TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- For those who have filled out military travel vouchers, questions and confusion are common. Whether the member is filling one out for the first time or has done 50, it can still be a struggle to get everything 100 percent correct.
The travel pay office is hoping to change this.
Beginning with the October unit training assembly, the 349th Air Mobility Wing financial management office is rolling out a few changes to help expedite customer service wait times, and improve voucher accuracy for faster, more accurate reimbursements.
The first change will involve a “new location” in Building 381 for travel pay personnel during customer service hours. The office is not physically relocating. A few of its finance technicians will head up the hill to provide travel pay services to customers in a larger space.
Currently, the travel pay office has limited space, equipment, and personnel.
“People are getting jammed in the waiting area and hallway right now,” said Senior Master Sgt. Angela Smith, 349th AMW financial management superintendent.
As such, the wait times can be long. With numerous training requirements and other tasks for members to accomplish during a drill weekend, a lengthy wait to answer questions is not ideal.
The relocation of personnel to Building 381 during customer service periods will open up more computers – about 20 instead of the current six. The waiting area will also be more suitable for a large number of people needing assistance during UTAs. Additionally, the 60th AMW is offering one of their finance technicians to assist customers during drill weekends, as this is the busiest time.
“Basically, this change is intended to reduce the wait time and serve more customers,” said Smith. She added that with more space, members will likely be able to relax while waiting.
The finance office sees numerous requests for information or assistance that could be addressed at the unit level with an organization defense travel administrator, or ODTA, said Smith.
“I’d say about 60-70 percent of travel vouchers get kicked back,” she said, and added that many of the reasons are a result of the member not knowing the process.
Do you know who your ODTA is?
“The ODTAs are there to save the member time in not having to come to finance,” said Smith. More vouchers can be processed when technicians are able to work without interruption. Some customer requests require assistance that only the finance office can offer, but many do not, she said.
“Some members don’t have a clue how to fill out a travel voucher,” said Tech. Sgt. Maria Howe, finance technician. “And some don’t know who their ODTA is.”
Come November, there’s a chance many more members will learn who their ODTA is. Finance technicians will be visiting pre-selected units to assist with travel vouchers on location, and to answer any questions about the reimbursement process. ODTAs are required to be present, so if members have outstanding travel vouchers or questions, they can get them answered by either the finance technician, or their very own ODTA.
Smith recommends the ODTA be an individual who is not “sitting in meetings all day,” she said.
The changes come as part of a bigger picture continuing process improvement for financial services here. A little less than half of the financial management staff will deploy in 2018. If units become more self-sufficient and equipped with the knowledge to help with their members’ travel pay issues, this will be less of a burden on the decreased manning.
“The more units can help themselves, the faster vouchers can be processed,” said Smith.
- Travel Pay personnel will be in Building 381 during customer service hours beginning with October UTA
- eFinance paper vouchers will no longer be accepted after September.
- Always check with your ODTA for travel pay questions first.
- Don’t have an ODTA? You need one.