FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Saving, managing debt and avoiding financial scams -- all are part of having a healthy financial life which was the topic for discussion at the 2015 Military Saves/National Consumer Protection Week kickoff at the Hub March 4.
Soldiers attending the event were reminded of the importance of developing those healthy financial habits.
"Some of us need some help in order to make better-informed decisions. It's a continual learning process," said Col. Joel D. Hamilton, Fort Carson garrison commander.
Speakers from Security Service Federal Credit Union and Armed Forces Bank offered information about the importance of saving and ways to save.
In addition, a speaker from the Better Business Bureau presented information on scams, such as payday loans, rental scams and identity theft, which target military Families.
"I actually learned a lot about all the scams that were going on," said Pfc. Vanessa Martin, Company A, 404th Aviation Support Battalion, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.
The weeklong educational program is offered in conjunction with the Command Financial NCO (CFNCO) program that provides year-round financial guidance and education to Soldiers through their units.
Staff Sgt. Ricardo Rodriguez is a CFNCO with 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div.
"I always love these programs because some Soldiers, when they come in here, they don't want to ask the questions, so they get presented with a lot of information here that helps guide them to a better answer," he said. "And with all the CFNCOs here, it allows them to see the faces of who they're going to come and see because sometimes the word doesn't get out there to the Soldiers about the CFNCO program."
Soldiers are often targeted for questionable schemes because they have a regular paycheck, but financial problems affect more people than just the Soldier and Family.
"If you have a member of the team who is more concerned about the financial baggage that's in existence back at home station … you're only as strong as the weakest link on your team, and if that person is not all in, it's a readiness issue," Hamilton said.
Military Saves, part of the DOD Financial Readiness Campaign has partnered with the DOD since 2003. The campaign is part of a larger program, America Saves.
Military Saves encourages all Service members and their Families to take the Military Saves Pledge, which offers concrete goals for Families to work toward by setting aside a portion of each paycheck, developing a financial plan, establishing good credit and enrolling in programs such as the Thrift Savings Plan, Savings Deposit Program and Servicemembers Group Life Insurance, according to the website http://militarysaves.org.
There's still time to sign up and take the pledge at the Military Saves website or at http://carson.army.mil/acs, said Dallas Shrawder, financial readiness counselor at Army Community Service.
Since Military Saves Week began in 2007, more than 180,000 people nationwide have taken the pledge or re-pledged, according to the website.
This year's goal for Fort Carson is 1,000 pledges, Shrawder said.
Overall, representatives from Financial Readiness were pleased.
"I think it was a successful event. I hope everyone got more information from our community partners to assist them with bettering their finances and what to watch out for," said Mary Braxton, Financial Readiness Program manager. "I think this event will enlighten Soldiers that it is very, very important that they save and that they plan for their future."
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