FMNET Message 16 MAR 2018

FMNet Members:

The Financial Management School (FMS) hosted a change of responsibility ceremony for its incoming and outgoing command sergeants major between CSM Annie L. Walker and CSM Gennaro A. Penn, on Friday, March 9, 2018.  This momentous event was full of tradition and enthusiasm for all to witness.
(https://www.milsuite.mil/book/community/spaces/afms/blog/2018/03/14/fms-change-of-responsibility-ceremony   https://www.facebook.com/groups/7945374196/)

Training Opportunities:

1.  FMNet highlights the Ultimate Training Environment System (UTES) Community of Interest (COI).  For all users who are not familiar with UTES or how to leverage this tool to conduct home station training, a blog posted within UTES COI provides an overview.  (https://www.milsuite.mil/book/community/spaces/afms/utes/blog/2017/11/27/utes-overview)  We encourage our users to leverage this superb tool; where financial managers (military and civilian) can train on identical systems used in real-time to provide Operational Contract Support (OCS)/Procure-to-Pay Business Process at home station.  Users can train together in the same room or across the globe. 
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nICwUuLGGUk)

2.  USAFMCOM hosts mandatory Quarterly Electronic-Commerce Systems Training at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston for select personnel of FORSCOM deploying Financial Management Organizations.
(https://www.milsuite.mil/book/message/743396#743396   https://www.dvidshub.net/news/printable/135067)

3.  The 2018 DoD Procure-to-Pay (P2P) Training Symposium, jointly hosted by Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy (DPAP) and the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), will be held in Orlando, Florida, at the Hilton Orlando from April 2 – 5, 2018. This Symposium is designed to provide our contracting, logistics, and comptroller communities and our industry partners with a better understanding of requirements for standard data and processes, use of enterprise systems, and related internal controls that are in line with audit requirements to ensure efficient government management of P2P activities and taxpayer funds.
  The Symposium will include the latest on P2P and audit initiatives from DoD and federal senior leaders, to include information on procurement data standards and tools, financial management reform, government furnished property, traceability and transparency of awards, and cybersecurity. The goal of the Symposium is to increase awareness of current contracting and finance trends, processes, and changing procedures and policies and to provide opportunity for the communities to come together and share problems and solutions.
  The target audience is mid-level to senior government individuals that lead or are involved in implementing P2P initiatives and/or related enterprise systems from a policy or system perspective at their home offices or commands; including system administrators, functional super-users, and lead trainers.  Industry leads working corporate implementation of DoD's P2P initiatives, as well as related industry system providers are also welcome to attend.
(https://www.milsuite.mil/book/events/48892?sr=stream   https://appam.certain.com/profile/web/index.cfm?PKwebID=0x16702abcd)

General News and Information:

1.  The FMS would like to request all of our subscribers to visit our Finance Certification COI and participate in the finance certification poll, to tailor the community with relevant material for all of the Finance Corps.
(https://www.milsuite.mil/book/polls/242296)
(https://www.milsuite.mil/book/polls/242298)
(https://www.milsuite.mil/book/polls/242299)
(https://www.facebook.com/groups/7945374196/)

2.  For all members of the Finance Corps Association (FCA) and have an eligible family member, or you are an Enlisted Soldier who meets the criteria, 2018 FCA Scholarship is upon us.
(https://www.milsuite.mil/book/community/spaces/afms/blog/2018/02/26/fca-scholarship?sr=stream   http://www.fincorps.org/)

3.  Relevant defense training Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) or Tactics, Techniques & Procedures (TTP), is the focus of this week’s question within FM Company Grade COI.
(https://www.milsuite.mil/book/thread/194951?ru=678847&sr=stream)

4.  General Fund Enterprise Business System (GFEBS) Financials course is preparing for financial managers attending the March 19 session, and please review the GFEBS Financials COI for the latest course information.
(https://www.milsuite.mil/book/community/spaces/afms/functional-courses/gfebs-financials)

5.  A quick reminder to all of our subscribers that the UTES site will be down for schedule Maintenance on March 30 – April 7, 2018.  To review all upcoming scheduled maintenance days visit UTES COI.
(https://www.milsuite.mil/book/docs/DOC-327660)

6.  All financial managers attending the April 9, Planning, Programming, Budget, and Execution (PPBE) Course, please review the course syllabus on our PPBE COI.
(https://www.milsuite.mil/book/community/spaces/afms/functional-courses/ppbe)

7.  General Fund Enterprise Business System (GFEBS) Cost Management course is gearing up for the upcoming class on April 16.  For all financial managers attending, please review the GFEBS Cost COI for the latest course information.
(https://www.milsuite.mil/book/community/spaces/afms/functional-courses/gfebs-cost)

8.  For all subscribers looking for a TPU Vacancy, please consider the Total Force Integrator COI for a listing of TPU opportunities.
(https://www.milsuite.mil/book/community/spaces/afms/tfi)

