Air Force News, news from Iraq - Air Force Times

Financial leadership program apps. due Jan. 5

Air Force line officers interested in applying for the Financial Management Leadership Program must submit their nominations to the Air Force Personnel Center by Jan. 5, officials announced Wednesday.

The four-year program provides an opportunity for line officers outside the 65F financial management career specialty to gain experience as comptroller squadron commanders.

Applicants must be majors and major-selects in year groups 1997 through 2000 who have an undergraduate or graduate degree in business, accounting, economics or financial management. They also must be approved for temporary release from their career field by their functional assignment team, and meet further basic eligibility criteria.

The program consists of three phases.

First, officers selected for the program attend the four-week financial management staff officer course at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. They are then assigned to major command financial management staffs for two-year internships to gain an understanding of financial services, budget analysis, and planning and programming. During this time, the officers also must attend a four-week course at the Defense Financial Management and Comptroller School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

The third phase includes an assignment of command at a comptroller squadron, typically within the same major command.

In this assignment, the officers command up to 75 personnel, serve as chief financial officer to the wing commander and manage an annual operating budget of more than $100 million.

After this command, which typically lasts about two years, officers are released back to their career field.

Nomination packets are due to the AFPC Acquisition Officer Assignments Branch by Jan. 5. A selection board will convene Jan. 20 to identify candidates.

For more information, visit AFPC’s “Ask” Web site, http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil, or call the Total Force Service Center at 800-525-0102 or DSN 665-5000.