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JBSA News
NEWS | Oct. 2, 2020

502nd CPTS closes FY20, reopens customer service desks

By Maj. Carl Chen 502nd Comptroller Squadron

Members of the 502nd Comptroller Squadron “Dragons” worked late into the night on Sept. 30 to ensure the 502nd Air Base Wing’s $578 million fiscal year 2020 budget was executed responsibly before the midnight deadline.  

The unit advocated for and secured an additional $13 million in the last month of the fiscal year alone. It was the culmination of a recurring, year-long stewardship of taxpayer funds for mission accomplishment. 

“I’m very proud of the team,” said Capt. Zahi Abi Chaker, budget analysis flight commander. “They displayed incredible teamwork and synergy in the challenging COVID-19 environment to ensure we provided funds for critical mission priorities across Joint Base San Antonio.” 

In addition to executing the annual budget for the largest joint base in the Department of Defense, the 502nd Comptroller Squadron also handles customer service functions in areas such as military pay, civilian pay, and travel pay.

In conjunction with the implementation of the Comptroller Services Portal, or CSP, for customer service inquiries, the Dragons recently moved a majority of their footprint from JBSA-Fort Sam Houston to the second floor of Building 5616 at JBSA-Lackland. This allowed the unit to consolidate operations and to reopen the Finance Customer Service Desks at all locations in a safe and limited capacity as JBSA moved to HPCON BRAVO PLUS. 

Although the 502nd Comptroller Squadron dramatically reduced in-person contact and has had a majority of its workforce teleworking since public health and safety precautions went into effect, the unit has continued to provide world-class support for the JBSA mission.

Since March, the squadron has processed more than 2,900 permanent change of station vouchers; issued nearly 19,000 EZ Pay cards for basic military trainees; and helped nearly 700 members retire or separate from service. 

Brig. Gen. Caroline Miller, 502d Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio commander, visited the Dragons on Sept. 30 to congratulate the budget analysis team and to unfurl the unit banner -- symbolically celebrating the 502nd Comptroller Squadron consolidation efforts at JBSA-Lackland and the reopening of customer lobbies at all JBSA locations as a part of the 502d Air Base Wing’s effort to "Fight Through COVID-19."

“Our military and civilian financial management Airmen are often the unsung heroes of our wing mission,” Miller said. “They work behind the scenes to ensure our agencies and mission partners have the resources they need to succeed, and they’ve done a phenomenal job overcoming adversity to deliver quality customer service throughout the pandemic.” 

The 502nd Comptroller Squadron’s Finance Customer Service Desks at all JBSA locations are currently open 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday, for walk-in assistance.  

For the protection of customers and personnel, it is requested that customers not enter the facilities if they have tested positive for COVID-19 recently, are feeling unwell, or are exhibiting unusual symptoms. No more than two customers at a time will be permitted to approach the desk, and all personnel are required to wear a face mask prior to entering the building.  

The 502nd Comptroller Squadron has also installed safety and sanitation equipment throughout the customer service area.  

Walk-in customer service is primarily for assistance with the setup and use of CSP to submit military pay, civilian pay, and travel pay inquiries. Additionally, walk-in service is available for BMT trainees who require, or do not yet have, CSP access.  

All others who request customer service actions — such as those who are in-processing or need retirement or separation briefs—will be directed to make an appropriate appointment. Appointment signup details are available in the links below, in the customer service waiting area, and through unit first sergeants. 

For those who are unable to, or wish not to wait in line for walk-in customer service, the 502nd Comptroller Squadron encourages the remote use of CSP, which is available 24/7 and can be accessed from any computer with a CAC reader. CSP is available at: https://usaf.dps.mil/teams/SAFFMCSP/portal/SitePages/Home.aspx.  

The 502nd Comptroller Squadron was among the first to implement CSP and leads the way in best practices. The Dragon financial services team currently processes approximately 150 customer service inquiries per day—the most Air Force-wide. 

“It’s great that we’re able to safely welcome customers back to our spaces,” said 2nd Lt. Jared Tao, deputy flight commander of the financial services flight. “We know how finance issues have the potential to affect our JBSA teammates on a personal level, and we’re looking forward to helping people resolve any problems they might encounter.”