Military Saves Week activities demonstrate caring about savings

  • Published
  • By Amy Rollins
  • Skywrighter Staff

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Col. Bradley McDonald, 88th Air Base Wing commander, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, signed a proclamation Feb. 16 in recognition of the upcoming Military Saves Week, an annual observance for installations and organizations to promote good savings behavior.

Service members and their families will have a special opportunity to assess their own savings status during the week, which runs Feb. 27-March 4.

 

“When you think about the challenges people have in their lives, finances are always a part of that,” McDonald said. “These programs are one way we can help our Airmen and their families better manage their finances.”

 

The Airman & Family Readiness Center has planned the following free classes and information fairs, open to the base population except where noted, to feature the services the installation provides that help people build wealth:

 

■ Feb. 27, 11 a.m. to noon, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, NASIC employees only – TSP & Blended Retirement

 

■ Feb. 27, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., A&FRC – Planning for Retirement. This class is hosted by Wright-Patt Credit Union. Lunch will be provided. Must register by calling the A&FRC at 937-257-3592.

 

■ Feb. 28, 11 a.m. to noon, Wright-Patterson Medical Center auditorium, for medical center employees – TSP and Blended Retirement

 

■ March 1, 11 a.m. to noon, 711th Human Performance Wing, Bldg. 840, Area B, for U.S. School of Aerospace Medicine and 711 HPW employees – TSP and Blended Retirement

 

■ March 2, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Air Force Institute of Technology, Bldg. 642, Area B – Military Saves Information Fair

 

■ March 3, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., A&FRC – Home Buying. This class is taught by the Better Business Bureau.

 

“Take advantage of our programs because they are here to help all base employees and our services are free,” said Dawn Ivy, community readiness specialist/personal financial management team member.

 

“These programs can help you by bringing money up front in your lives, whether you’re interested in learning more about savings, investing or a budget. This can help set you off to a steady financial future.”

 

She said she is encouraged by the several hundred people who already have indicated they plan to participate in the briefings at NASIC, 711 HPW and AFIT.

 

A new part of the Military Saves Week observance this year is financial education taking place at the Youth Center and the child-centered programs. Financial education of new Airmen also is a particular emphasis, Ivy said.

 

First-term Airmen and first-term duty officers are encouraged to visit the A&- FRC to set up a basic budget with one of the community readiness specialists within the first 90 days of PCSing to Wright-Patterson AFB, she said.

 

“They are going to know where their money is, see where their money goes out and figure out how much they can start putting into the Thrift Savings Plan and build an emergency fund. They’ll also be treated to a free oil change, courtesy of the Air Force Aid Society.”

 

Ivy pointed out that the A&FRC’s community readiness specialists are available to come to any location to provide information.

 

“We can come to you – you don’t always have to come to us,” she said. “We are here to help you and meet your needs. We can do budgets with you. We’re very mobile.”

 

Talking to Airmen about couponing, thrift store and outlet shopping and taking advantage of money-saving resources on the installation like the commissary and the Exchange is the forte of Sharron Griffin-Gorham, community readiness specialist/personal financial management team member.

 

“I pitch our services because I believe in them,” she said. “Why not take advantage of everything we have here at Wright-Patt that will save you money?”

 

Service members are encouraged to make an appointment with Micah Neuse, CFP, a personal financial counselor assigned to Wright-Patterson AFB. Neuse provides face-to-face counseling for active-duty, active reserve, dependents of active duty/reserve, Gold Star eligible dependents and retired service members for the first 180 days of retirement. He brings 20 years of financial planning experience to his mission of helping all of those in uniform.

His focus is on helping service members identify their goals – whether that be getting out of debt, building an emergency fund, saving for education or investing for retirement. The Thrift Savings Plan and the new Blended Retirement System are favorite subjects of his. Neuse’s services are free. To make a personal appointment with Neuse, call the A&FRC at 937-257-3592.

 

For more information about Military Saves Week, go online to www.militarysaves.org and to the A&FRC’s Facebook page – Wright-Patterson AFB, Airman & Family Readiness Center.

 

Military Saves is a readiness initiative authorized by the undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.