Thanksgiving seemed to arrive quickly this year! There's so much to do before year's end – roasting turkey, holiday gift wrapping, and of course, renewing your ASMC membership. Our "RENEW" YEAR's Resolution program kicks off next month and we want to thank those of you who renew your membership early or on-time! Renew your annual membership in your expiration month, or beforehand, and we will enter you into a drawing for one of two $50 gift cards. Renew on time or early for three years and you will be entered into a drawing for a $150 gift card. Though we are launching this program during the holidays, we are going to make this renewal program a year-round recognition for our members who are renewing their memberships on time! Thus each month, starting with December 2017 on-time or early renewals, we will conduct a random drawing to award two $50 gift certificates and one $150 gift certificate, respectively for those renewing on-time or early for one or three years. In addition to contacting the members who win the drawings, we will announce the winners on our website and social media.

Although the new year is just around the corner, we want to remind you that the ASMC Achievement Award Nominations are due 31 January 2018. Nominate colleagues (as individuals or part of a project team) who deserve recognition for excellence in financial management and those selected by our Awards committees will be honored at PDI 2018!

ASMC NEEDS CDFM and CDFM-A PILOT TESTERS

ASMC is in the final stages of updating the CDFM exams. To date, subject matter experts have helped us update the exam blueprints, weigh the competency areas, review existing exam items (questions), write many new exam items, and finalize pilot exams. 

We need active CDFMs and CDFM-As to field test the pilot exams, so we can determine which questions to include on the updated exam!

Who can take the pilot exams?

Active CDFMs and CDFM-As can take the Module 1, 2, and 3 pilot exams. Only CDFM-As can take the Module 4 Pilot Exam.

What can testers expect?

There is a paper-and-pencil pilot exam for each module (Module 1-Resource Management Environment, Module 2-Budget and Cost Analysis, Module 3-Accounting and Finance, Module 4-Acquisition Business Management). Each pilot exam has 100 multiple-choice items and typically takes 1-1.5 hours to complete. No study preparation is necessary – we are asking all pilot testers to take the exams cold turkey. To finish the process, complete an emailed post-test survey to provide feedback on the exam(s) you decided to take. Pilot testing has no impact on certification status.

What will testers receive in return?

After the emailed post-test survey is completed, testers will receive an electronic certificate with 3 CPE for each qualifying pilot exam completed. Additionally, testers will have the satisfaction of actively supporting ASMC's Certification Program in keeping the CDFM exams current and relevant.

When and where will the pilot testing take place?

For groups of more than 10 test takers, a proctor can be made available on a date and location that is suitable for ASMC and the testers. For individual testers in the DC metro area, pilot exams can be taken at the ASMC Office in Old Town, Alexandria. 

When will the new exams roll out?

We do not yet have a solid timeline. However, with the support of our Certified Defense Financial Managers, we project that new exams could be published around March 2018. We are currently updating the Enhanced Defense Financial Management Training course textbook, as well, which will be released before the updated exams. The update of Module 4 – Acquisition exam and textbook will follow on a later timeline to be determined after the Department issues the update to its DODI 5000.02 regulation. ASMC HQ will officially announce the effective dates for use of the updated exams at least 60 days in advance.

2018 EDFMT COURSES ONLINE  

The FY18 centrally-funded EDFMT Course schedule is on the ASMC website! Check out the schedule (and other CDFM training opportunities!) at http://bit.ly/ASMCtraining.

ACHIEVEMENT AWARD NOMINATIONS OPEN UNTIL JANUARY 31

ASMC annually recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of its chapters and members of the defense financial management community through its national awards program. This program encompasses individual and team achievement awards, scholarships, educational grants, an essay contest, chapter recognition, and a variety of other individual based awards. ASMC achievement awards are presented annually to individuals and teams who have been nominated for outstanding accomplishment within one of the functional fields of comptrollership.

Award recipients will be honored at PDI 2018 in Denver, Colorado.

Find the achievement award nominations categories and nomination guidelines here: http://bit.ly/ASMC2017awards.

PDI 2018 STARTS IN JUST SIX MONTHS!

You might be preparing for the holidays, but here at ASMC, we’re preparing for PDI 2018!

This coming PDI will take place at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO. The event will kick off on May 30 and continues through June 1. Our wonderful Pikes Peak host chapter and Mile High and Utah supporting chapters, lead by PDI Chair Laura Sandy, are already making “mile high” strides in the planning of what is sure to be another successful event.

Glenda Scheiner, Chair of our National Professional Development Committee and Derald Emory (ASMC PDC Coordinator) are currently developing valuable program content, to include over 100 workshop level sessions. Registration for PDI 2018 will be open in late February.

We’re looking forward to updating you on the progress toward PDI 2018 and we hope to see you in Denver.

UPDATE YOUR EMAIL IN YOUR ASMC MEMBER PROFILE

Given issues we are seeing with some organizational network firewalls, to ensure you receive timely information from ASMC, please update your ASMC member profile with your personal email address. We want to ensure you receive important announcements and notifications that directly impact your professional development. Log onto and update your profile at www.asmconline.org/membership/edit-profile/.

Have questions? Contact Kathryn Grandstaff-Bradford, our Associate Director of Communications and Public Affairs at grandstaff@asmconline.org.

We thank you for your dedicated service to our nation and for your ASMC membership.

Al

Al Runnels, CDFM-A
Executive Director
American Society of Military Comptrollers