Vitalia Sanders

Key achievements: Successfully trained and deployed the division headquarters composed of 700 enlisted soldiers and officers in support of Operation European Assure, Deter, and Reinforce; provided multi lateral support to US/NATO partners and Allied Forces. Primary duties included:

• Serve as the senior enlisted advisor to the battalion commander on all matters relating to enlisted personnel, morale, welfare, and training within the battalion
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and guidance to enlisted personnel and officers to ensure mission success and maintain high levels of morale and esprit de corps
• Monitor and evaluate the training, professional development, and performance of enlisted personnel to identify areas for improvement and address any shortcomings
• Oversee planning and execution of training exercises, operational deployments, and other battalion activities to ensure the readiness and effectiveness of the unit
• Promote cultural awareness through outreach events and routine public relations efforts with local community partners; coordinated and executed monthly special and ethnic observances
• Maintain open communication with all Soldiers, their families, and support agencies to address any issues, concerns, or needs within the battalion community
• Collaborate with other leaders and stakeholders to achieve the battalion's goals and objectives in support of the overall mission
• Work closely with the division’s General Officer, other senior officers and enlisted personnel from diverse backgrounds and specialties to determine and acquire necessary training requirements
• Uphold the standards, values, and traditions of the military service and serve as a role model for all personnel
• Assist the battalion commander in developing and implementing plans and policies to maintain discipline, readiness, and combat effectiveness
• Represent the battalion commander at official functions, meetings, and ceremonies

Key achievements: Successfully trained and deployed financial management headquarters unit in support of Operation Inherent Resolve; provided a fiscal stewardship lens to the commander’s decision-making process at all levels. Primary duties included:

• Manage training and execution of deployed financial management functions including, Accounting, Commercial Vendor Services, Pay Support, eCommerce, Financial Management Operations, Internal Control, and Disbursing
• Serve as subject matter expert and provide technical advice concerning military pay, budgeting, accounting, and resource management and systems implementation, policy, plans, and use to organizations and individual users
• Provide input and advice on infusion of new finance training technology and systems and their benefits in support of current and contingency operations
• Develop and implement effective financial policies, procedures, and controls to mitigate risks and execute assigned functions and responsibilities to achieve the mission
• Prepare the headquarters unit and supporting detachments with quarterly and annual inspections and cash counts; received all green ratings during audits
• Coordinate consistently with Financial Management Center, DFAS and USAFMCOM stakeholders to ensure accurate and timely financial information and compliance with regulatory requirements
• Mentor, train, and discipline 125 finance Soldiers across theater of operations to enhance their financial management skills and capabilities
• Conduct financial analysis, forecasting, and reporting to support decision-making and resource allocation for garrison operations
• Brief senior leadership on financial trends, risks, and opportunities to optimize financial performance and achieve mission objectives
• Lead programs that build sustained personnel readiness, focusing efforts in support of the Secretary of the Army and Chief of Staff of the Army’s priorities
• Support the sustainment of Army, Joint, and Multinational operations through the key contingency tasks

Key achievement: Served as the First Sergeant and was selected as the rear Battalion Command Sergeant Major for over 315 Soldiers while the battalion deployed. Primary duties include:

• Work with Army Military Pay Office to develop, review, and revise instructional training documents and programs for Soldiers and civilian employees
• Ensure that financial systems provide proper support to Military Pay mission
• Analyze systems and procedural changes to determine training requirements and implements changes to functional training courses
• Develop and implement training plans to enhance individual and unit readiness for mission success.
• Conduct follow-up training sessions involving all aspects of Active and Reserve military pay entitlements, collections, and deduction
• Manage the day-to-day operations of the company, including training schedules, personnel assignments, and administrative tasks
• Mentor and coach junior enlisted personnel to foster professional growth, development, and career advancement
• Oversaw the accountability, maintenance, and readiness of equipment and resources within the company
• Responsible for the health,
  welfare, morale, discipline, training, professional development and combat readiness of the unit
• Conduct performance evaluations, counseling sessions, and disciplinary actions as necessary to uphold standards and performance expectations
• Lead the company successfully through multiple training exercises and deployments, resulting in high levels of readiness and performance
• Foster a positive command climate and team environment, resulting in high morale, retention, and performance levels within the company

Key achievements: Executed Department of the Army level talent management of 1,500 financial management technicians; formulated a plan to stabilize 56 Soldiers after deactivation of a finance detachment; implemented non-bias recruitment strategies while leveraging technology resources already available. Primary duties included:

