Controlled Spend Account will arrive sooner than expected Published Dec. 15, 2010 By 2nd Lt. Christopher Love 374 AW/PA YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Airmen at Yokota may soon find a new Controlled Spend Account card waiting for them in their mailboxes. The CSA will replace the present Government Travel Card and enables Airmen to pay for their expenses while traveling for temporary duty, deployment or a permanent change of station. Even though the change to the CSA was projected, the changeover is happening faster than expected. To help educate the base to ensure all Airmen are armed with the facts about the new cards, the 374th Comptroller Squadron will act as a conduit to get the information out. Each Yokota Airman can expect to be briefed on the CSA via seminars at the base theater, said Maj. Duane Hinkle, 374 CPTS commander. The briefings will begin on Friday, Dec. 17, pausing soon after for the holidays. They will then resume on Thursday, Jan. 6, and continue at a rate of two times per day, every Thursday and Friday, until all 3,200 personnel receive the necessary information. Whereas, previously, only certain Airmen qualified to receive a GTC, everyone will receive a CSA, Major Hinkle said. He attributed this change to the "new philosophy" behind the CSA, in which an individual's credit rating plays no role in determining his or her eligibility. Given that everyone will be receiving a CSA, it is essential that all Airmen ensure that Citibank has their correct e-mail and mailing addresses. Those who are unsure should contact a Citibank representative at 877-784-1407, go to https://home.cards.citidirect.com or speak with their Agent Program Coordinator (APC). Major Hinkle says that the first Airmen to receive the card will be those designated "infrequent travelers." This will help to ensure that aircrew members and other more regular travelers won't need to make the transition while abroad. The full switch to the CSA will likely conclude around March. Perhaps the most noteworthy feature of the CSA is the monetary cap placed on each card. Each CSA will sit empty until one's orders get generated, then an exact amount, specially estimated to cover the costs of the member's individual travel needs, will be added to the card. Should any excess money remain after all necessary expenses have been paid for, the member will pocket the remainder. Airmen should note, however, that in the event that the total cost of their travel expenses was overestimated, they will be required to account for the difference. Should unexpected expenses occur while in transit, members can initiate a temporary increase by calling a 1-800 number, open 24/7. After this, members must have their orders amended to update their travel authorization, within five days. For more information on the CSA, visit http://www.citibank.com/transactionservices/home/sa/2010q3/csa/index.jsp.