DTS help station eases frustration

Published April 1, 2016
By Staff Sgt. Katrina Heikkinen
434 ARW Public Affairs

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- The Defense Travel System was designed to streamline the post-travel documentation process, and at Grissom financial managers are taking that streamlining one step further.

A DTS help station for DTS administrators was installed in the FM area recently to assist DTAs learning the system.

"DTAs are the backbone of the squadron DTS program," said Martin Foye, 434th Air Refueling Wing financial services officer. "Each unit has a DTS administrator and they provide instruction to commanders and Approving Officials, along with assistance to travelers on completing and submitting documents in DTS."

DTS is currently being used by less than 35% of travelers at Grissom. But, for those travelers, they are receiving travel payments faster.

"DTS provides reservists total visibility on their voucher online - from the time they start working on it until it pays to their bank," said Martin.

To assist Airmen and educate DTS administrators, Foye spearheaded the DTS train-the-trainer help station.

"Its purpose is to train the trainer," Foye explained. "We really want the administrators to be the expert because they are already in the squadron with the traveler and can do on-the-spot over the shoulder instruction."

Doug Maclauchlan, 434th Air Refueling Wing travel pay technician, was officially recognized by AFRC as one the command's foremost DTS experts.

"We want to leverage that expertise to make Grissom's DTAs the best in the command," added Foye. "As issues arise that a DTA cannot assist a unit member with, we want them to come by themselves or ideally accompany travelers to the help station and learn how to navigate a particular function in DTS. Then, DTAs can assist future travelers in their squadron encountering the same travel reimbursement issue."

For Chief Master Sgt. Carl Hubbell, 434th Logistics Readiness Squadron superintendent, one of the first Grissom members to utilize the station with his DTA present, having the work station readily available was a valuable tool to reconcile an issue.

"Having the station available in the finance office for Airmen gives direct access to our experts like Mr. Maclauchlan and Senior Airman Cody Siegel, 434th LRS DTS administrator," Hubble said.

"My goal has always been to reduce the frustration for first time users," Foye said. "All members are required to register in DTS, but not all orders direct using DTS. Members need to check the back of their order in remark "e" to verify if DTS is directed. If DTS is directed, then member should reach out immediately to their DTA for instruction."

Foye hopes that the new station will help streamline the process and allow members to spend their time more effectively.

"No Airmen should be spending more than 20 minutes in DTS. They should be completing their required actions in DTS and then getting back to their core AFSC training and the mission."

Conveniently located at Bldg. 596, room 103, the new DTS help station serves as a place for Airmen and their squadron DTS administrators to not only complete their vouchers, but to gain a better understanding of the system.

The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Men and women from the Hoosier Wing routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission.

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DTS Help station

DTS help station eases frustration

Public Affairs Staff