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Military Saves campaign helps servicemembers plan for future

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dennis L. Sloan
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Military Saves initiatives will commence with a proclamation signing, Jan. 31 by Col. Gina Grosso, JB MDL and 87th Air Base Wing commander.

Military Saves is a national campaign to motivate and encourage military families to save money monthly, and to convince leaders and organizations to promote automatic savings.

All installations will implement Military Saves through educational programs and events during an annual Military Saves Week campaign emphasizing the importance of creating and maintaining a savings plan.

JB MDL Military Saves Week campaign events are:

· 'Free Money, How to Get Some' is from 9 to 11 a.m., Feb. 3 at the Warfighter and Family Readiness Center at McGuire
· 'Quick Cash for Teens' from 6 to 8 p.m., Feb. 4 at the JB MDL Dix Teen Center and from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Pinehurst Community Center at Lakehurst
· 'Saving with Sammy' from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m., Feb. 6 at the Joint Base Library
· 'Understanding and Choosing Thrift Saving Plan Investments' at 10 a.m., Feb. 8 at the WFRC at Dix
· 'Making the Most of Your Budget' from 9 to 10 a.m., Feb. 10 at the WFRC at Lakehurst
· 'Frugal Valentine's Day Fun' at 2 p.m., Feb. 14 at the WFRC at Dix
· 'Introduction to TSP Lunch and Learn' at 11:30 a.m., Feb. 15 at the WFRC at Lakehurst
· 'Money Matters' from 3 to 4 p.m., Feb. 22 at the Lakehurst Flight Deck.
· 'Guide to Financial Management' from 9 a.m. to noon, Feb. 24 at the JB MDL Education Center.

"Military servicemembers and their families should attend these upcoming events to build a financial foundation and to improve upon their existing ones," said Besty Vicari, 87th WFRC community readiness consultant. "I also recommend servicemembers visit military.org; this site is a great place to learn the essentials to savings plans."

Another program available to servicemembers is the Savings Deposit Program.

Servicemembers deployed to an area in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, OPERATION NEW DAWN or other contingency operations where you are receiving Hostile Firr Pay or Imminent Danger Pay.

"The Savings Deposit Program provides a way for servicemembers to build their savings account with a high interest return while deployed," said Staff Sgt. Joshua Manney, 87th Comptroller Squadron Government Travel Card coordinator. "They can place the extra entitlements they earn while being deployed in this account and it will allow them to make even more money with building interest."

The benefits of the SDP are easy to use and can help families reach financial goals. Servicemembers can deposit all or part of their unallotted pay up to $10,000 per deployment, earn a higher interest rate on their money, gain something positive out of a tough situation, manage their account easily and stop depositing money at any time.

For more information on upcoming Military Saves events or SDP, call 754-3154 or visit one of the three WFRC located on base.