FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Members of the Pennsylvania National Guard, along with Veterans and Family attended a workshop hosted by the Pennsylvania Military Finance Alliance and headed by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities here Sept. 7.
The free workshop offered a variety of breakout sessions on topics such as credit reports and credit scores, scambusters and investing basics.
These topics are important to service members, according to Col. Laura McHugh, chief of staff for the Pennsylvania National Guard. “I’ve seen how financial stressors can hurt Soldiers and Airmen,” she said. “You can lose your security clearance for example due to credit problems.”
McHugh went on to say how workshops like these can educate and protect service members. “Programs like these should be mandatory for all service members.”
The Soldiers attending thought the workshop was beneficial as well, “The making sense of finance workshop was a perfect example of what our Soldiers need; introductory sessions on all facets of money management. Instructors were knowledgeable and very willing to assist Soldiers and their families,” said Master Sgt. Brandy Kutzler, Battalion Operations noncommissioned officer, 728th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 213th Regional Support Group, Pennsylvania National Guard.
“For those Soldiers who have more advanced knowledge regarding money matters, the workshop was still helpful by providing resources for personal finance counselors, investment help and one on one counseling,” she said.
Joe Brooks president of the USO of Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey reiterated his organization’s mission to help service members at his lunch time discussion. “Programs like these are essential,” he said. “Just as essential as the care packages and other support we offer to those in uniform.”
The Pennsylvania Military Finance Alliance is a group comprised of multiple organizations including: Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Advantage, USO of Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey, Army Community Service, Military OneSource, Better Business Bureau, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, and the Pennsylvania National Guard.
“I am very glad I attended this event and will definitely attend in the future. I will encourage all my Soldiers to attend,” said Kutzler.