JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
A national campaign that encourages military families to save money each month will be showcased Feb. 25-March 1 at Joint Base San Antonio locations.
Military Saves Week, part of the America Saves campaign coordinated by the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America, will feature events at JBSA-Randolph, JBSA-Lackland and JBSA-Fort Sam Houston. The campaign's theme is "Start Small. Think Big."
"Military Saves Week is such a great opportunity to encourage people to save money and show them ways to accomplish that," Felicia McCollum, 902nd Force Support Squadron community readiness consultant, said. "We want people to increase their savings and be aware of the Thrift Savings Plan, retirement investments, and education and counseling resources that are available."
The week's activities at Randolph will begin with information fairs sponsored by the Randolph Airman and Family Readiness Center, Broadway Bank and Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 25 and 2-4 p.m. Feb. 26 in the pavilion at the Randolph unaccompanied enlisted quarters, Bldg. 394.
"The information fairs are for everybody, but the focus is on younger Airmen," McCollum said. "We want to provide them with information and let them see what we have to offer."
Activities will continue with the program "Saving and Investing for Retirement" 12:30-1:30 p.m. Feb. 27, tentatively scheduled at the Randolph A&FRC. Dean Taylor, San Antonio Better Business Bureau education director, will lead the presentation.
Military Saves Week, which is part of a yearlong campaign, will conclude at Randolph with a credit management workshop 2-3 p.m. March 1 at the Randolph A&FRC. Representatives of Broadway Bank and Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union will conduct the workshop, and participants will receive free credit reports.
"Jobs and Money," an event that will offer employment opportunities as well as financial education and resources, is the highlight of activities at Fort Sam Houston. It is scheduled 4-7 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Fort Sam Houston Warfighter and Family Readiness Center, Bldg. 2797.
"This event will be set up like a job fair," McCollum said. "Employers will be there, so participants should bring their resumes. In addition, there will be financial counselors providing information on saving, investing, credit management and other topics."
Topics that will be addressed at the Fort Sam Houston Warfighter and Family Readiness Center include first-termers' financial readiness training, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 26; saving and investing, 9-11 a.m. Feb. 26; budgeting, 2-4 p.m. Feb. 26; and identity theft and social networking, presented by the San Antonio BBB, 2-3 p.m. March 1.
Two programs are planned at the Fort Sam Houston Teen Center - teen financial readiness, 4-5:30 p.m. Feb. 26; and middle school teen financial readiness, 4-5:30 p.m. Feb. 27.
Programs scheduled at the Lackland A&FRC, Bldg. 1249, include a personal readiness briefing, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 26; free credit reports, 1-4 p.m. Feb. 26; credit management, 10:30 a.m.-noon Feb. 27; and Thrift Savings Plan, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Feb. 28.
Other events at the Lackland A&FRC are presentations by Rex Somerville of the Financial Services Group and Dean Taylor of the San Antonio BBB 2-3:30 p.m. Feb. 27.
Also during the week, active-duty members and their dependents, retirees, Department of Defense civilians and contractors will have an opportunity to sign the campaign's Saver Pledge. By signing the document, they pledge to help themselves "by saving money, reducing debt and building wealth over time" and help their family and country "by encouraging other Americans to 'Start Small. Think Big.'" People may also sign the Saver Pledge at http://www.militarysaves.org.
The campaign addresses good financial habits people should adopt, McCollum said, including saving a portion of each paycheck, developing a personal financial plan, establishing good credit and enrolling in programs such as the TSP.