thedrifter
03-09-04, 01:22 PM
Disbursing Goes to War
by LtCol James A. Hogberg
Disbursing services during wartime range from contracting
to ensuring that Marines receive their pay in the combat zone.
As a Service operation that rarely deploys beyond a Marine expeditionary unit, disbursing services were used extensively and in depth throughout Operations ENDURING FREEDOM/IRAQI FREEDOM in support of the Marine expeditionary force (MEF). Sixty-six Marines were assigned to disbursing billets within I MEF, and another 25 billets were assigned to 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Marine Logistics Command disbursing operations. Additionally, 60 disbursing Marines were assigned to other duties such as company commanders, watch officers, force protection, assistant machinegunners, mortuary affairs, and first sergeants. Disbursing agents not only displaced far into Iraq with combat service support units, they also were placed in direct support of the ground combat element (GCE) at the battalion level. The latter suggests that disbursing operations might also be described as a reaffirmation that every Marine is first, and foremost, a rifleman. More than a few disbursing agents earned combat action ribbons while deployed.
Combat Service Support Battalion 12 (CSSB–12), with a general support mission to the MEF, served as the hub for disbursing operations. With a table of organization of 36 billets (including the disbursing officer), CSSB–12 disbursing operations not only provided routine pay support, it was the central bank for the 5 other disbursing detachments located within the MEF. Activities included providing functional oversight for all disbursing operations, the collection and processing of all payrolls, liaison with U.S. Army Finance Command and the Marine Logistics Command, distribution of cash, establishment of captured currency collection points, maintaining reachback support with Camp Pendleton, and facilitating commercial contracting operations within Iraq/Kuwait.
While the 1st Force Service Support Group (1st FSSG) disbursing officer deployed with $2.5 million in order to begin startup operations, sustained cash resupply in theater came from the Army Finance Command. The 336th Army Finance Battalion maintained the theater-level central funding vault at Arif-jan, Kuwait. They provided currency and coin in all denominations. Throughout the deployment the central funding vault was used to receipt for more than $20 million in currency necessary to support Marine Corps deployed pay operations.
During the planning stage, disbursing operations were oriented toward (1) making cash available to Marines (split pay, casual pay, check cashing), (2) commercial vending and contracting support, and (3) currency/deposit support for the field exchanges and postal detachments. Interestingly, as combat operations commenced and the need for these services expectedly lessened, the need for other, less practiced disbursing support areas increased. Combat forces seized large amounts of Iraqi and U.S. currency from government vaults and buildings requiring the establishment of disbursing captured currency collection points. Civil affairs units used disbursing agents extensively to make small purchases on the local economy, often as a token of goodwill as much as they were to buy needed goods and services. I MEF also initiated guidance for solatium payments, or payments that offer a small token of money as an expression of sympathy or remorse for an indigenous victim. Additionally, disbursing agents were used to help pay civil servants and Free Iraqi Forces soldiers.
The most unexpected use of disbursing agents, however, was their direct support assignment with the 1st Marine Division (1st MarDiv) at the battalion level. The 1st MarDiv Commanding General, MajGen James N. Mattis, had made limited use of paying agents while in Afghanistan and wanted to replicate that success on a larger scale in Iraq. As a result, disbursing agents were sent to division units on or around G+5 (fifth day of the ground war). Their purpose was twofold. First was to buy goods and services the Marines might need, such as translators, day laborers, short-term property rentals, and construction materials. Second was to promote goodwill among the Iraqi people; even small purchases went a long way in demonstrating to the Iraqis that we were not there as conquerors. The intent was to establish disbursing agent, field ordering agent, and translator teams that could communicate with the local citizenry. These disbursing agents lived and moved forward with their respective units (tanks, infantry battalions, etc.). As they reached Baghdad some were consolidated in the Palestine Hotel where they were used to make more substantial purchases from the larger downtown economy. Most worked with the civil affairs groups as they made their rounds among the communities. Some of these Marines were put in harm’s way and earned combat action ribbons. In one instance, Cpl Morales, a disbursing agent, was involved in a downtown Baghdad shootout while the civil affairs team to which he was assigned sought to confiscate weapons and apprehend illegal arms merchants. As the MEF moved into stabilization operations, these disbursing agents were each assigned to a regional governorate established at each of the major cities within the I MEF area of responsibility (AOR). Assigned to a governorate, the disbursing agents worked with translators and field ordering agents to make necessary purchases on the local economy. Disbursing agents also assisted in the payments of civil servants and other government employees. The funding sources varied from appropriated funds to seized currency to approved reconstruction funds. Each funding source had to be accounted for separately.
