R 051508Z JAN 12
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 007/12
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MF(UC)/F002//
SUBJ/MILITARY SAVES WEEK 2012//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/UNSECDEF/YMD:20111219//
AMPN/REF A IS THE MEMORANDUM FROM THE OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, PERSONNEL AND READINESS (ACTING), KICKING OFF THE SIXTH YEAR OF THE MILITARY SAVES CAMPAIGN.//
POC/KELLEY FAULK/NF-04/UNIT:MFR-1/NAME:MF DIV/TEL:703-784-9550//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) IN A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH CONSUMER FEDERATION OF AMERICA (CFA) DEVELOPED THE MILITARY SAVES CAMPAIGN WHICH WILL BE OBSERVED FROM 19-26 FEBRUARY 2012 AND THE THEME WILL BE "SET A GOAL, MAKE A PLAN, SAVE AUTOMATICALLY".  COMMAND SUPPORT IS NECESSARY AS PARTICIPATION STATISTICS WILL BE COLLECTED AND SENT TO DOD AND COMPARED WITH OTHER SERVICES. 
2.  SURVEYS HAVE INDICATED THAT PERSONAL FINANCES IMPACT THE OVERALL RESILIENCY AND READINESS OF MARINES AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. FINANCIAL ISSUES INCREASE STRESS, ALCOHOLISM, FAMILY DISPUTES, AND DEPRESSION.  ACCORDING TO SERVICEMEMBERS SURVEYS REGARDING SOURCES OF STRESS, PERSONAL FINANCES RANKED SECOND BEHIND WORK AND CAREER CONCERNS.  ADDITIONALLY, PERSONAL FINANCES IS ALSO THE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR CLEARANCES BEING DENIED/REVOKED.  COMMAND SPONSORED FINANCIAL EDUCATION IS IMPERATIVE AS IT PROMOTES READINESS AND INCREASES RESILIENCY FOR MARINES AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.   
3.  PREDATORY LENDERS ARE FINDING WAYS TO WORK AROUND SERVICEMEMBER'S PROTECTIONS.  THE ECONOMY IS EXPERIENCING HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT, A HOUSING CRISIS, AND NOW DEFAULTS ON SCHOOL LOANS.  PERSONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (PFM) SPECIALISTS PERFORM BRIEFS, WORKSHOPS AND CONFIDENTIAL COACHING ON MULTIPLE PERSONAL FINANCIAL TOPICS.  THE PFM PROGRAM HAS OVER 34 NEW PERSONAL FINANCIAL WORKSHOPS A MARINE CAN ATTEND OR YOU CAN ASK YOUR PFM OR COMMAND FINANCIAL SPECIALIST (CFS) TO CREATE A CUSTOMIZED BRIEF FOR YOUR COMMAND. 
4.  COMMANDS CAN SHOW THEIR SUPPORT BY SIGNING THE COMMAND PROCLAMATION AND IN COORDINATION WITH YOUR PFM SPECIALIST FULLY UTILIZE LOCAL RESOURCES SUCH AS THE CFS, PUBLIC AFFAIRS, MARINE CORPS COMMUNITY SERVICES (MCCS), INSTALLATION BANKS AND CREDIT UNIONS, SPOUSE CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE NAVY MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY IN EVENT PLANNING TO ENSURE DOD REGULATIONS ARE FOLLOWED. EVENT PLANNING CAN BE FINANCIAL FAIRS, COMMAND BRIEFS, SPECIAL WORKSHOPS, FINANCIAL CLASSES IN CONJUCTION WITH OTHER MCCS PROGRAMS SUCH AS SINGLE MARINE PROGRAM AND FAMILY TEAM BUILDING AS WELL AS OTHER CREATIVE METHODS TO REACH THE MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES. ENCOURAGE MARINES TO ENROLL IN THE SAVINGS DEPOSIT PLAN, EARLY SIGN-UP PROCESS (EARN 10 PERCENT - SEE PFM FOR DETAILS), THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN, PLEDGE ON MILITARYSAVES.ORG, AND MEET WITH THE PFMS. RESOURCE INFORMATION AND TOOL KITS ARE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD AT HTTP:/WWW.MILITARYSAVES.ORG TO ASSIST IN MAKING MILITARY SAVES WEEK A SUCCESS.
5.  ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WITH TODAY'S ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, A SOUND SAVINGS INITIATIVE IS CRITICAL TO MAKING OUR MARINES FINANCIALLY FIT. WE ASK THAT COMMANDERS, LEADERS, CFSS, MCCS PROGRAMS, AND PFMS EDUCATE OUR MARINES AND FAMILIES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MANAGING PERSONAL FINANCES AND ENCOURAGE WIDE PARTICIPATION IN MILITARY SAVES WEEK.
6.  RELEASED AUTHORIZED BY LTGEN ROBERT E. MILSTEAD JR, DEPUTY COMMANDANT, MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS.//