Altus AFB, local banks make Military Saves program joint endeavor

  • Published
  • By Michael Fletcher
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Col. David W. Allvin, 97th Air Mobility Wing commander, signed the Altus Air Force Base "Military Saves" proclamation, Monday, making Feb. 25 to Mar. 2 a week for developing sound financial habits. Colonel Allvin also encouraged his squadron commanders to examine ways to help better the lives of Airmen and their families through this program. 

Part of the "American Saves" nationwide campaign, "Military Saves" focuses on helping military families establish savings goals and good finances through education on how to handle money responsibly and how to maintain personal readiness, providing another level of protection for families. 

"Financial readiness is equivalent to mission readiness," said Leslye Arsht, Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy. "We have records and history that show if you are worried about your finances, you're not going to be as ready or as focused on the mission. So we want to help families address these issues before they become a crisis and to really encourage them to make these sounder financial choices." 

Most military families get into trouble when small emergencies come along and they're already stretched thin financially, Ms. Arsht said. DoD's financial readiness campaign aims to teach servicemembers how to save and plan for these emergencies, so they're prepared and ready to do their job, she said. 

"What the Altus AFB program promotes is to stop talking about financial savings and challenging Airmen to make the pledge -- to start saving," said Mark Patton, Airman and Family Readiness Flight Chief. "Starting Feb. 19, the www.militarysaves.org website will have an updated program with tools to help determine how savings goals can be achieved with a specified income." On the website are links offering successful methods to save for specific reasons, such as an auto purchase, investments, saving for a home and getting out of debt. 

Local bankers are also throwing their support behind the program through financial seminars and brown bag lunches. During the Feb. 25 kick-off, Jeff Greenlee, NBC bank president, will be the keynote speaker. Feb. 26, Mid First Bank will have a seminar on investments and savings. Feb. 27, NBC Bank's seminar will be on banking and financial services. Feb. 28, Red River Federal Credit Union will have a session on credit reports and the credit score card used to determine interest rates on loans. Feb. 29, the Airman and Family Readiness Flight will conclude the series with a session on financial information and resources. Starting Feb. 15, the base exchange and commissary will add fliers to shopping bags. 

Register for the financial sessions through the Airman and Family Readiness Center, 481-6761.