eFinance may soon be mandatory for submitting travel vouchers Published June 8, 2010 By Senior Airman Bhawan P. Singh 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Travel vouchers can be a reservist's best friend or their worst enemy; especially if they need to get paid. To streamline the process, the Air Force developed the eFinance program, which allows military members to submit travel voucher information online and receive payment much faster than using the Department of Defense Form 1351-2 paper travel voucher. This program was created to eliminate the need for paper vouchers altogether, making the reimbursement process more efficient. Vouchers submitted via eFinance typically only take three to five business days to be processed, said Melissa Judson, 436th Financial Services Office military pay technician, who examines all vouchers before sending out for final approval by Air Force Financial Services Center, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. Master Sgt. Sean Pyne, 512th Airlift Control Flight loadmaster, recommends using the electronic travel voucher systems because of the ease of use and quick payment. "The eFinance system allows you to complete travel vouchers anywhere in the world with only an internet connection and a (common access card)," said the loadmaster. "The whole process is seamless." Part of the reason for the quick turn-around in payment to reservists is due to the reduction in voucher errors and rejections," said Staff Sgt. Shawntelle Boston, 436th FSO auditor. "The automated system does not allow you to enter wrong codes, dates or information and won't accept the submission until vouchers are correctly filled out," said Sergeant Boston. Another benefit of the automated system is it's easier to track the status of a travel voucher. Airmen receive a tracking number upon submitting a travel voucher to monitor the progress of their claim. The system is also set up to send real-time e-mail updates about the status of the reimbursement and sends the member a final settlement statement. Currently, eFinance is mandatory for active duty, but this may soon be the case for reservists as well, said Mrs. Judson. "We expect it to become mandatory for reservists in the near future so we encourage them to start using it now and familiarize their selves with this system," said Mrs. Judson. Reservists who have not yet used this system can do so by logging in at: https://efinanceworkspace.wpafb.af.mil/GovWarning.aspx For more information about using eFinance, servicemembers can call the 436th FSO at (302) 677-4486.