Okinawa kicks off Military Saves Campaign

Photo By Sgt. Megan Angel | Maj. Gen. Peter J. Talleri, commanding general, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, signs the Military Saves Campaign Proclamation Jan. 24, naming February as Military Saves Month. The Military Saves Campaign is a total force, command-level program which provides an opportunity for leaders at all levels to educate troops and families on the value of saving their hard-earned money to reach their long-term financial goals.  

OKINAWA, JAPAN

01.24.2011

Story by Cpl. Megan Angel 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

OKINAWA, Japan - Maj. Gen. Peter J. Talleri, commanding general, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, signed the Military Saves Campaign Proclamation Jan. 24, naming February as Military Saves Month.

The Military Saves Campaign is a total force, command-level program which provides an opportunity for leaders at all levels to educate troops and families on the value of saving their hard-earned money to reach their long-term financial goals.

While the entire military community comes together to focus on financial readiness during Military Saves Week, Feb. 20-27, service members on Okinawa observe the entire month of February.

Military Saves is a social marketing campaign and was developed and tested by its non-profit sponsor, Consumer Federation of America and the military services from 2003 to 2006. It was launched throughout the DOD in 2007, said Personal Services Center financial counselor Anthony Green. It is part of two larger campaigns -- the DOD Financial Readiness Campaign and the national America Saves campaign.

“Financial stability is about a lot more than knowledge -- it takes consistent action over time,” said Green. “Most of us do better when we have a supportive environment. Military Saves is a campaign to make every military community that supportive environment.”

The Personal Services Centers will host pledge drives, classes and events on every Marine Corps camp and Navy installation during the month of February. The events will be announced via American Forces Network Okinawa, Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, Community Bank, Navy Federal Credit Union and other participating organizations.

The campaign is a growing network of organizations and individuals committed to helping and supporting military members and their loved ones build or improve their personal wealth to provide for their immediate and long-term financial needs.

“The campaign’s lifeblood is in its partners, 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,” said Green. “The numbers for sign-ups doubled for the Marine Corps from 2009 to 2010.”

U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa executive officer, Navy Capt. G. D. Shaffer, and Fleet Activities Okinawa Commanding Officer, Navy Capt. R. W. Weathers, also signed the Military Saves Proclamation aboard Camp Lester and Kadena Air Base.

In a saving community, people encourage each other to save money regularly and habitually. They discourage excessive spending on non-necessities, said Green. Financial institutions help people save by offering incentives and other perks. Habits change to favor saving over not saving.

“You cannot do enough to constantly review your financial health; in preparation for buying a home, saving for college or retirement,” said Talleri. “As a younger officer, I spent a lot of time talking to my [staff noncommissioned officers] and young Marines about their finances and the importance of saving. I appreciate what these organizations and people are doing.”

Adopting good saving habits is an opportunity that starts today, but impacts our financial outcomes for life, according to Green.

“When enough military and private individuals and organizations belong to Military Saves, the entire military culture will be changed,” claims Green. “The U.S. Armed Services will become a saving community.”

For more information on Military Saves, visit www.militarysaves.org.

For financial advice, counseling or more information, contact the Personal Services Centers on any of the Navy or Marine Corps camps or visit www.mccsokinawa.com/mccs.asp?id=730.

• Date Taken: 01.24.2011
• Date Posted: 01.31.2011 01:15
• Story ID: 64494
• Location: OKINAWA, JP