June 2014 - American Society of Military Comptrollers

ASMC
Aloha Chapter
JUNE ISSUE
VOLUME 1
2014
Na Leo o Ka Luna Kālā
“The Voice of the Comptrollers”
Promoting education, training, and professional development in financial management
President’s Message
Mind the Gap
Learning and growing takes a conscious effort on our parts to move beyond our comfort zone and realize we have more to learn. There
is nothing more dangerous than an individual that thinks they know everything they need to know, or one that asks for feedback yet fails to
implement it. This month Dr. John Maxwell, an internationally renown mentor and leader wrote the following short article. Take a moment
to read it and see where you are in your leadership and learning gap:
"Mind the gap” is a safety announcement, advising passengers of the London Underground metro system to be careful when stepping
across the opening between train doors and station platforms. The world’s oldest underground subway system, built 151 years ago, the
London Underground contains several stations with rounded platforms, constructed on a curve to avoid important structural foundations in
the city. The railway runs straighter than these platforms, hence the unsafe gap between the two.
The design of the London Underground illustrates a simple principle of personal development: there’s a gap between where we stand,
and where we’re trying to go. To be successful on our journey, we have to be aware of this space and prudent when crossing it. We have to
mind the gaps of growth.
The Assumption Gap: Assuming Growth Is Automatic. Growth doesn’t just happen. Most people expect to grow naturally, as if by
osmosis they can somehow magically absorb the lessons of life. They have no plan for purposeful improvement. They want to fix their
problems, but they’re not intentional about fixing themselves. Since they neglect personal growth, they never manage to navigate the
growth gap that separates their present reality from their future hopes and dreams.
The Knowledge Gap: Not Knowing How to Grow. The average person spends more time planning their vacation than their personal
growth. Why do people devote so little attention to such a vital concern? Oftentimes, people are unwilling to bet on themselves. They want
others to invest in them, but they’re unwilling to put their own time, money, and reputation on the line in order to better their lives. If you
don’t expect yourself to succeed, why should anyone else? You won’t care to know how to grow until you’re convinced that you have
extraordinary potential and confident that you can fulfill it.
The Timing Gap: Sensing the Time Isn’t Right to Begin. Lots of people embrace a philosophy that’s pro-life and procrastination.
They want to live it up today so they delay doing anything requiring diligent effort and hard work. However, the longer you wait to do
something you should do now the greater the odds that you will never do it.
The Mistake Gap: Fearing Failure. Whenever we dare to try anything great, we’re going to fail somewhere along the way. You’re
guaranteed to mess up from time to time as a leader. Avoiding mistakes doesn’t bring success; it keeps you trapped at your current level of
growth.
The Inspiration Gap: Feeling Unmotivated. Winners do what is right and then feel good as a result. Whiners want to feel good
before they do what is right. Life involves an inescapable amount of pain, but it’s far better to endure the pain of discipline today than to
suffer the pain of regret later.
Thought to Ponder: Which of the growth gaps has been the hardest for you to cross? Why?"
Thanks for all you do Aloha Chapter, Colonel Minkin
Inside this Issue:
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE ….………………………….. 1
ASMC NATIONAL NEWS/UPCOMING EVENTS …. 2
TRAINING NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES …………..… 3
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM …………..……………….. 4
MEMBERS IN FOCUS ………………….……………. 5 - 7
President’s Leadership Quote: “Leaders
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are dealers in hope” Dr. John C. Maxwell
UPCOMING EVENTS
ASMC NATIONAL NEWS:
House subcommittee approves FY2015 DoD Appropriations Bill
Friday, May 30th, 2014
The House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee (HAC-D) has approved the FY2015 Department of
Defense (DoD) Appropriations bill. According to a committee press release, the HAC-D bill would
provide $491 billion for the DoD base budget (excluding military construction), $200 million higher than
the president’s request.
The HAC-D bill would also provide $79.4 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) in
FY2015. This amount is the same as the placeholder request included in the president’s budget. The
White House is expected to submit a detailed OCO request soon.
In a statement that accompanied the subcommittee release, HAC-D chairman Rep. Rodney
Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) said the priorities set in the bill “will enhance readiness for our military so they
remain prepared to protect America in an increasingly dangerous world.”
The Subcommittee action was held in closed session so the full details are not yet available. But, the
press release highlights some major components of the subcommittee mark.
