Dollars and sense: Exercising your financial fitness Published May 13, 2009 By Chief Master Sgt. John Blake 305th Operations Support Squadron Command Chief JOINT BASE McGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST -- Today's economy is in a bleak state that affects us all. Many banking institutions, the housing market, the auto industries and various retailers are all feeling the negative effects of the weakened economy and the bad decisions made by some leaders. As military members, we are not immune from today's economic woes. Are we practicing financial responsibility and making sound decisions? Financial responsibility affects us personally, professionally, as well as our mission readiness. On a personal level, working for fair wages and getting compensated is something we all have in common. Financial compensation gives us purchasing power to provide for ourselves and our families. Our salaries help ensure we meet our financial obligations. That money also contributes to our peace of mind that our personal and family affairs will be taken care of during TDYs and deployments. We should always remember that we are Air Force ambassadors and our personal and professional conduct on and off duty, 24/7 is not only a reflection of ourselves, but also our unit, the wing and the Air Force. Failure to be financially responsible can reflect negatively on Enlisted Performance Reports and Officer Performance Reports, and, in some cases, may lead to Uniform Code of Military Justice actions. As military members and responsible citizens, we are expected to pay financial obligations in a timely manner. Although our compensation varies depending on rank and time in service, we should make a concerted effort to live within our means based on our personal earnings. There is nothing wrong with wanting nice things for ourselves and our families, but we should not buy more than we can afford. Earnestly evaluating your income, financial expenditures and developing a budget and sticking to it will boost financial responsibility. We should always be "in the fight" both physically and mentally. Failure to meet financial obligations can cost valuable time away from work and training for the mission. Many of us probably know of instances where someone had to be counseled because of financial issues, such as overdue payments on the government travel card, the club card and the Military Star card. Often, commanders or first sergeants will be notified and then will contact the supervisor and member to address the issues. Resolving these issues costs precious man hours. We all may forget to pay a bill here or there, but a pattern of consistently missing payments could be an indication of financial irresponsibility. We can all agree that we don't want our wingman distracted by financial concerns when the mission or our lives may be on the line. Financial responsibility is so important to the Air Force that the enlisted are given four hours of financial education training at the First Term Airmen Center, the five-day course that prepares Airmen for their first duty station. Additionally, targeted E-4s and below are offered refresher financial education training quarterly by the Airman and Family Readiness Center. The center is a great local resource for financial management concerns. You can get information on a wide array of financial topics, including buying a home or automobile, debt consolidation and management. I have personally visited and attended several of these briefings and have found them to be helpful. Keep in mind, there are numerous resources available to assist with personal financial management. I encourage everyone to take advantage of these resources, and may we all remain financially responsible.