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NEWS | April 3, 2006

1st FW comptrollers keep money flowing at Manas

By Staff Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher 1st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

Money makes Manas Air Base go ‘round, and four 1st Fighter Wing comptrollers deployed there keep the Kyrgystan base spinning.

The four-person team arrived at Manas in the beginning of January. Along with a NCO from Malmstrom AFB, the comptrollers are tasked with providing all financial services for more than 900 deployed Air Force people and all transient personnel across every branch of military service.

“Thousands of personnel travel through Manas to get to Afghanistan, Iraq and other areas in support of this operation,” said Master Sgt. Cheryl Yeager, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Comptroller Office superintendent. “We are the primary cargo, passenger and air refueling hub for this operation, so the mission is very important here.”

Refueling, cargo and passengers all require money, a fact that keeps the Langley comptrollers busy every day.

“Without money, there is no mission,” said Senior Airman Eric Miller, 367th AEW cashier.

“Nothing happens without money,” said Capt. Jonathan Theard, 376th AEW comptroller. “All purchase requests come through me first because we must verify that the requested item is a legal purchase that contributes to the mission. We use tax payer dollars, and we ensure that we are using them properly.”

Captain Theard is responsible for the big picture when it comes to budget purchases for Manas. He said being in a war-time environment offers new challenges for him and his people.

“It’s difficult to get purchase requests completed as quickly as the commanders would like,” he said. “Stateside unit commanders can purchase their own items. In the AOR, all purchases must come through us.”

For Airman Miller, the wide-view of the mission isn’t what he focuses on. He said the high-point of his mission is helping people.

“There was an Army member in here a couple of days ago that was very concerned about his pay being messed up,” he said. “He was worried about the money that would be going to his account this pay period so his family would be all right while he was away. I was happy to help him and get everything straightened out before he headed downrange.”