266th Financial Management Center
266th Finance Command

The mission of the 266th Financial Management Center is to provide full-spectrum, responsive finance, and accounting services in the US Army Europe (USAREUR), joint, and combined theaters, while enhancing capability for the combatant commander through cash management, contracting support, and accountability on the battlefield.

Previously, the unit had been designated as the 266th Finance Command, a world class finance organization, leveraging resources and technology to support the 21st century Army in the European theater. It was trained and ready to execute all operations while ensuring the well-being of soldiers, civilians, and families.

The distinctive unit insignia was originally authorized for the 266th Finance Center on 20 Jan 1987. It was redesignated on 1 January 1994, with the description and symbolism revised, consisting of a black disc, the lower fourth a green mound a gold lion rampant grasping a small gold disc. It was encircled by a gray motto scroll inscribed "FIRST IN FINANCE SUPPORT" arcing from sides to base in gold letters, and passing behind a gold tower issuing from the upper portion of the disc. Heidelberg, the location of the unit at the time, was represented by the lion on the mound, a device used in the coat of arms of the city, and also by the tower, a dominant feature of the local castle. The gold bezant (small disc) in the lion's claws, was a heraldic symbol for coin and represented money, recalling the financial mission of the unit. Gray was a color traditionally associated with the Finance Corps. Black, green and gold, while derived from the Heidelberg coat of arms, alluded also to solvency and financial responsibility.

The US Army Finance Corps originated on 16 June 1775, when the Second Continental Congress introduced a resolution appointing a Paymaster General of the Army. From that day, the US Army had always been provided financial services by finance soldiers who were either organized in separate elements or integrated into existing units of the Army. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service was building sophisticated systems to enhance finance support in the future, both in garrison and on the battlefield. The Finance Corps was organized with the "whole branch" being one single regiment and, as with other Combat Service Support branches, it retains its "Corps" title. To carry out the intent and spirit of the Regimental System, the Finance Corps Proponent had the responsibility to provide for soldier opportunity, professional development, and meaningful affiliation/association.

Operation Joint Forge and Task Force Falcon were contingency operations entitling soldiers to per diem service. Service members were deployed under either Temporary Change of Station or Group Travel Orders, at $3.50 per day. For the NATO-led Stablization Force (SFOR), $80 accrued per diem was paid and reflected on the LES and the balance of $25 per month was paid upon travel settlement. For the Kosovo Force (KFOR), all per diem is paid upon travel settlement. Soldiers did not receive per diem during rest and recreation leaves. Family Separation Allowance was payable to soldiers with dependents who were deployed for more than 30 days. Entitlement stopped if soldier returned to PDS for more than 30 days during the TDY period. Married service members with no dependents were entitled to FSA if residing together before being separated (only one member was entitled if both deployed and in different locations). This was payable at $100 per month ($3.33 per day) and began the day of departure from home station and ended the day prior to arrival at home station. Hardship Duty Pay - Location (formerly Certain Places Pay, formerly Foreign Duty Pay) was payable to soldiers within designated areas. Enlisted soldiers were "grandfathered" and continued receiving $8.00- 22.50 per month while in Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, and Kosovo. All soldiers assigned in Hungary received $50.00 per month except for Budapest, which was not a designated area. Soldiers in Sofia, Bulgaria receive $100.00 per month and other Bulgarian locations received $50.00 per month.