text: Banking and Disbursing Support
  Clearing Pay Agents
  3-49. PAs will make every effort to complete all payments and return funds and payment documents as
  quickly as possible. The agent should return the funds and receipts as soon as tactically feasible after
  providing the specified support, but no later than 30 days after the advance or as the DO directs. All agents
  must clear their accounts with the funding DO or Disbursing Agent prior to departing the theater of
  operations, regardless of circumstances. Upon final clearance of funds, both the funding DO or
  Disbursement Agent and PA will sign a DD Form 1081 (clear funds). It is recommended that the PA
  maintain a copy of the signed DD Form 1081.
  Types of Support
  3-50. The PA is an extension of the DO. PAs provide both local procurement support and individual
  support. Local procurement support is the purchase of supplies and services from the local economy in
  order to meet logistic shortfalls. Individual support entails making payments, cashing checks, and making
  foreign currency conversions for individual service members based on PA appointment orders and the
  approval of the FMSU Commander/DO.
  PAY AGENT CHALLENGES
  3-51. There are several players involved in field ordering operations besides FOOs and PAs. The Fiscal
  Triad and the unit commander are all part of the “team” that enables the effectiveness of this triad.
  Successfully navigating through a maze of personnel and bureaucracy roadblocks can be a daunting task.
  Proper training of PAs and separation of duties between PA and FOO are crucial to deterring and
  preventing fraud, waste, or abuse of funds. Whenever possible, the PAs and FOOs should receive combined
  briefings and training on their respective duties and responsibilities. Patience, flexibility, and creativity are
  required to reach the ultimate goal of supporting Soldiers. The following list includes just a few of the
  challenges FOOs and PAs may encounter:
  * Corruption (number one threat).
  * Customs and culture differences.
  * Trafficking in persons.
  * Enemy threats against vendors.
  * Information security and operations security (vendors can provide intelligence to the enemy).
  * Language barriers.
  * Time-management challenges.
  * Unauthorized commitments by PA or by someone speaking for the PA.
  * Chain of command and conflicting responsibilities.
  * Contingency/combat environment.
  SPECIAL PAYMENTS
  3-52. Financial management supports several special payment programs and carefully follows the
  principles and standards prescribed by the Comptroller General of the United States. Special payments are
  classified based on their characteristics and the nature of the transactions they support.
  SOLATIA PAYMENT
  3-53. A solatia payment is monetary compensation given to indigenous personnel to provide relief from
  grief, suffering, and anxiety resulting from injury, property, or personal loss. Occasionally, solatia
  payments are made in order to meet cultural expectations. A solatia payment is nominal in amount, and is
  not an admission of liability by the U.S. The commander, in whose area of responsibility the incident
  occurred, is responsible for determining entitlement to solatia payment. FM units are responsible for the
  disbursing and accounting of a solatia payment. AR 27-20, Claims, contains more information on solatia
  payment.