Category: News

Reduction of FM Certification CET Requirements

The Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller) has issued a policy, reducing the number of Continuing Education and Training (CET) hours required to maintain your Department of War (DoW) Financial Management (FM) certification. This change is designed to emphasize quality, mission-relevant training over quantity while a broader review of the certification program is underway. This email provides details on the policy, incorporating clarifying guidance from the Office of the Secretary of War (OSW).

Key Policy Change:

  • Effective with the 2024 – 2025 CET cycle, the requirement for all certification levels is now 40 hours per two-year cycle. This reduction from the previous requirements breaks down as follows:
    • FM Certification Level 1: Unchanged
    • FM Certification Level 2: Reduced by 20 hours (from 60 to 40 hours)
    • FM Certification Level 3: Reduced by 40 hours (from 80 to 40 hours)

Implementation and Eligibility:

The policy change is effective for 2024 – 2025 CET cycle and all future cycles. FM Certification Level 2 or 3 personnel with non-compliant CETs for any cycle ending on or before 12/31/2024 are required to complete their original 60 or 80-hour requirement and are not eligible for this reduction for any past cycles.

CET Reduction Application:

To implement this change, a “CET Relief Reduction” line item will be added to the scorecards for all eligible FM Certification Level 2 and 3 members. This will automatically apply the 20 or 40-hour credit, respectively. Please be advised that the implementation of this system update is pending, and the exact date is to be determined.

Please note that requirements for obtaining an initial FM certification remain unchanged.

For questions regarding this policy, please reach out to your local or command component administrators or our SAF/FM Workforce Development Team.

Introducing SAF/FMFO Accounting Policy & Operations

As part of a SAF/FMF reorganization, SAF/FMFC-A Air Force Accounting and Finance Office (AFAFO) and SAF/FMFS Air Force Accounting Operations Center (AFAOC) have joined forces as a NEW organization, SAF/FMFO (Accounting Policy and Operations), effective 1 Oct 2024.
This reorganization consolidates Air Force Financial Operations accounting support within a centralized organization, from policy development to implementation and sustainment across the Department of the Air Force (DAF). This merger streamlines access to process owners within a single organization and enhances the customer support already being provided to the Commands by increasing the breadth and depth of reach back support.

SAF/FMFO consists of four divisions covering the scope of work and quality products Air Force FM professionals have come to expect from AFAFO and AFAOC – now in one organization. SAF/FMFO’s divisions include Customer Support led by Mr. Bill Sanders, Field Support led by Ms. Kim Burnett, Policy led by Ms. Mick Hale, and Technical Support led by SAF/FMFO Deputy, Mr. T.J. Souza.

Our customers and FM systems users will still have access to help desk support, Subject Matter Expert (SME) knowledge, Power BI research modules, policy management, monthly users forums, dedicated fiscal year end closeout support, and so much more. With SAF/FM resources better aligned, we are looking forward to this exciting new venture and strive to deliver on our mission to provide overarching DAF FM accounting policy and customer support to strengthen user proficiency, including continuing education, targeted assistance, systems operation and monitoring, data analytics, internal controls, and strategic communications.

Organizational change is essential in today’s ever-transforming business environment and is necessary for maintaining relevance and posterity. Rest assured that our vision will always remain the same – Success through Customer Focus. We here at SAF/FMFO are thrilled to continue supporting the world’s greatest airmen and guardians.

If you have any questions or feedback, please contact SAF.DEAMS.StratComms@us.af.mil.

New Power BI DAF FM Certification Status Tool

DAF FM Team,

Drumroll, please! We are excited to present our newest innovation – the interactive DAF FM Certification Status Tool! Out with the old, clunky MACRO enabled Access Databases, and in with the new PowerBI Dashboard that streamlines FM Certification progress, with refreshes at least once a week.

What do you get with this new tool? Everything you had with the prior Metric’s Access Databases and so much MORE!

This dashboard includes overviews of Program Health including your unit’s Good Standing rating with filtering capability, Command Standings, Pending Approvals for package tracking, an expanded CET Status page including all the cycles, Individual Status to monitor progress, and a page dedicated to Supervisor Status where they can see their assigned personnel’s progress all on one place.

Looking for the historical metrics? They are still located on SharePoint if you wish to delve into past metric trends.

With the new DAF FM Certification Status Tool, staying informed has never been easier. Want to learn more about the new Status Tool? Join us as we demo via MS Teams on the following dates:

AM Morning Session: 13 Jun 2024 at 0900

PM Afternoon Session: 26 Jun 2024 at 1500

Have questions or feedback? Let us know what you think!

V/r,

SAF/FM Workforce Development

________________________________

Stay in-the-know with upcoming webinars, development opportunities, tools, and more:

myFMHub: http://www.myfmhub.hq.af.mil/ 

FM Professional Development Hub SharePoint: https://usaf.dps.mil/teams/fmhub

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USAFComptroller

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/daffm

AFRC RPA Obligation Uniform and Organizational Clothing Purchase Initiative

The staff has provided two options below for consideration as you begin assessing shortfalls that can

be addressed. 

