FORT STEWART, Ga. - Since 2009, the Army Gold program has provided money management tools to help Soldiers and Family Members meet their financial goals and obligations. The user-friendly online program is accessible on the Army OneSource Web site and combines interactive learning tools and resources to improve financial awareness which is essential in today's economy.
According to Community Support Coordinator for Southern Georgia, Juanita Simmons, the curriculum is designed to decrease monetary stress on military Families and enhance unit readiness, morale and retention.
"The program is designed to trim down significant debt and loss of credit while reducing a financial crisis such as bankruptcy," lamented Simmons.
According to Army OneSource, service members surveyed reported difficulty in paying bills and receiving pressure from bill collectors as some of the financial challenges they face.
"Soldiers returning from deployment are being evicted from their homes and loosing their vehicles because they have not budgeted for the difference in deployment pay," said Simmons. "Family Members back home have not been educated on how to better prepare for the pay difference and subsequently the entire Family is facing a financial hardship."
Army Gold combines entertainment with military-specific, real world finances to help users make better financial decisions according to Army OneSource. Both the users rank and income can increase with successful completion of on online quizzes.
Participants are taught skills involving personal finance, banking, household budgeting through the use of gaming.
For example, Army Gold users utilize checking and savings accounts to pay for household goods, expenses and investments while experiencing the benefits and challenges with consumer credit scores. Participants receive increased credit scores when paying monthly bills on time and are given the opportunity to purchase expensive items like automobiles and homes which requires a good credit history.
Simmons said helping Soldiers and Family Members with financial changes such as the loss of a second income, moving expenses and a leave of absence from a job, is the primary goal of the program.
Adjusting to sudden lifestyle changes like home repairs and increased childcare expenses prove beneficial for the Soldier and Family Member she added.
According to Army OneSource, a service member's financial problems are linked to a $172 million dollar loss in productivity annually and have a greater impact on operational readiness than housing, child care, or health care expenses.
The Army has invested resources in building economic awareness tools in an effort to keep Soldiers and their Families on a secure financial footing.
"We have moved to a technology driven society that has fallen in love with games," said Simmons. "Army Gold provides Soldiers and Family Members with that technology and its fun, but at the same time they are learning how to better use their money and plan for their future.
In an effort to better provide Soldiers and Family Members with necessary financial education, visit www.myarmyonesource.com/CommunitiesandMarketplace/FinancialLiteracyGame/default.aspx.
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