Get online with new Web-based travel voucher program

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jenni Deylius
  • 302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  Reservists now have a new way to file their travel vouchers with the simple click of a mouse.

The web-based system, known as 'eFinance,' offers Reservists a secure, paperless way to submit travel vouchers online. The system, which becomes mandatory for wing members at the beginning of 2011, provides a user friendly interface designed to help eliminate errors that might cause a travel voucher to be rejected and ultimately delay payment to the member's government travel card.

"It's similar to Turbo Tax's design in that it guides users through, step-by-step," said Mark Ellis, budget officer for the 302nd Airlift Wing's finance office.

Unlike the paper voucher, eFinance gives Reservists more control over their travel voucher, which helps expedite the process, Mr. Ellis said. One of those control features include Reservists receiving e-mail status updates as the travel voucher moves through the various stages of processing. If a problem is encountered during the approval process, the voucher is electronically returned to the Reservist, enabling them to quickly resolve the error. Even with an error, the member can correct it and resubmit their travel voucher electronically which can be faster than filing it in the finance office.

Additional details on eFinance are available in a recently-created eFinance "how-to" guide. Members are encouraged to contact their supervisor or first sergeant for a guide.
In the system, Reservists can enter a home or civilian employer e-mail addresses into their profile, which can give members up-to-date information on the status of their voucher without having to access a government computer. eFinance can only be accessed from a computer with a "CAC" reader, so while the customer can receive updates from home, they will need access to a government system to make changes or corrections to their electronic voucher.

Col. Courtney Arnold, 302nd AW vice commander, said the new system was designed to be a bridge between traditional paper vouchers and the AF Reserve's plan to introduce a command version of the Defense Travel System.

"While there is no specific timeline for implementation of a Reserve 'DTS,' our wing commander, Col. Jay Pittman, has mandated the use of eFinance by Jan. 1, 2011 for all vouchers that can be submitted using the system," Colonel Arnold said. "Going to the eFinance system is expected to reduce errors and speed up the voucher submission and payment process, which is good for everyone in our wing."

Once the electronic form is completed, necessary documents such as receipts and a copy of the Reservist's orders, are scanned, digitally signed and routed to the Reservist's supervisor for approval. Once the voucher is approved, it's forwarded to the local Servicing Finance Office for review. For 302nd AW members, that means the voucher is sent to the 21st Comptroller Squadron. If Reservists don't have access to a scanner, documents can be faxed to eFinance.

With 21st CPTS approval, the voucher is then transferred to the Air Force Financial Services Center for processing and final payout.

"With the current [paper] system, if a voucher is filled out perfectly it can take a couple of weeks to receive payment. It can take even longer to receive payment if a voucher is returned because of errors," said Mr. Ellis. "With eFinance, people have received payment (in the 302nd AW) as quickly as five to seven business days."

Other electronic finance documents are available on eFinance, including change of legal residence, emergency pay and allowances, basic allowance for housing, basic allowance for subsistence, family separation allowance and advance pay forms.

The eFinance site can be reached at https://efinanceworkspace.wpafb.af.mil. For assistance, Reservists are encouraged to contact the 21st CPTS at (719) 556-4770, or by e-mail at 21cpts.fmfc@peterson.af.mil.