The HAC-D bill would fund a 1.8 percent military pay raise that is authorized in the House-passed
FY2015 Defense Authorization bill. The president’s budget requests a 1 percent pay raise for military
personnel. The HAC-D bill also rejects the administration’s proposal to reduce the Basic Allowance for
Housing (BAH).
The bill proposes to fund the Defense Health Program (DHP) at $31.6 billion, $360 million below the
request. The HAC-D bill also adds $100 million to the Defense Commissary Agency funding level.
Funding in the HAC-D bill for Operations and Maintenance (O&M) programs would total $165 billion,
$1.4 billion below the request. Within the amount provided in the bill, an additional $1.2 billion is
provided for readiness shortfalls and $791 mission to restore funding cuts to facility sustainment and
modernization. Offsetting some of these increases are savings from favorable foreign currency
fluctuations ($547 million) and overestimated civilian personnel costs ($592 million). Other HAC-D
offsets to O&M programs were not identified in committee-released information.
The bill would provide $91.2 billion for procurement programs, $1.6 billion more than the request.
Included in the bill’s approved procurement level are funds to build six new ships, buy 38 F-35 (Joint
Strike Fighter) and 7 KC-46A tankers, 12 EA-18G Growlers, 87 H-60 Blackhawk and 37 MH-60S/R
helicopters. The HAC-D rejects the administration’s proposal to delay a decision on refueling the USS
George Washington aircraft carrier until 2016 and provides $789 million for the refueling.
Funding in the bill for research and development (R&D) would be $63.4 billion, $171 million below the
president’s request. Programs receiving R&D funding include: a new Air Force bomber, next generation
JSTARS, Future Unmanned Carrier-based Strike System, Army Ground Combat Vehicle, and Marine
Corps Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.
The HAC-D bill also proposes $965 million in recessions of prior-year program funding.
JUNE ASMC LUNCHEON
DATE: 17 JUNE 2014
TIME: 1100 – 1300
LOCATION: ENLISTED CLUB,
MAUI/MOLOKAI ROOM
SPEAKER:
LCDR THOMAS A. SHAD
TOPIC: THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN
JULY ASMC LUNCHEON
DATE: W EEK OF 14-18 JULY
TIME: 1100 – 1300
LOCATION: TBD
SPEAKER: MR. ED FRITZ
ASMC SURVEY
TAKE A MOMENT TO
COMPLETE THE 2014 ASMC
ANNUAL SURVEY. OUR
CHAPTER CAN RECEIVE A
$200 CASH AWARD.
CONGRATULATIONS
ALOHA CHAPTER FOR ITS
FIVE STAR RECOGNITION!
NATIONAL & LOCAL CHAPTER
INDIVIDUAL BUDGETING
AWARD ~~
LT COL THERESA SHEPPARD
LOCAL CHAPTER SMALL
TEAM ACHIEVEMENT
AWARD~~
READINESS (FIAR) TEAM
TH
25 ID ACCESS DATABASE
TEAM
RD
NATIONAL (3 PLACE) &
LOCAL CHAPTER ESSAY
CONTEST~~
COL STEVEN MINKIN
Visit the Aloha Chapter
Website at
http://chapters.asmconline
.org/aloha
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!
www.facebook.com/asmcalo
ha
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Aloha Chapter Regional
Professional Development
Institute Event:
Aloha Chapter RPDI Attendees,
I want to thank each and every
one of you for taking time out of
your schedule to spend a day with
us at the RPDI. This year's event
was a great success with over 200
guests and 3 corporate sponsors in
attendance. We had the opportunity
to learn about pressing financial
issues in the Armed Services and
Coast Guard, fiscal law, decision
support, FM Certification and
more. Slides from the event are
posted below.
The event was a success
because you were there! I hope you
learned a lot from the discussions
and renewed or formed new
friendships in the FM community
here in Oahu.
Keep learning, keep leading,
keep laughing!
Colonel Steven J. Minkin, D.M.
Chief, Financial Analysis Division
PACAF/FMA
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
Continuing Professional Education
(CPE) Certificate Location: To obtain
your CPE certificate, visit the following
website:
http://chapters.asmconline.org/aloha
/files/2010/10/Aloha-Chapter-RPDICPE-Worksheet.pdf
The chapter maintains sign-in sheets
for verification of attendance.
