Briefings available on new AAFES Fuel Ration Card program

  • Published
  • By From Installation Management Command-Europe public affairs
HEIDELBERG, Germany --  The campaign to prepare European-based U.S. personnel for the inevitable transition from fuel coupons to fuel ration cards beginning in July has turned a critical corner, according to Dave Mattingly, Installation Management Command-Europe, Germany Fuel Ration Card Development program lead.

Mattingly, along with Wess Bryan, the AAFES project manager for the Germany Fuel Ration Card Project, have traveled to various communities explaining the change in how authorized U.S. personnel will now obtain rationed fuel.

They will be at Spangdahlem AB on March 28, and are offering their presentations to all interested USAFE units. To schedule a presentation, contact them at DSN 370-8458.

Mattingly said individuals seem to have accepted the change and now want to know how to best prepare. 

"When this new process was first introduced, we encountered a swell of resistance we feel was based on a lack of understanding of the fuel ration card program and how the program is a good thing," said Mattingly. "Several months ago, people were asking questions about why they had to stop using coupons, now they are asking how to use the fuel ration card."

During an American Forces Network open line radio show March 12, Mattingly and Bryan addressed a myriad of questions ranging from availability of cards to how Reservists and people outside Germany can get cards, as well as questions centering on the more direct, "how will they work."

But more encouraging to Mattingly and Bryan were the number of callers who said they had read about something on the Website and needed clarification (http://www.imcom-europe.army.mil/sites/news/fuelcard.asp).

"The information is getting out; people are aware of the change," said Mattingly. "We are anticipating having several training modules available on the IMCOM-Europe Website soon that will show people the various processes involved with registration and obtaining fuel rations cards, and how to use the fuel ration cards. So, we're not done."

In addition to answering questions, the open line session afforded Bryan an opportunity to address one emailer's inference that doing away with paper coupons and going to a technological system will save money and perhaps result in savings to the customers.

"That is a good question because it gives me a chance to shoot down an absolutely false assertion," said Bryan. "Printing out coupons and selling them is relatively easy. Establishing a complex system of computers, networks and technology that must meet the same level of communication and security standards as the European banking networks is not cheap."

In addition, it is important to note that the system's first function is ration control. To accomplish this at both AAFES and Esso stations required more than 100,000 hours of system development. The system audit requirement is that every transaction under the new fuel card be 100 percent traceable down to the liter, where it was pumped, what time it was pumped, what vehicle it was put into by license plate number, and the names of the drivers on the fuel card that was used to purchase the fuel.

Bryan said he doubted AAFES or Esso would realize any cost savings because of the huge investment required at both AAFES and Esso to develop and deliver the new system. But, he said, the system meets the German requirements and complies with the Status of Forces Agreement.

The motivation to educate drivers is fueled by the thought that once people gain awareness of transition, there will be less anxiety, said Mattingly. The reality is "we do this or we pay local prices." This is the only workable solution for continuing gas rationing that met Germany requirements for authorized U.S. personnel.

"Are some people inconvenienced? Yes. Will everyone like the change? Not immediately. We understand some people will view this as a glass half empty," said Mattingly. "We view this as a tank that is more than half full. In addition to continuing rationed fuel at prices comparable to the U.S. prices, there are many conveniences in the fuel ration card system that will be a big improvement over fuel coupons."

Again, Mattingly and Bryan urge people to view the IMCOM-Europe Website to find information detailing many facets of the transition.

"We have a ways to go, however, the word is getting out, there's a tremendous amount of good information on the IMCOM-Europe Website, and we're continuing to produce more information to educate the people," said Mattingly.