It is important to note that the majority of disbursing agents were noncommissioned officers (NCOs). Normally, paying agent responsibilities are reserved for officers or staff NCOs; however, because of the sheer volume of support necessary to service a MEF, NCOs were required to assume greater responsibilities. These disbursing pay agents made over 260,000 individual cash payments totaling nearly $27 million to Marines and other servicemembers. It was not unusual for a corporal to sign out several hundred thousand dollars and then, as a member of a mobile support team, drive from unit to unit making payments to Marines. In some instances these Marines would be cash couriers for deliveries between disbursing detachments and tasked with carrying over $500,000.
Pay support was provided to all servicemembers (Marines, sailors, soldiers), as the Marine disbursing agents, at times, represented the only pay support present within the I MEF AOR. This deployment also represented the most extensive support provided to other Services by Marine Corps disbursing in decades. With over 22,000 Marines signed up for the Marine Corps split pay program, other Marines and other servicemembers were offered casual payments ($100 per month) as well as check cashing services. The support provided by disbursing agents was not only extensive but also encompassing. Marine disbursers deployed well forward with over 90 percent of the overall number of disbursing agents placed in Iraq. Again, pay services were heavily utilized as Marines were provided access to the tactical field exchanges where they could purchase hygiene items, sundry food items, and miscellaneous field gear.
Another success story worth expanding on is the relationship between the civil affairs teams and their designated field ordering officer, translators, and disbursing agents. Together this team provided the commander with an important tool in winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people. Small purchases from local vendors went a long way in bridging cultural gaps and establishing working relationships; the sooner local Iraqis could be convinced that our intent was positive, the sooner the reduction in distrust and tension.
continued......
by LtCol James A. Hogberg
Disbursing services during wartime range from contracting
to ensuring that Marines receive their pay in the combat zone.
As a Service operation that rarely deploys beyond a Marine expeditionary unit, disbursing services were used extensively and in depth throughout Operations ENDURING FREEDOM/IRAQI FREEDOM in support of the Marine expeditionary force (MEF). Sixty-six Marines were assigned to disbursing billets within I MEF, and another 25 billets were assigned to 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Marine Logistics Command disbursing operations. Additionally, 60 disbursing Marines were assigned to other duties such as company commanders, watch officers, force protection, assistant machinegunners, mortuary affairs, and first sergeants. Disbursing agents not only displaced far into Iraq with combat service support units, they also were placed in direct support of the ground combat element (GCE) at the battalion level. The latter suggests that disbursing operations might also be described as a reaffirmation that every Marine is first, and foremost, a rifleman. More than a few disbursing agents earned combat action ribbons while deployed.
Combat Service Support Battalion 12 (CSSB–12), with a general support mission to the MEF, served as the hub for disbursing operations. With a table of organization of 36 billets (including the disbursing officer), CSSB–12 disbursing operations not only provided routine pay support, it was the central bank for the 5 other disbursing detachments located within the MEF. Activities included providing functional oversight for all disbursing operations, the collection and processing of all payrolls, liaison with U.S. Army Finance Command and the Marine Logistics Command, distribution of cash, establishment of captured currency collection points, maintaining reachback support with Camp Pendleton, and facilitating commercial contracting operations within Iraq/Kuwait.
While the 1st Force Service Support Group (1st FSSG) disbursing officer deployed with $2.5 million in order to begin startup operations, sustained cash resupply in theater came from the Army Finance Command. The 336th Army Finance Battalion maintained the theater-level central funding vault at Arif-jan, Kuwait. They provided currency and coin in all denominations. Throughout the deployment the central funding vault was used to receipt for more than $20 million in currency necessary to support Marine Corps deployed pay operations.