• Monitor and distribute financial management unit’s strengths in accordance with Chief of Staff of the Army manning guidance across Conus and Oconus locations
• Screen, identify and select best qualified Soldiers for nominative and special management assignments, including finance instructor or developer, recruiter, drill sergeant, inspector general, equal opportunity advisor, and first sergeant
• Provide guidance to Soldiers regarding Army policies, regulations and career developing positions, professional growth and promotions
• Learn and use proficiently all human resources computerized systems and processes as well as all job descriptions and qualifications to determine talent across career management field
• Compose and present detailed responses to information required by senior financial management proponent representatives
• Coordinate assignments with other branches in the organization; leverage their experience to provide guidance to Soldiers outside of finance military occupation
• Research and provide recommendations to the HRC leadership on financial management occupation related topics
• Prepare and deliver over 30 professional development briefs to over 600 Soldiers, leveraging knowledge and leadership experience to foster relationships
• Collaborate with senior military and civilian leaders across the human resources enterprise to build a culture of teamwork, trust, and exceptional service that exceeded expectations, increased retention of top talent, reduced liability, and restructured procedures to meet demanding deadlines and acquisition goals
• Analyze and execute changes to improve efficiency of the talent management processes and procedures

Key Achievements: Served as a Financial Management Trainer for a highly mobile Operational Support Team (OST); prepared and trained over 25 Financial Management (FM) units in all components of the Army for worldwide deployments. Primary duties included:

• Prepare and execute realistic financial management training events for units across Active Duty, US Army Reserve, and Army National Guard units utilizing General Funds Enterprise Business System (GFEBS), Defense Joint Military Pay System (DJMS), Defense Milpay Repository (DMO), Deployable Disbursing System (DDS), Wide Area Work Flow (WAWF), Electronic Document Access (EDA), and eCommerce systems
• Provide in depth instruction and training resources related to Department of Defense automated payment systems
• Assist with the planning and coordination of External Evaluations (EXEVAL) and readiness exercises for all Finance and Comptroller units
• Provide E-Commerce training with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston to Soldiers on how to process payments utilizing Federal Treasury using ITS.gov and Deployed Disbursing System (DDS)
• Deliver technical, analytic and strategic subject matter expertise in the development, implementation, and delivery of strategies, processes, training systems, and doctrine as it directly relates to Army-wide financial management transformation
• Employ tremendous leadership, planning, and strategic thinking while serving as primary trainer ensuring that over 600 Soldiers, including unit leadership, were prepared to execute critical tasks while deployed in support of worldwide combat and contingency operations
• Develop and improve training guides, materials and DDS databases for all levels of training and evaluations
• Capture and analyze feedback gathered from training events presented to units
• Identify lessons learned; develop and implement ways to improve the training
• Provide invaluable guidance, formal and informal training in the use of automated financial management tools and technical assistance to deployed FM units

• Served as a disbursing agent for deployed unit in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, managing disbursing operations with a cash holding authority of $3.5
• Supported the theater objective of reducing cash on the battlefield from $15 million to $5 million through the implementation of Eagle Cash Cards (ECC) and EFT payments
• Planned, coordinated, and conducted three Mission Rehearsal Exercises (MRX) to validate technical and tactical skills for deployment in support of multiple operations
• Supported over 8,000 military personnel by training several cashiers and funding over 200 FMST pay missions in a hostile environment
• Inputted successfully over 13,000 disbursing transitions totaling $37 million utilizing DDS, OTCnet, ITS.gov, and Eagle Cash equipment without any losses of funds
• Trained, provided technical oversite and guidance to over 60 Paying Agents and Field Ordering Officers; advancing and clearing $25 million worth in payments without discrepancies
• Managed funding missions transporting $30M within theater
• Collected $6 million in various deposits including AAFES, Postal, and the Savings Deposit Program
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement by actively seeking out professional development opportunities related to disbursing best practices
• Maintained detailed records of all disbursed funds, providing a clear audit trail for internal and external reviews

• Supervised daily operations of 5 sections within a Financial Management Detachment; responsible for the training, health and welfare of 20 Soldiers and 42 civilian employees
• Designed a user-friendly handbook, trained and oversaw training of all brigade, battalion, and company level human resources specialists (S1) on pay procedures, resulting in fewer pay inquiries
• Implemented comprehensive cross-training program and mentored civilian employees to support Garrison finance mission while detachments were deployed
• Led the Defense Military Pay Office to achieve green ratings on inspected areas during NAFCD review
• Trained FMST to support 18,500 Soldiers conducting preparation for overseas movement
• Maintained and exceeded the DFAS processing accuracy rate of 99.4% while auditing over 150,000 military pay documents ahead of suspense without supervision
• Briefed entitlements and processed over 1,000 travel vouchers within 48 hours
• Conducted over 35 finance reintegration briefings to over 8,500 redeploying Soldiers, improving travel support while minimizing overpayments
• Certified over $5 million in military payments for death gratuities and pay advances with 100% accuracy and timeliness
• Procured over $15,000 in mission essential supplies and equipment, enhancing unit posture and mission readiness
• Oversaw processing of more than 500 absent without leave and deserter files
• Ensured all finance policies and procedures were set and enforced by frequently auditing the finance sections and ensuring separation of duties were maintained; prevented the propensity for fraud, waste and abuse of funding