CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan -- Maj. Gen. Charles L. Hudson, commanding general of Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan, signed the proclamation for the 2015 Military Saves Campaign Jan. 23 at building 1, Camp Foster, Okinawa.
The campaign encourages service members to build wealth through developing strong habits for financial stability.
“Financial stability is important for service members in their private life as well as their jobs,” said Gene De Freitas, a personal financial management specialist with Marine Corps Community Services Okinawa. “Service members with bad credit or high debt are more susceptible to espionage, and if they have a secret clearance or higher it can be taken.”
According to the Military Saves Marine Administrative Message 624/14, the theme is “set a goal, make a plan, save automatically.” Financial education resources provided by installations are tools to assist Marines in sustaining their financial transformation.
A Marine’s financial stability is a critical part of the overall transformation that continually assures the Corp’s readiness. “Transformation does not end at the conclusion of entry-level training,” said Gen. Charles C. Krulak, the 31st commandant of the Marine Corps. “It continues throughout a Marine’s service—whether that service ends after a single enlistment or lasts 30 years.”
During the month of February, service members can go to www.militarysaves.com and sign the Military Saves pledge, and take the first step toward personal financial security. MCCS will also offer different financial courses focused on developing a financial plan, saving money each paycheck, establishing good credit, and enrolling in programs like the Thrift Savings Program or the Savings Deposit Program.
“Taking a little more responsibility for your financial security, whether it’s through savings, getting rid of debt, or establishing a good credit history, (is) what this month is all about,” said De Freitas.
For more information on MCCS’s financial classes, service members can go to www.mccsokinawa.com and type “personal financial management” in the search bar.