FROM THE CHIEF OF THE CORPS

Many things have changed over the years in our Army and Finance Corps. One constant has been the Finance School’s staff and faculty’s ability to maintain the highest standards of excellence for training. I am extremely proud of the great effort by members of the school as they continue to train our Finance Corps soldiers to a razor’s edge while simultaneously maturing our doctrine. You can rest assured that the soldiers who are joining the ranks of our Regiment are properly trained, motivated and focused. The men and women who have stepped forward to continue the legacy of our Finance Corps are among the best and brightest of our nation.

It has been a fast three years for me as the Commandant. During my watch some great things happened to our Finance Corps:

1. We completed the process to merge our three enlisted MOS’s of 73C, 73D and 73Z into one new MOS of 44C.

2. With the help of our many friends, we obtained funding to continue the development and fielding of our Battlefield Enabler: Future Finance System (FFS). FFS, scheduled for fielding in FY04 and FY05, will give us the automated hardware and software systems to complete the entire spectrum of financial management on the Battlefield.

3. We moved down the road toward completion of the merger of BC44 (Finance) and FA45 (Comptroller). I want to take a few moments to tell you about this merger because it will change the way we are organized. As many of you already know, the commercial off the shelf, integrated pay and personnel system, known as the Defense Integrated Military Human Resource System (DIMHRS), will take the Finance Corps out of the "Military Pay Input" business. As a result of years of study, we have developed a concept called the Finance and Resource Management (FIRM) for the Objective Force which will focus on our "Wartime" Core Competencies of Procurement Support, Disbursing, Cost Capturing, Accounting, Commercial Vender Service, Non-US PAY/EPW and Banking/Currency Support. One of the driving forces of the FIRM transformation is filling the void in deployable resource management capabilities, enabled by new technology and systems. Specifically, FIRM supports the combatant commander’s paramount need to deploy rapidly, sustain the fight, and accomplish tactical, operational, and strategic objectives. FIRM offers impressive capabilities.

a. FIRM merges two related but independent areas, providing streamlined support. It retains the modular, tailorable, slim structure currently deployed, successfully supporting worldwide despite an extremely small footprint.

b. FIRM provides a complete Financial Management package, supporting home station and operational requirements for commanders.

The legacy force resource management structure does not provide responsive support and lacks the modular configuration necessary to accommodate the full spectrum of operations. FIRM corrects these deficiencies.

c. FIRM addresses the realities of the noncontiguous battlefield by:

(1). Ensuring "just in time" financial management support as a sustainment enabler, with full linkage into Global Command Support System-Army (GCSS-A) for situational awareness and C2;

(2). Providing critical command support to procurement, Host Nation Support (HNS), and vendor pay, particularly in early-entry phases and in theaters lacking infrastructure;

(3). Establishing full-circle funding: identification, acquisition, disbursing, distribution, control, and accounting, thus reducing the risk of loss or misappropriation of funds, and allowing compliance with Congressionally-mandated reporting requirements;

(4). Offering commanders a single focal point for Financial Management Operations, with a trained, responsive and professional career force.

d. The new organizational structure, FIRM, and the Future Finance System (FFS) will tremendously increase the financial management capabilities available to the war fighter. Current legacy force TOEs lack adequate automation and communication capability. FFS, with its "reach" technology, provides linkage and situational awareness necessary for all commanders to receive timely financial management support at each echelon, from forward deployed units back to generating forces.

e. Most significant of all, FIRM is poised for Joint operations, configured to give combatant commanders full financial management support in the entire range of military operations.

As FIRM becomes reality in the Objective Force, major structure changes will meet Army Transformation objectives. The end state of future financial management (FIRM) requires consolidation of Officer Specialties (44 & 45) and the establishment of a single enlisted Finance MOS; financial management functions will not change. Over time, Branch 44 Finance Officer structure will merge with FA 45 Comptroller. The MOS 73C Finance Specialist and 73D Accounting Specialist merger also supports our campaign plan, and provides a more robust multi-skilled soldier for commanders. Refinements will affect career development, improve training, and modernize business practices.

The end state justifies the effort and proves the vision. FIRM is the right structure for a transformed Army, Joint and multinational operational environments and future financial management. As I leave the Commandant position, again I want to thank everyone for their support and guidance. I know that you will give Col Robert SPEER, our new Commandant, the same type of support.

HOOAH to each of you! 

SUPPORT AND SERVE.

COL. Charles R. Walker