Military Saves Campaign to run Feb. 24 - March 2

  • Published
  • By Byron Clark
  • 39th Air Base Wing Airman and Family Readiness Center
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  The Military Saves Week Campaign is an annual, week-long Department of Defense marketing campaign designed to build a financially fit fighting force by offering servicemembers financial advice. 

Created as part of the DoD's Defense Financial Readiness Campaign, Military Saves was developed through an agreement between the DoD and the Consumer Federation of America. 

The focus of the campaign is to educate and motivate servicemembers to change their financial behavior, save money, build wealth and decrease debt. 

Financial fitness directly impacts readiness; if military members are preoccupied with monetary concerns, they could potentially be distracted and not fully engaged in the mission at-hand. 

To facilitate this campaign, American military installations across the globe will host financial management seminars and educational forums. 

To combat negative trends such as ballooning credit card balances and a 2006 savings rate of minus-1 percent, the lowest savings rate since the Depression, the campaign will teach military personnel to become better stewards of their finances. 

Servicemembers may register in the program by visiting www.militarysaves.org, and after enrolling, will receive a free Military Saver electronic mail newsletter and other periodic communications from Military Saves personnel. 

Servicemembers deciding to improve their financial fitness may wish to consider the following: have a financial goal and develop a SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-bound) plan. 

Secondly, consider the following savings tips: "brown bag" it for lunch, use a meal card if you are receiving daily rations, shop at the base exchange or commissary, consider purchases beforehand, carpool or ride a bike to work. These measures allow for extra dollars which may be used to increase credit card or debt payments, open a savings or thrift account, or start a savings plan. 

Financial fitness is a long-term endeavor. By starting early and being committed, every Airman may be able to enjoy the benefits of financial fitness. 

For more information on this free program or to enroll, visit the Military Saves Web site or the 39th Air Base Wing Airman and Family Readiness Center.