Page 5 - The MIL Connection: Winter 2016

employee stories

Mission: Afghanistan

By Rashid Fahim for about 30 embassies, the budget I developed was among the
three that scored an “A” grade, with a top score for the last four
I worked at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, consecutive years. During the conference, the current Senior
Afghanistan for 12 years from the time Financial Management Officer and I were called to the stage and
it re-opened in 2002. In June 2014, I presented with an award for the SCORECARD ACHIEVEMENT
was granted a Special Immigration by the director of ICASS
Visa (SIV) privilege and joined The Service Center.
MIL Corporation upon my arrival in For both of my trips to
the U.S. At MIL, I continued my work Kabul, I had to follow
supporting the U.S. Embassy Kabul’s strict security rules due to
financial and budgetary operation at the deteriorating security
the Department of State’s Bureau of situation in Afghanistan.
the Comptroller and Global Financial For example, I had to fly by
Services (CGFS) in Charleston, SC. The Embassy helicopter from
U.S. Embassy Kabul is the State Department’s biggest embassy Kabul airport to the U.S.
budget. It carries a lot of complexities with unique situations and Embassy and back to the
circumstances due to the nature of its operation. It is considered a airport, although it was
frontline operation for the administration. only a two mile drive. I also
I recently completed my second trip to Kabul in 2015. During could not visit my family in
both trips, I was extremely busy and met with 32 U.S. government Kabul as I was required to
agencies’ representatives present at the Post to finalize the ICASS stay within the compound.
budgets. Apart from the budget, I also spent time on training This was a completely new
the financial and General Service Operator (GSO) procurement experience for me, and
staff and worked on unnecessary fund balances reserved in taught me how much the U.
Unliquidated Obligations in various allotments. These efforts S. government cares about the safety of its citizens.
helped to free up about $6 million in reserved/frozen dollars It is my pleasure to work for The MIL Corporation as a member
in obligations/commitments on the first trip, and $11.5 million of Post Support Unit at CGFS Charleston, and I am very thankful
on the second trip. I worked in close collaboration with GSO for all of the support provided to carry out my job.
procurement and other sections at the embassy for both efforts.
In the last Near Eastern Affairs/ Bureau of South and Central
Asian Affairs budget conference held in Colombo-Sri Lanka

“A” is for (Mission) Afghanistan

In October 2015, MIL’s Department of State financial staff received a significant
milestone achievement. For the fourth straight year, Mission Afghanistan’s Scorecard
Achievement received an excellent rating by the federal government’s International
Cooperative Administrative Support Services (ICASS) organization. ICASS is the
principal means by which the U.S. government provides and shares the cost of
common administrative support at its more than 250 diplomatic and consular posts
overseas. Ms. Sherri L. Marafino, ICASS Service Center Director, presented MIL staff
with a certificate which reads:
The ICASS Service Center applauds Mission Afghanistan’s Financial Management staff
for achieving an “A” on their initial and Final ICASS Scorecards for fiscal years 2013, 2014 and 2015. While the complexity of the Scorecard
elements has evolved and changed over this period, Mission Afghanistan has demonstrated continued budgetary excellence and stands with
18 other Missions globally in achieving this distinction. Congratulations!”
We echo Ms. Marafino’s sentiments by saying well done Team MIL!

Winter 2015 | The MIL Connection | 5