Training News and Opportunities:
Audio Education –
DoD Financial Management Certification Program:
July 31, 2013 | 10:30 – 12:00 EDT | 1.8 CPEs | $49 per line
Registration is now open for the July Audio Education Session!
The Honorable Robert Hale, (Under Secretary of Defense
Comptroller/Chief Financial Officer) and Ms. Glenda Scheiner
(Director, Human Capital and Resource Management, OUSD(C)) will
present “DoD Financial Management Certification Program” on
Wednesday, 31 July 2013 from 1030-1200 Eastern Daylight Time. We
scheduled this audio conference to begin at 1030 due to a request
from one of our chapters in Europe, to provide them better opportunity
to participate, while we also considered impacts of earlier start for our
west coast chapters. Slides (PDF)
Listen to the recorded session.
Group Registration
ASMC members that participate in a group environment may earn
CPE, based on the following conditions being met.
1. The registrant point of contact must email webmaster with name,
estimated number of attendees and confirmed registration number
prior to the event.
2. Attendance must be taken at the event and the point of contact must
validate that all participants were in attendance for the entirety of the
webinar. The attendance roster, in an Excel spreadsheet, must include
the columns of first name, last name, email address, and, most
importantly, ASMC member ID of all participants.
3. The point of contact must email the attendance roster to webmaster,
ASMC National HQ, within 24 hours of the event. Participants can
verify their CPE award in the CPE Management tool within 5 business
days.
ASMC Online Training:
The ASMC Online Learning
Center currently offers recorded
sessions from the past two PDIs as
well as access to quarterly ASMC
Journals and a short exam
associated with them. PDI
workshops and the Journal exams
offer Continuing Professional
Education (CPE) credit and a
certificate to validate user
participation.
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ASMC Scholarship Award Program
Over the past 10 years, our ASMC Aloha Chapter has awarded over $30,000 in scholarships to deserving high school
students and ASMC members who are continuing their education. The ASMC Scholarship Committee was interested in
finding out if our ASMC Scholarship dollars has made a difference to our community. Through the investigative skills of
our Scholarship Chair’s son, Mitchell Garcia, he googled, searched Facebook and Linked In and used a variety of other
sources to find where our past Scholarship winners are at and how our scholarship has contributed to their success.
SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS, WHERE ARE THEY NOW? By Mitchell Garcia
Scholarship Winner Gregory “GB” Brown was our ASMC Member’s Continuing Education Scholarship
winner for 2008 and 2009. At that time, he was CSMSGT Gregory Brown and worked as the Chief,
Financial Plans and Operations Branch, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces Bases at Hickam AFB. Greg
recalls, “When I submitted my application for the scholarship I was determined to have my Master's Degree
completed before it was time for me to rotate back to the mainland. I graduated from Central Michigan
University with a MSA in Human Resources Administration and was presented my diploma on 2 August
2008 and departed Oahu on 11 Aug 2008. I finished the final two years of my active duty Air Force career at
Robins Air Force Base, Georgia culminating 28 years of honorable service to the defense of our nation in Financial
Management. The winning of the scholarship award came in at a very good time because I had exhausted the $4,500 cap for
tuition assistance and the award allowed me to continue on my path to complete my degree.”
Since then, Greg retired on 1 Dec 2010 and became a civil servant on 3 Jan 2011 with Pacific Air Forces, Financial
Management Directorate and worked on the island of Oahu for eight months until he was transferred to the Pentagon to work
as a Workforce Development Analyst for SAF/FMEW. As the Palace Acquire Manager for the National Capital Region
(NCR), he identifies differences in program approach, streamlines the program throughout the NCR and he also develops
policy, language, processes and methods to implement a total program within the NCR, to include identified recruitment,
training, conferences, and outplacement.
Greg has exciting plans for the future. In Dec 2013, he transferred to SAF/FMB, and will track Air Force Travel and
Contract limitations and consolidating sequestration impacts for Active, Guard, and Reserve components and completed his
MBA in Program Management with Stratford University in Falls Church, Virginia.
He is still an active member of ASMC and is working the on a community service event of preparing a USO Care Package.
He sends the following note to the ASMC Ohana:
“It is from the bottom of my heart a "BIG THANK YOU"! I truly miss being a part of such a great family, the
beautiful weather and an awesome place to live, play and work. The grant I received helped close the chapter in
my life for a graduate degree, graduate in Hawaii alongside Pearl Harbor and helped open the door to my second
career in the Federal Government. I spent 28 years on active duty and the ASMC Ohana was the greatest set of
people I have encountered in all my time in the Air Force! So, again from the bottom of my heart "Fa'afetai" for
allowing me in your life for a short period of time and thanks for the help and support you have given me.”
