U.S. Army

Finance Corps

Soldiers who don't get paid don't fight. From gold coins at Valley Forge to invasion currency at Normandy to Eagle Cash cards in Kandahar, the Finance Corps has paid the American soldier in every war, every climate, and every condition since 1775. Disbursing officers land on the beach with the infantry because the mission never stops.

"To Support and Serve" Est. 1775

EST. JUNE 16, 1775

Army Finance Corps

Pay the Troops — In Every Condition

Finance Officer MOS

Financial Mgmt Tech

THE FORCE · ALWAYS

The Continental Congress appointed the first Paymaster General on June 16, 1775 — the same day it appointed George Washington as commander. The Army understood from Day One: soldiers who don't get paid don't fight. The Finance Corps has paid American soldiers in every war since — from gold coins at Valley Forge to eagle cash cards in Kandahar. Disbursing officers have landed on beaches, jumped out of aircraft, and set up pay tables in combat zones because the mission never stops. Read more

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World War II — Paying the Global Force 1941 – 1945

Finance in the ETO & Pacific

Currency Conversion · Invasion Money · Disbursing

Military Currency

Paying 12 million soldiers across five continents in multiple currencies was an unprecedented logistics challenge. Finance officers landed at Normandy with invasion currency — Allied Military marks printed for occupied Germany. In the Pacific, finance detachments operated in currencies from Philippine pesos to Japanese occupation scrip. Disbursing officers carried safes full of cash into combat zones and accounted for every dollar. The Finance Corps managed the largest payroll operation in human history. Read more

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Cold War Through Vietnam 1945 – 1991

SCRIP · NOT CASH

Military Payment Certificates

MPCs — Controlling the Black Market

Korea · Germany

Military Payment Certificates replaced U.S. dollars in overseas commands to prevent currency black markets. Soldiers were paid in MPCs that could only be spent at military facilities. On unannounced "C-Days" — Conversion Days — the entire MPC series would change overnight, instantly devaluing any scrip held by black marketeers. In Vietnam, C-Days were military operations — every MPC in the country had to be exchanged in 24 hours. Finance soldiers pulled all-nighters converting millions of dollars in scrip while MPs guarded the perimeter. Read more

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IN-COUNTRY PAY OPS

Vietnam Finance Operations

Disbursing Under Fire

Soldiers Paid Monthly

Pay · Remote Bases

Vietnamese Currency

ZONE DISBURSING

Finance detachments in Vietnam operated at every major base and flew to remote firebases to pay soldiers who hadn't seen a finance office in months. Disbursing officers carried cash in armed convoys and helicopters. They converted dollars to piasters, processed combat pay, death gratuities, and savings deposits. In 1968 during the Tet Offensive, finance offices in Saigon and Hue came under direct attack. The safes stayed open. The troops got paid. Read more

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Modern Finance — GWOT to Present 2001 – Present

DEPLOYED FINANCE

Deployed Finance in Iraq & Afghanistan

CERP · Vendor Pay · Eagle Cash

Commander's Emergency $$

Cash Card System

Pay · Local Contracts

DISBURSED IN THEATER

In Iraq and Afghanistan, Finance Corps soldiers managed the most complex deployed financial operations since WWII. Commander's Emergency Response Program funds put billions of dollars into local economies for reconstruction projects. Finance soldiers paid local vendors, Iraqi and Afghan security forces, and managed the Eagle Cash card system that replaced physical currency on major bases. Finance Management Support Units deployed to every major base — disbursing billions while maintaining audit trails in combat zones. Read more

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN

Defense Finance & Accounting Service

Annual Disbursements

The Defense Finance and Accounting Service consolidated military pay across all services in 1991 — managing 6.4 million pay accounts and disbursing over $636 billion annually. DFAS handles military pay, civilian pay, retired and annuitant pay, vendor payments, and travel processing. Every soldier's paycheck, every contractor payment, every retiree check flows through DFAS. The Finance Corps provides the military leadership and expertise that keeps the system running. Read more

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249

Years of Service

$636B

Annual Disbursements

6.4M

Pay Accounts

Pay

The Troops · Always