MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif. -- The finance office at Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow is preparing to pick up and relocate its Marines to units throughout the Corps this summer in an effort to better support the Corps' overall mission. It is estimated that by June 30 financeial services provided by the finance office will be turned over to MCRD San Diego.
The move will put more finance Marines in a position where they can be deployed in support of combat operations, said Gunnery Sgt. Eric Garrett, finance chief.
The units that the Marines are transferring to are the 1st Force Service Support Group, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., the 2nd FSSG, MCB Camp Lejeune, N.C., the 3rd FSSG, Okinawa, Japan, the Marine Corps Recruit Depots, Parris Island, S.C., and San Diego and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Kansas City, Mo., according to Garrett.
Some of the duties of the finance office, which are handled by auditing, finance and accounting Marines, range from completing travel claims for Marines to giving a Marine separations pay, said Lance Cpl. Jeremy Foreman, separations clerk.
Despite not being a physical presence on the base, there should not be any effect on the customers when it comes to their financial needs, said Garrett.
The reason for this is because all MCLB patrons who have any financial problems can address them with the personnel division.
"Admin, is sthe customer service element, they take the information that the member gives them, fills out the appropriate forms, and sends the information to us," said Foreman.
Barstow's finance Marines are not the only Marines being moved to other locations, Garret said.
Finance Marines from all bases are being moved to one of the six locations, which are still being used to handle the financial needs of the Corps.
With finance offices consolidating into fewer places, there are fewer locations to send financial forms to, which should result in more efficient mission accomplishment.
The Kansas City DFAS office, for example, has been preparing to bring in more Marines to help with the number of reserve pay problems that need to be sorted out after every rotation, said Garrett.
"After a Reserve unit comes back, the finance office gets six months behind," said Garrett.
Foreman says he is looking forward to moving to Kansas City, because it is going to be a new experience for him, and he is excited about living in a big city with its own football team.
Though the finance office is going to be non-existent in Barstow, there should be no delay when it comes to fixing financial problems, said Garret. Personnel division is able to handle all pay problems.
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