S. Army Central financial management sergeant major.

"The mission is to make sure that when we leave here, we leave with one understanding, we are more empowered, we are more knowledgeable," said Henderson. "When we leave here, we are better able to and more equipped to execute the budget."

Funding is required to support missions and without it, Soldiers and contractors could not get paid, said Sgt. Maj. Christopher Hosten,

"It has a direct impact even before entering the battlefield," said Hosten.

"Now we have leaders from the various services talking to each other, exchanging ideas, and then it is taken back to the different service agencies."

Henderson also agreed on the importance of financial readiness between the branches.

"Everything requires money and if someone is not sure how to execute the budget, it might impede readiness, but once it is clear in everyone's mind, then it will make us more ready," said Henderson.

Many speakers presented during the conference and addressed topics from current technology to the military's initiative, "Using Money As A Weapons System." A common theme arose from the talks: teamwork.

"When we come together as a team, we have the ability to clarify some of the things that can be confusing," said Henderson.

The financial leaders were also given an opportunity the work together as they completed a team-building physical fitness competition.

The contest consisted of a buddy carry, push-ups, squats, and other events that encouraged teamwork while allowing the participants to enjoy some friendly competition.

The forum meets each year to discuss new questions that arise and changes to policy.