Military Saves classes inform Airmen and families

  • Published
  • By Airman First Class Jackson Haddon
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Military Saves Week works to educate and inspire military members and their families to save money, reduce debt and build wealth. While military saves is a yearlong program, Altus Air Force Base is spending two weeks emphasizing military saves, Feb. 27- Mar. 10. While some of the classes have passed, there are classes remaining for Airmen and their families to attend at the Airmen and Family Readiness Center.

The classes aim to help Airmen and families make sound financial decisions for their futures and get them invested in their retirement.

“It’s about making people aware of their financial well-being,” said Danesha Baldwin, AFRC community readiness specialist. The classes are open to all military members, their families and others who want more information on what financial opportunities are available. While the focus this year is on the Blended Retirement System, more topics are offered to educate people on their finances.

The classes covered budgeting, investing, the Blended Retirement System and negotiating deals. Classes scheduled this week are Thrift Savings Plan, investing and the Blended Retirement System.

“Each class has a theme,” said Baldwin. “It’s not just an overview, its more detailed information. We’re also going to work with the kids at the Youth Center on base to give them a starter pack about money and savings.”

Saving is important at all ages alongside knowing what choices are available for retirement.

“It’s important to me because I know the importance of saving for my retirement,” said U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Lalah Baker, 97th Air Mobility Wing administration apprentice. “When you think about your career, you don’t know if you’re going to stay in 20 years. You may want to, but stuff happens. I didn’t realize that a lot of different opportunities are out there for us, but we really have to go out and find them because it’s our future and our career.”

Showing people the opportunities they have open is just one advantage that Military Saves Week offers Airmen and family members. The ARFC holds classes throughout the year to educate people on different topics, aiming to get Airmen and families actively planning for their future.

“We hope we’ve touched as many people as we can,” said Baldwin. “We just hope more people will come in and take advantage of the classes and opportunities we have.”

Saving money and taking care of Airmen is just another day at Altus AFB, ready to teach, ready to learn and keep its Airmen accountable every day of the year.

For more information on Military Saves Week or classes, please call (580) 481-6761.