During the planning stage, disbursing operations were oriented toward (1) making cash available to Marines (split pay, casual pay, check cashing), (2) commercial vending and contracting support, and (3) currency/deposit support for the field exchanges and postal detachments. Interestingly, as combat operations commenced and the need for these services expectedly lessened, the need for other, less practiced disbursing support areas increased. Combat forces seized large amounts of Iraqi and U.S. currency from government vaults and buildings requiring the establishment of disbursing captured currency collection points. Civil affairs units used disbursing agents extensively to make small purchases on the local economy, often as a token of goodwill as much as they were to buy needed goods and services. I MEF also initiated guidance for solatium payments, or payments that offer a small token of money as an expression of sympathy or remorse for an indigenous victim. Additionally, disbursing agents were used to help pay civil servants and Free Iraqi Forces soldiers.
The most unexpected use of disbursing agents, however, was their direct support assignment with the 1st Marine Division (1st MarDiv) at the battalion level. The 1st MarDiv Commanding General, MajGen James N. Mattis, had made limited use of paying agents while in Afghanistan and wanted to replicate that success on a larger scale in Iraq. As a result, disbursing agents were sent to division units on or around G+5 (fifth day of the ground war). Their purpose was twofold. First was to buy goods and services the Marines might need, such as translators, day laborers, short-term property rentals, and construction materials. Second was to promote goodwill among the Iraqi people; even small purchases went a long way in demonstrating to the Iraqis that we were not there as conquerors. The intent was to establish disbursing agent, field ordering agent, and translator teams that could communicate with the local citizenry. These disbursing agents lived and moved forward with their respective units (tanks, infantry battalions, etc.). As they reached Baghdad some were consolidated in the Palestine Hotel where they were used to make more substantial purchases from the larger downtown economy. Most worked with the civil affairs groups as they made their rounds among the communities. Some of these Marines were put in harm’s way and earned combat action ribbons. In one instance, Cpl Morales, a disbursing agent, was involved in a downtown Baghdad shootout while the civil affairs team to which he was assigned sought to confiscate weapons and apprehend illegal arms merchants. As the MEF moved into stabilization operations, these disbursing agents were each assigned to a regional governorate established at each of the major cities within the I MEF area of responsibility (AOR). Assigned to a governorate, the disbursing agents worked with translators and field ordering agents to make necessary purchases on the local economy. Disbursing agents also assisted in the payments of civil servants and other government employees. The funding sources varied from appropriated funds to seized currency to approved reconstruction funds. Each funding source had to be accounted for separately.
It is important to note that the majority of disbursing agents were noncommissioned officers (NCOs). Normally, paying agent responsibilities are reserved for officers or staff NCOs; however, because of the sheer volume of support necessary to service a MEF, NCOs were required to assume greater responsibilities. These disbursing pay agents made over 260,000 individual cash payments totaling nearly $27 million to Marines and other servicemembers. It was not unusual for a corporal to sign out several hundred thousand dollars and then, as a member of a mobile support team, drive from unit to unit making payments to Marines. In some instances these Marines would be cash couriers for deliveries between disbursing detachments and tasked with carrying over $500,000.
Pay support was provided to all servicemembers (Marines, sailors, soldiers), as the Marine disbursing agents, at times, represented the only pay support present within the I MEF AOR. This deployment also represented the most extensive support provided to other Services by Marine Corps disbursing in decades. With over 22,000 Marines signed up for the Marine Corps split pay program, other Marines and other servicemembers were offered casual payments ($100 per month) as well as check cashing services. The support provided by disbursing agents was not only extensive but also encompassing. Marine disbursers deployed well forward with over 90 percent of the overall number of disbursing agents placed in Iraq. Again, pay services were heavily utilized as Marines were provided access to the tactical field exchanges where they could purchase hygiene items, sundry food items, and miscellaneous field gear.
Another success story worth expanding on is the relationship between the civil affairs teams and their designated field ordering officer, translators, and disbursing agents. Together this team provided the commander with an important tool in winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people. Small purchases from local vendors went a long way in bridging cultural gaps and establishing working relationships; the sooner local Iraqis could be convinced that our intent was positive, the sooner the reduction in distrust and tension.
continued......