9.  For all financial managers seeking accreditation of Continuing Education and Training (CET) requirements from the comfort of their desk.  Please review the list of available virtual training at DOD FM Certification COI.
(https://www.milsuite.mil/book/community/spaces/afms/fm-certification/blog/2018/02/13/the-virtual-courses-pilot-has-been-extended)

10.  For those individuals that may not know, the Army Financial Management School has created a partnership with the University of South Carolina (USC).  The FMNet is full of useful information for course interest and attendance.  Please follow the page and share this knowledge with other financial managers.
(https://www.milsuite.mil/book/community/spaces/afms/usc   http://www.finance.army.mil/FMS%20and%20USC%20Partnership%20Article.pdf)

11.  Why is there a Finance Corps museum?  The U.S. Army Finance Corps Museum is a blend of the traditional (static exhibit displays and artifacts) and virtual (museum website and museum weblog).  In concert with technological innovations, the museum functions as a learning conduit for Financial Management students and personnel by presenting an environment that fosters esprit de corps (identifying with Army values),  branch heritage training, and an understanding of American military history.
(https://www.milsuite.mil/book/community/spaces/afms/finance-corps-museum/blog/2015/05/29/united-states-army-finance-corps-museum-operations-the-importance-of-branch-heritage-training    https://www.experiencecolumbiasc.com/listing/us-army-finance-corps-museum/15885/)

12.  From the 63rd Readiness Division, Soldier’s care is ensuring not only is the Soldier but their family as well prepared for the future after the Army.  Follow the link to learn about maximizing your retirement benefits.
(https://www.milsuite.mil/book/docs/DOC-403080?sr=stream   http://www.usar.army.mil/Featured/Resources/Retirement/Pre-RetirementTrainingSchedule/)

13.  What is the difference between Un funded Request (UFR) and Operational Needs Statement (ONS), is all about spending? Join this stimulating discussion on the FMNet.
 ans: My understanding is that the UFR is about spending money, while the ONS is your authorization to retain something.  For example, at the end of the last fiscal year we were able to submit UFRs (unfunded requests) and get some sorely needed office supplies, fire lockers, and other items we needed in our day to day operations.  Separately we are submitting an ONS (operational needs statement) for some laser optics for our weapon systems (it turns out we didn't actually need the ONS b/c the lasers were authorized under the CTA...).  If approved, this would give our PBO a document to keep on file that authorizes us to have these non-MTO&E items, should someone believe that we're excess and try to direct a lateral transfer. 
 In the end, they sometimes go together.  You may get the ONS approved, but then have no funds to buy the thing you're now authorized until it's the UFR season.
 Hopefully that helps, and for anyone else, if I'm off on my explanation please feel free to chime in!
(https://www.milsuite.mil/book/message/749653#749653)

MILPER, ALARACT, Army Directives, DFAS, & FORSCOM Financial Management Messages:

1.  MILPER messages available on the HRC MILPER web page at
(https://www.hrc.army.mil/Milper)

2.  ALARACTs on AKO at
(https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/550282.)

3.  Army Directives are on the Army Publishing Directorate at
(http://www.apd.army.mil/Search/ePubsSearch/ePubsSearchForm.aspx?x=ARMY+DIR)  

4.  DFAS MilPay Accounting Analysis Directorate Year End 2017 Processes
(https://dfas4dod.dfas.mil/centers/dfasin/yearend/FY2017/FY17.htm)

5  .DFAS For DOD Library
(https://dfas4dod.dfas.mil/library/)

6.  FORSCOM RMM 170041 “GCSS-A Wave II PBO Requisitioning Process (job aid)” and 170044 “Recent Changes to Mandatory GFEBS Training in ALMS” along with other messages are available.
(https://www.milsuite.mil/book/docs/DOC-413486?sr=search&searchId=e38d9794-a5c8-41f8-9c75-530fa21c20c1&searchIndex=1.)    

Upcoming Events (all times Eastern Time):

1.  The content from cpol.army.mil has transitioned to milBook.
(https://www.milsuite.mil/book/community/spaces/Civ-HR)   

2.  Do you need help maintaining your Department of Defense (DOD) Financial Management (FM) and Certified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM) Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits, visit:
(http://www.asmconline.org/pdi/) 

3.  American Society of Military Comptrollers (ASMC) 2018 National Professional Development Institute (PDI) is 30 May to 1 June in Denver, Colorado 2018.  Additional details are available.
(http://www.asmconline.org/beckeronlinecpes/)

 
Social Media: Share these links with your peers.

Join the FMNet by visiting the Army Financial Management School COI link and sign in to milSuite with your CAC (signing in establishes your milSuite account if you did not have one).  After signing in select milBook and navigate to the Army Financial Management School Community page, look for the “Join” widget on the left and click it.  Approval is automatic.  https://www.milsuite.mil/book/community/spaces/afms    

FMtube: Visit the FMtube for video job aids https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrFUP9pi9QR6d4mDZ4-cW8Q    
One Stop: Visit us at the Home of the Army Financial Management School on the One Stop http://www.finance.army.mil/

This post identifies our total membership count for the FMNet (Army FM School Community of Interest) with 4,714 members as of March 16th compared to 4,646 as of the February update.