Learning how to load software onto a computer was painful for Paul Grabiel.

He is a budget analyst, not a “techie” and he couldn't seem to do his job without biting his lip in frustration.

But thanks to a new software program, there's good news for Mr. Grabiel and his colleagues in financial management at Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command as well as the rest of the command’s financial management community.

The new software is an online database known as the Automated Funds Management system, or AFM. It controls, manages and distributes funds from the Secretary of the Air Force level to the major commands. The system helps ensures error-free data transmission, saving time and money for AFMC's work force. It provides internal controls for checks and balances, and interfaces with the logistics and acquisitions communities.

"Before, there was the constant responsibility of having to make multiple copies of the data entered, fax it, and then the next person in line would have to re-enter the data," Mr. Grabiel said. "Fortunately, AFM provides a single data point-of-entry, so it is only necessary to type in the data once. It saves printing, scanning and filing time."

In addition, the database incorporates a primary classification-coding system called the standard fiscal code. It recodes the Department of Defense financial information in an effort to standardize the activities within budgeting and accounting across the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, Defense agencies, field offices and the Army Corps of Engineers.

"AFM is an important step forward for the Air Force comptroller community," said Col. Dave Price, the command’s director of financial management. "AFM has fully automated the funds-allocation process so our budgeters could focus attention on financial analysis and on providing the critical information commanders need to make good decisions."

Air Force Special Operations Command, headquartered at Hurlburt Field, Fla., and AFMC are the first major commands to transition to the new software. It was released Jan. 20 to all financial management directorates within the command.

It replaces two previous financial management systems: the Automated Budget Interactive Data Environment System, or ABIDES, and the Command Budget Automated System, or CBAS.

The ABIDES was a classified legacy system developed by the Air Force and consisted of highly segregated subsystems. The CBAS had been used since 1960.

"The CBAS word processor was frustrating because it used programming language that was over 30 years old," Mr. Grabiel said. "You would have to load software that was not included (with CBAS), a difficult task for someone who is not tech savvy."

(Courtesy of Air Force Materiel Command News Service)