As we move into 2026 at Fort Benning, financial readiness remains a key factor in mission readiness. Whether you’re fresh into your Army career or preparing for retirement, the start of the new year is a great time to reset your budget, tackle debt, and maximize your military benefits.
Fort Benning’s Army Community Service team offers a robust suite of tools designed to help our community become, and stay, "financially fit". Below is an outline on ACS’s tools and resources to help you move towards financial wellbeing in 2026.
Build a 2026 "battle plan" for your finances
The transition from the holiday season to the new year often comes with "financial hangovers." ACS provides budgeting and money management classes to help you create a sustainable spending plan.
Action steps:
- Schedule a one-on-one session with an ACS financial counselor to review your Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), identify financial goals, and develop a preliminary spending plan.
- Know your financial status. Collect and review all documents related to your financial situation to include monthly bills, bank, credit card, and loan statements.
- Commit to improving your money management skills. Take one small action each day to save more, earn more, spend less, reduce debt and eliminate non-essential borrowing.
Where: One-on-one sessions with ACS financial counselors and financial classes are available at the ACS Financial Readiness Program office, Building 7 (7117 Baltzell Ave).
Maximize your retirement (TSP & BRS)
With updated contribution limits for 2026, ensure your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is working for you. If you are under the Blended Retirement System (BRS), contributing at least 5% will help to capture the full government match, which is essentially "free money" for your future.
Action Steps:
- Attend the Investing and Retirement Basics class to learn about the different TSP funds and how to balance risk.
Take Control of debt and credit
If 2025 left you with high-interest credit card debt, don’t wait for it to snowball. ACS offers debt liquidation assistance. Counselors can assist you with developing strategies to reduce interest rates and/or accelerate loan repayment.
Action Steps:
- Attend the Understanding Credit Reporting seminar to learn how to pull your free credit report and dispute errors that might lower your score.
Smart buying: cars and homes
Are you planning a major purchase in 2026? Before you head to a dealership or meet a realtor, you can sit down with an ACS financial counselor to get an unbiased second opinion. Once you sign on the dotted line it will be too late to back out. Measure twice, cut once.
Action Steps:
- Attend the Smart Car Buying Seminar and learn how to navigate or avoid financing and common pitfalls that often entrap service members.
- Attend the ACS Home Buying Seminar to get the most out of their VA-Guaranteed Home Loan benefits in the Chattahoochee Valley.
Emergency support: Army Emergency Relief (AER)
Life is unpredictable. If an emergency arises—such as a car breakdown, emergency travel, or housing issues—AER is your first line of defense. They provide no-interest loans and grants to assist Soldiers in need and prevent them from being victimized by high-interest predatory lenders off post.
Direct access: Many Soldiers can now access AER assistance directly without a commander's signature, depending on rank and circumstances.
Protection against scams
In 2026, financial scams continue to evolve. The Consumer Advocacy Service at Fort Benning can help resolve complaints against businesses and provide education on identity theft. If you feel you've been treated unfairly by a business, the Financial Readiness Program can help facilitate a resolution.
Essential Contacts for 2026:
Location: Building 7, 7117 Baltzell Ave, Fort Moore, GA 31905
Phone: 706-545-4043 or 706-588-3882
Hours: Mon-Thur, 8 a.m.– 4:30 p.m., Fridays 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Website: https://benning.armymwr.com/programs/army-community-services
Bottom line
Finance impacts nearly every aspect of life, from family stress levels to mission focus. Make 2026 the year to take advantage of the professional services provided by ACS. Stop by building 7 to start your year on solid financial ground.
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