Air Force launches new travel card program

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Allison M. Boehm
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  The Air Force is currently in the process of converting from the traditional government travel card to the controlled spend account card.

The Air Force has partnered with Citi Bank to expand of the controlled spend account program throughout the Air Force.

Barksdale, home of Air Force Global Strike Command, and other bases are slated to be in a phased approach of the controlled spend account by April 2011.

"The controlled spend account card is uniquely different from the government travel card and provides the traveler with increased flexibility to meet their travel needs," said 1st Lt. Shaun Carney, flight commander of the financial services office. "It is fueled by 'mission-driven' spend limits and unprecedented world-wide merchant acceptance. The new program allows the traveler to fulfill mission requirements while also minimizing the risk delinquency."

The controlled spend account is designed to deliver a higher level of card excellence so travelers can perform their missions with confidence while making travel related purchases with ease.

"Using the card is simple and travelers no longer have to worry about using the card for the wrong purchase," said Lieutenant Carney. "Once travel orders are approved, the controlled spend account spend limit automatically adjusts based on the estimated dollar amount for that particular mission. The unprecedented merchant acceptance allows the card's use for all reimbursable travel expenses to include temporary duty, permanent change of station, and deployments."

However, even with the increased access to more merchants, Lieutenant Carney said the card does not pose more risks.

"The cards only have value when the traveler has an approved travel order," said Mike Bilbrey, Air Force banking officer. "Spend limits adjust automatically when orders are issued, amended or canceled. Once the mission is complete, travelers simply submit their travel vouchers for processing and the payment updates the spend limit to reflect the actual cost of the trip. Any residual funds remaining on the CSA are available for use by the cardholder or can be transferred to another personal account."

The controlled spend account program will deliver a more efficient travel program that will allow the Air Force to better manage cash flows.

Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., recently completed a five-month test of the controlled spend account program.

"I've always felt my focus should be toward evaluating and improving processes to ensure customers are paid in an accurate and efficient manner," said 2nd Lt. Bill Kiser, Keesler's financial services officer. "The controlled spend account program allowed Kessler to transform the travel process by eliminating arduous tasks associated with setting up mission assignments and streamlining the reconciliation process.

Translation, I'm saving 12-20 hours-per-week on tasks previously spent on the government travel card program and delinquency management."

For more information, email afcsa.travelcard@pentagon.af.mil or visit "virtual finance" on the Air Force Portal.