403rd Army Field Support Brigade Spotlight: The Army Field Support Battalion-Korea Resource Management (S8) Section

By AFSBn-KoreaOctober 27, 2022

403rd Army Field Support Brigade Spotlight: The Army Field Support Battalion-Korea Resource Manageme
The Army Field Support Battalion-Korea Resource Management (S8) Section. (From left) An Pyong-hui, accounting technician; Raquel Fuentes, chief financial management analyst; Pyon Sun-chong, budget analyst; and Chong Mun-suk, budget analyst. (Photo Credit: MSG Barrington Lemon) VIEW ORIGINAL

This month’s 403rd Army Field Support Brigade “Spotlight” is on the Army Field Support Battalion-Korea Resource Management (S8) Section for their ability to overcome obstacles and complete their mission successfully and on schedule, proving themselves to be a hardworking and dedicated team.

Hometowns:

An Pyong-hui, accounting technician and Chong Mun-suk, budget analyst are both from Seoul, South Korea. Pyon Sun-chong, budget analyst, is from Chon-do, Kyungpook, South Korea, and Raquel Fuentes, chief financial management analyst is from East Los Angeles, California.

How long have you been working for the U.S Army?

The S8 team has a total combined experience of 83 working years between all four members.

What other positions have you held with the U.S. Military?

We all have different experiences within the U.S. military, and it ranges from Mr. An being a food service/cook for USAG-Yongsan Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation to Ms. Pyon being a library technician for U.S. Army Materiel Support Center – Korea, Camp Carroll. Other positions held by the team are accounting technician, administrative support, computer clerk and program analyst.

Tell about your job and what you do.

The Army Field Support Battalion-Korea S8 team supports the battalion, installation divisions and other customers within Camp Humphrey’s. Some of our support includes funding execution, government purchase card purchases, executing contracts, processing travel orders through Defense Travel System, government travel credit card access and updates, permanent change of station household goods claims, and other support as needed.

Ms. Chong is responsible for the dining facility contract for most of the Peninsula. She ensures funds are in-house on time to execute the funds on the contract, she works closely with the contract specialist in 411th Contracting Support Brigade - Korea. This ensures no dining facility closes, and Soldiers always have an open facility to dine across South Korea!

How long have you been in this position?

Mr. An and Ms. Chong have about five years supporting AFSBn-K. Ms. Fuentes has about five months. Our newest member to the team, Ms. Pyon has the least, but most, time supporting AFSBn-K. She started her current position about a month ago, however, for nine years between 2008-2017, she worked as a budget analyst for AFSBn-K before she left - and now she is back with us!

What other duties are you responsible for?

The S8 encompasses a of team players! We do not allow the S8 mission to fail and always complete “other duties as assigned”. Ms. Fuentes is a noncombatant evacuations operations warden. She ensures the noncombatant evacuees are organized and prepared in case of contingency operations. Mr. An loves to plan and assist in any “teambuilding” activities. Most recently he was part of the committee for the battalion’s organizational Day. This event joins everyone from AFSBn-Korea to share time together, conduct activities and have a meal together without the normal stresses from work. Mr. An is also famous for making the best Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches in AFSBn-K!

What are some of your accomplishments? Also, accomplishments while being at AFSBn-K?

The S8 team recently closed Fiscal Year 2022 in a timely manner with a shorthanded lineup. Ms. Chong and Mr. An did not allow the mission to fail and held things together prior to Ms. Pyon coming on board and while Ms. Fuentes was out on leave. Despite the challenges, reimbursable and appropriated funds were 100 percent committed and obligated by Sept. 30.

Prior to working in South Korea, Ms. Fuentes volunteered in the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference, which is the world's largest modeling, simulation, and training event. She was a member of the Policy, Standards, Management & Acquisition Committee, and was responsible for the review, feedback, and guidance for authors hoping to present and publish their work. Her efforts culminated in being able to assist the authors of the respective publications to pass the rigorous criteria and being able to present their work at I/ITSEC.

What do you like to do in your free time?

The team enjoys many different activities to include traveling, going to concerts, singing, exercise, volunteering and most importantly spending time with friends and loved ones.

Do you have any special skills or talents you would like to share (what is something people might not know about you)?

One special skill we all share in the S8 team is our ability to love and eat a lot of food! This makes a perfect environment for Mr. An’s love of cooking and Ms. Pyon’s love of baking. Mr. An is also an avid golfer. His skill set is very high he even provides golfing lessons.