(1)   Uniforms for prior-service members. The staff continues to hear concerns from the field that many units have prior-service Airmen that do not have the basic issue of 4 sets of OCP and/or a complete set of Blues. These instances have led directly to ARC deployment discrepancies, personnel arriving in the AOR without required uniforms/cold weather gear, and Airmen arriving to Tech School without the mandatory uniform compliment.  Follow guidance in attached PIM 20-006 for funding allowance information.

(2)   AF Maintenance Duty Uniform (MDU). The Air Force authorized the purchase and wear of the AF MDU/Coveralls on 7 February 2020 (DAFI36-2903). The MDU is classified as Organizational clothing and, IAW AFRC PIM 20-006,Commanders are authorized use of Reserve Personnel Appropriation (RPA) Funds for MDU/Coverall purchase. Airmen in AFSC’s: 2A, 2F, 2G, 2M, 2P, 2S, 2T, 2W, 3E, 3D and 1P are authorized to wear the MDU. HQ AFRC has confirmed that PIM 20-006 is still valid and applicable.

NOTE: Any RPA funds utilized to order standard uniform items IAW AFI 36-3012, Attachment 3 will need to be obtained using KYLOC IAW 23-101_AFRCSUP, Chp 11.3 BL: Please be on the lookout for the funding distribution to your 721 accounts and be prepared to execute immediately upon receipt of funds.  

Please coordinate and work with your local FM and Supply teams for any specific 721, GPC or KYLOC procurement questions.  My A4RM Material Readiness Branch is standing by to provide any KYLOC related sourcing inquires or concerns.  They can be reached at the following workflow email address:  HQ AFRC/A4RM Command IPE AFRCA4RMMOBILITY@US.AF.MIL

Appoved AF Coverall Uniform (MDU)Download
PIM-20-006-Guidance-Related-to-Uniform-and-Clothing-Issues

CFO Academy Leadership Certificate

Advance your career and the DoD mission – take advantage of the extended application deadline to August 13 for the Fall 2021 term

Don’t miss out! The CFO Academy is seeking applicants for its Fall 2021 CFO Leadership Graduate Certificate program. This program will help prepare you to lead within and across organizational boundaries by leveraging knowledge of federal budgeting, financial accounting and reporting, data management and analytics, risk, internal controls, and audit for strategic advantage. 

A component of the College of Information and Cyberspace at the National Defense University (www.ndu.edu), CFO Academy courses align with the competencies specified in DoD Financial Management Certification Program and provide accredited, graduate-level education in the leadership of resource management – critical learning that directly supports the DoD mission to make efficient and effective use of financial and other resources.

Application Instructions: https://cic.ndu.edu/Admissions/Application-Instructions/

Why you should pursue this opportunity

Students earn this certificate by successfully completing these five robust courses:

  • White House, Congress, and the Budget
  • Data Management Strategies and Technologies
  • The Future of Federal Financial Information Sharing
  • Risk Management, Internal Controls and Auditing for Leaders
  • Strategic Performance and Budget Management

For more information, please visit: https://cic.ndu.edu or email CICOSS@ndu.edu

To apply online: https://cic.ndu.edu/Admissions/Apply-Online/

Defense Travel Dispatch – Volume XIV – Issue 2 – Summer 2021

DTMO Link

The Defense Travel Management Office is pleased to publish the newly redesigned Summer 2021 edition of our quarterly newsletter, Defense Travel Dispatch.  Recognizing the need for better communication between the Defense Travel Management Office and the travel community, the Dispatch provides timely travel-related news, best practices, and updates. 

  • The Rapidly Changing COVID-19 Travel Environment
  • What Can You Expect During Your Next Hotel Stay?
  • What’s New with Defense Travel Modernization
  • Rental Car Shortage Felt by Defense Travelers
  • Mark Your Calendars for GovTravels 2022
  • Dining Traveler Rewards – Too Good to Be True?
Dispatch-VolumeXIV-Issue2-Summer-2021Download

Updated GTC Regulation and SoU

DTMO updated the GTCC Regulation and Cardholder Reference guide, to include the new DD3120 Statement of Understanding (SoU).  

DTMO completed their revision of the March 2021 Regulations updates and posted it here. The new DD3120 Statement of Understanding (SOU) can be found here. Both documents are also available to view or download below. 

Members do not need to reaccomplish the SoU if they already have one on file. New applicants will use the updated DD3120 Statement of Understanding (SOU), and current cardholders will use the new form when they hit their three-year renewal or move to a new duty station.

GTC Regulation (March 2021)

GTCC-Regulations-_March-2021

GTCC Regulations _March 2021Download

GTC Cardholder Reference (March 2021)

Cardholder-Reference-GTCC-Regulations-_-March-2021

Cardholder Reference GTCC Regulations _ March 2021Download

DD3120 Statement of Understanding (SoU)

DD3120-SOU-2

DD3120 SOUDownload