EagleCash lands at Ali Base

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Phyllis Hanson
  • 407th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs Office
ALI BASE, Iraq (AFPN) --  An Air Force EagleCash Card program team has been flying throughout the area of responsibility for the past six months implementing a time- and money-saving technology in southern Iraq.

The three-person team, which included a member of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and two members from U.S. Central Command arrived here Nov. 12. The team wasted no time installing $20,000 worth of equipment and training the 407th Air Expeditionary Group financial management office.

"Writing checks for cash may soon become a thing of past," said Staff Sgt. Steven Coover, a cashier and customer service technician with the 407th finance office.

The finance office processes hundreds of checks in a month, doling out nearly $100,000. The EC program helps eliminate waiting in lines to get cash, allowing finance Airmen the time to provide better customer service for pay inquiries, entitlement starts or general questions.

"EagleCash is the new currency," he said.

Using smart-card technology, EC was developed and is managed jointly by the Army, Air Force and Treasury Department. The program works like an in-store gift card.

For those who can't make it to the finance office to cash a check during normal business hours, it will be more convenient because of the 24-hour-a-day access EC provides. A person can go to any EC kiosk in the AOR and upload a maximum of $350 per day onto the card.

The card normally is set to expire 30 days after a member's scheduled departure from the AOR. Any funds left on the card will be returned to the cardholder' s bank account, or the cardholder can transfer the money out through an EC kiosk.

"There are some people who don't like change, but once they see the ease and use of the program, they accept it whole heartedly," said Senior Master Sgt. Michael Windsor, who is with the Combined Air Operations Center's financial management office.

Since EC transactions are batch-processed, the system isn't "online." Even if the Internet is down, transactions can still be made.  In the evening all the transactions will be electronically collected and can be sent via defense switched network.

One misconception some people have is that there are fees associated with the program. There aren't.  In fact, using the card is a win-win situation, because the Army and Air Force Exchange Service won't have to pay 2 or 3 percent of a person's purchase to a credit card company. The thousands of dollars saved goes straight back to servicemembers' Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs.

The card also can be used when making a deposit to the Savings Deposit Program, formerly known as Uniformed Services Deposit Program, which is available to those who serve for more than 30 days in designated combat zones. Depositing a check into SDP can take days to clear. But by using the EC, finance office representatives can make an electronic transaction with the member's card directly into the SDP, saving days of lost interest. 

People can apply for a card by completing and submitting an application at the finance office. Cardholders can then load, unload and even transfer funds between cards at any kiosk.

"I was always interested in getting the EagleCash card, but I thought it was only for the Army," said Master Sgt. Tom Vasile, with the 407th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron.

"To write a check, you have to write your whole life story on it. In the same amount of time, I was issued my card, I loaded up money and was in and out," said Sergeant Vasile, who was one of the first in line to sign up.

For every $1 billion that comes through the AOR, its costs an additional $700,000 to get it there, said Mike Bolin, the EagleCash project manager from the Financial Management Service in Washington.

Further, transporting currency puts people in harm's way.

Paper change known as "pogs" are used in the AOR because coins are heavy -- an additional cost.

When a member pays cash, the price is rounded. With EagleCash, members pay to the penny, saving additional funds.

"Essentially, with EagleCash we can reduce the amount of hard currency in circulation," he said.

If an EC card is lost, stolen or damaged, the reported card will be locked out and a new card can be issued within 24 to 48 hours. Any residual funds left on the card at the time of the report will be returned to the cardholder's bank account, which is linked to the card.

EC kiosks are now available at all Air Force finance offices and at various services squadron facilities throughout the AOR.

"The mark of success of this program won't be counted by numbers though. We will make the numbers count by improving the quality of life here," Mr. Bolin said.

Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

View the comments/letters page