Kunsan DFAC reopens, BAS rates affected

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Victoria H. Taylor
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  The O’Malley dining facility at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea reopens June 1, 2018, after contractors conducted hood and duct renovations throughout the building. The opening will result in a pay change for all enlisted member currently on meal card status.

Originally impacted Airmen will see a full breakout of their entitlement changes in the July 1, 2018, Leave and Earnings statement. The initial Basic Allowance for Subsistence pay increase will return to normal due to meals again being provided by the DFAC. Airmen will also notice the reduced Cost of Living Allowance rate return to the 63 percent of the full rate what they were receiving before the closure.

The 8th Fighter Wing Comptroller Squadron financial operations flight spent countless hours coordinating with different agencies to ensure a smooth transition for all the Airmen affected, and the reopening will be no different.

“Our military pay processing team worked behind the scenes, synchronizing with the Civil Engineering squadron, First Sergeants and Supervisors across the base to capture every airman affected by the DFAC closure,” said Master Sgt. Brandy Cotton, 8th CPTS/FOF flight chief. “To overcome the unique challenges due to the high turnover rate, the team leads continuously worked with dormitory leaders to track weekly dormitory occupancy reports, and after processing and auditing more than 3,000 military pay transactions, the team continued to work with dorm leaders to ensure incoming members would receive the correct entitlements as well.”

The finance office ensured that they will treat the next transition just as seriously.

“The final part of the task to ensure correct and timely payment of entitlements will include a labor intensive operation to process another 3K transaction to reduce the COLA and BAS for members who will be placed back on the meal card effective 1 June,” said Cotton. “To prepare for this, the financial operations flight is currently prepping occupancy listings and tracking reports with a goal of ensuring no one is overpaid.”

If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact CPTS at DSN 315-782-6636.