R 242133Z JAN 11
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 057/11
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC (MRA)//
SUBJ/MILITARY SAVES WEEK 2011//
REF/A/MSGID:MILITARY SAVES/CAMPAIGN MEMORANDUM/-//
POC/KELLEY FAULK/NF-04/UNIT:MRR3/NAME:MR 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 FEBRUARY 20-27, 2011.  ACTIVITIES IN RECOGNITION OF THESE EVENTS ARE ENCOURAGED AT ALL MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS AND WHEREVER MARINES RESIDE TO EDUCATE MARINES ON THEIR PERSONAL FINANCES.  INSTALLATIONS, ACTIVITIES AND COMMANDS ARE ALL ENCOURAGED TO TEAM WITH THEIR INSTALLATION'S PERSONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST TO DETERMINE BEST WAYS TO PROMOTE PERSONAL FINANCIAL EDUCATION.
2.  PER A 26 FEBRUARY 2010 LETTER FROM CLIFFORD L. STANLEY, UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PERSONNEL AND READINESS "WE RECOGNIZE SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE UNDER INCREASING STRESS.  WHEN WE HAVE ASKED IN SURVEYS ABOUT THE CAUSES, SERVICE MEMBERS RESPONDED THAT FINANCES WERE SECOND ONLY BEHIND WORK AND CAREER CONCERNS AND AHEAD OF DEPLOYMENTS, HEALTH, LIFE EVENTS, FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND WAR/HOSTILITIES" AND "THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FULLY BELIEVES THAT PERSONAL FINANCIAL READINESS OF OUR TROOPS AND FAMILIES EQUATES TO MISSION READINESS."  THE ISSUE IS OF TOP IMPORTANCE TO THE PENTAGON. SOURCE: DEFENSE.GOV KEY WORD: FINANCE.
3.  THE CULTURE MUST RECOGNIZE AND SET A TONE WITHIN COMMANDS TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE WHERE EVERY MARINE FEELS COMFORTABLE DISCLOSING FINANCIAL ISSUES EARLY THROUGH THEIR CHAIN OF COMMAND FOR REFERRAL TO AN APPROPRIATE RESOURCE FOR ASSISTANCE.  ASK YOURSELF AND YOUR COMMAND, ARE WE BEING PRO-ACTIVE, ARE WE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN TO DECREASE STRESS, CLEARANCE ISSUES, ABSENTEEISM AND INCREASE MISSION FOCUS?  SUPPORTING MILITARY SAVES RELATES TO THE COMMANDANT'S PLANNING GUIDANCE TO ASSIST MARINES THROUGHOUT THEIR CAREER AND TRANSITION. COMMANDS CAN SHOW THEIR SUPPORT BY SIGNING THE COMMAND PROCLAMATION AND BY FULLY UTILIZING LOCAL RESOURCES (COMMAND FINANCIAL SPECIALISTS, PUBLIC AFFAIRS, MARINE CORPS COMMUNITY SERVICES, INSTALLATION BANKS AND CREDIT UNIONS, SENIOR ENLISTED ADVISORS, SPOUSE CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE NAVY MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY) IN COORDINATION WITH THE PERSONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SPECIALISTS IN EVENT PLANNING. ENCOURAGE MARINES TO ENROLL IN THE SAVINGS DEP SIT PLAN (SDP) AND EARLY SIGN-UP PROCESS (EARN 10 PERCENT - SEE PFM FOR DETAILS), PARTICIPATE IN THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN (TSP), PLEDGE ON MILITARYSAVES.ORG, AND MEET WITH THE PERSONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SPECIALISTS.  RESOURCE INFORMATION AND TOOL KITS ARE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD AT HTTP:/WWW.MILITARYSAVES.ORG TO ASSIST IN MAKING MILITARY SAVES WEEK A SUCCESS.
4.  PREDATORY LENDERS AND STATE LEGISLATION ARE FINDING WAYS TO WORK AROUND THE DOD PREDATORY LENDING REGULATION.  MONEY IS A COMMON THREAD AMONG US ALL BUT THE DIFFERENCE IS HOW WE MANAGE IT. PERSONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SPECIALISTS PERFORM BRIEFS, WORKSHOPS AND CONFIDENTIAL COUNSELING ON MULTIPLE PERSONAL FINANCIAL TOPICS.
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, COMMAND FINANCIAL SPECIALISTS (CFS), MCCS PROGRAMS, AND PERSONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SPECIALISTS (PFM) SPREAD THE WORD THAT PERSONAL FINANCES ARE IMPORTANT IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIFE.  YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE SO WHY NOT JOIN TODAY AND WATCH OUR EFFORTS COMPOUND WITH INTEREST.  THIS INTEREST WILL BE SENT THROUGH STATISTICS TO DOD AND COMPARED WITH OTHER MILITARY SERVICES.  LETS TAKE THE LEAD.
6.  RELEASED AUTHORIZED BY LTGEN ROBERT E. MILSTEAD JR, DEPUTY COMMANDANT MANPOWER AND RESERVES AFFAIRS.//