In Samoan, "Fa'afetai" means thank you. We wish Greg continued success in his career!
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Aloha Chapter Members in
Focus
ALOHA! To Our New Members
Melissa Andrews
Dorina Badget
Sarah Chiu
Donald Clocksin
Telly Estoesta
Cassondra Fair
Thomas Gary
Regan Halsted
Andrea Hill
Marlyn Idica-Ramos
George Mceachern
Kristen Moody
Gervacio Moreno
Joel Nonnweiler
Ann Oda
Angela Parker
Nichole Rush
Timothy Shaner
Marija Showalter
Joni Smith
Tusapa Taamu
Reginald Thomas
Elizabeth Uzelac
Susan Viray
Being a member of ASMC will…
Joining the ASMC is an investment in yourself, your professional development and your career. As an ASMC member, you
become connected to a global community of defense resource management personnel. Regardless of where you are in your
career, your ASMC membership offers many paths and opportunities to learn from and interact with your colleagues in ways
that will help you meet your professional goals. With your membership, you:
1.
Gain insight to information on current trends and development in the financial management of the Department of Defense and U.S.
Coast Guard.
2. Receive a subscription to the Armed Forces Comptroller, the quarterly professional journal of the ASMC, and the ASMC
Connection, the monthly e-newsletter. These publications, as well as the ASMC website, contain articles, organizational news and
updates on current trends and developments within the financial management community and the ASMC.
3. Receive discounts for registration at the national Professional Development Institute, a three day educational event that provides
valuable CPE and networking opportunitites.
4. Have access to online educational opportunities, where members can participate at their own pace, start and stop sessions, and
download presentations.
5. Join in one of the more than 140 chapters worldwide. Chapter benefits could include monthly luncheons, local education activities,
chapter publications, philanthropic endeavors and more.
6. Receive discounts on enrollment and renewal in the Certified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM) Program, which is one of the key
certifications identified by the DoD for financial managers.
7. Have the opportunity to participate in the National Awards Program. This program includes achievement awards, an essay contest,
corporate member award, members' continuing education grants, high school scholarships and many chapter program awards.
8. Gain access to the CPE management tool, which allows members to manage, track and record their continuing education
experience.
9. Have an opportunity to demonstrate leadership as a chapter officer or committee member.
10. Network with military comptrollers/financial managers and other business organization interested in military comptrollership.
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Congratulations to New CDFM & CDFM-A Awardees
Jesse Abreu, CDFM
Kenisha Berry, CDFM
Rhonda Bolles, CDFM
Don Clocksin, CDFM
Rhonda Compton, CDFM-A
Benedicta DeGuzman, CDFM
Regina Goff, CDFM
Sharon Grace Herring, CDFM
Amber James, CDFM
Lisa Kempker, CDFM-A
Tatsiana Krupetskiy, CDFM
Victoria Lia, CDFM
Kris Nezu, CDFM
Joel Nonnweiler, CDFM
Jeremy Trescott, CDFM
Janice Zheng, CDFM-A
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Aloha Chapter Information: The Aloha Chapter of the American Society of Military Comptrollers is a professional
organization dedicated to maintaining and improving the high standards of Comptrollership. Emphasis is placed on education,
training as well as the exchange of ideas and techniques for resolving common issues of the Services - Department of
Defense and Coast Guard. The Aloha Chapter was established in 1977. Current membership is approximately 400 civilian
and military personnel, who specialize in all aspects of Financial Management. We are located on the island of Oahu in the
State of Hawaii. For further information on how to join, contact any of the Team Service VPs listed. Visit us at:
http://chapters.asmconline.org/aloha
Mission: Promote education, training, and professional development in financial management while fostering the spirit of
inter-service fellowship and cooperation.
Vision: Maintain 5 Star status and achieve “Distinguished Chapter” competition award.
Values: Integrity; Excellence; Commitment
ASMC Aloha Chapter
PO Box 29564
Honolulu, HI 96820
All contents
copyright
© ASMC 2014.
All contents copyright © ASMC
Aloha Chapter
Aloha Chapter 2014.
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