JEB Little Creek-Fort Story Hosts Military Saves WeekPlanning Your Future Begins Today!

By JEB Little Creek Public Affairs Office

A penny saved is a penny earned! That old cliché has never been more relevant considering today’s financial climate. In light of that, all hands are encouraged to participate in the many Military Saves events scheduled for the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story to assist in becoming financially savvy!

Military Saves Week is an annual event commencing Feb. 21 and ending Feb. 27. Events are open to all military personnel and their families in Hampton Roads.

Military Saves is a social marketing campaign to persuade, motivate, and encourage military families to save money every month, and to convince leaders and organizations to be aggressive in promoting automatic savings. The campaign is a growing network of organizations and individuals committed to helping and supporting military members and their loved ones build personal savings’ arsenals to provide for their immediate and long term financial needs.

“I am very excited about this year’s campaign for the base,” said Mary Spear, Financial Educator, Fleet and Family Support Center, JEBLCFS. “We have several events planned on both properties of the Joint Expeditionary Base to help make military personnel and their families savvy in planning their financial well being. It is so important to get the right financial education, develop a financial plan and then act on that plan. It is their future and we want to do all we can to help make that future brighter.”

On Feb. 22, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., marketing tables will be placed at the Naval Exchange the Commissary on base and at the AAFES Shoppette on JEB Fort Story with FFSC Financial Educators on hand to discuss saving and investing with patrons and to register participants as Military Savers.

On Feb. 23 from 4-5:15 p.m., the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Child and Youth Center will host a Children’s Financial Fair. This event is available to only those children enrolled in the School Age Care (SAC) program.

On Feb. 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the bases Liberty Program will host a "$aving the Bacon" presentation at the Foc’sle. In addition, the JEB Fort Story Chapel will host a presentation for military spouses on “Successful Money Management for Now and the Future.”

On Feb. 25, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Ms. Corrine Vaughan, director of Victim Notification from the Common Wealth of Virginia’s Office of the Attorney General, will speak on “Consumer Awareness for the Service Member” at the Gator Theater. In addition, the Shred-it Truck will be on hand to assist families in destroying personal documents.

In addition to the above scheduled events, Brown Bag Luncheon Financial Training will be held at the JEB Fort Story Fleet and Family Support Center located in building 517. From noon to 1 p.m. each day, military personnel and family members are invited to bring their sack lunch and share time with others while receiving more great financial training information.

Topics scheduled include Saving and Investing Feb. 21, Cash versus Credit Cards Feb. 22, Wise Consumer Practices Feb. 23, Consumer Scams Feb. 24, and I.D. Theft and Credit Reports Feb. 25. For more information on Brown Bag Luncheon training, call (757) 422-7311.

Although financial planning should be a year-round event, the JEBLCFS Military Saves Week is dedicated to providing resources that will assist military families in ensuring their financial readiness. The campaign's lifeblood is in its partners and organizations that see the value in working together to empower members, employees, customers, and clients to become financially stable through saving, debt reduction, and wealth-building over time.

“Planning ones financial future has never been more important,” noted Spear. “The financial crises that we all have experienced here in the recent past should be a red flag to us all. Reducing and managing our debt and saving for a better tomorrow, are key to ensuring one’s financial fitness in order to live a better tomorrow come retirement time.”

Additional information on the Military Saves Campaign can be obtained on line at www.militarysaves.org or call (757) 462-7563.

-USN-