Military Saves campaign kicks off at Kunsan

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tong Duong
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea - --  The base kicked off its weeklong Military Saves campaign at the Base Exchange, Feb. 26, 2013.

A Department of Defense endorsed event, Military Saves is a social marketing campaign to persuade military families to save money and reduce their debt.

"This is an annual program we try to get folks to focus on their future by building wealth and not debt," said Mark Kern, AFRC chief. "Members pledge to save their earnings and decrease their debt to make their future financially sound. They will also receive information on how to meet their retirement and financial goals."

Throughout the week, the 8th Force Support Squadron Airman and Family Readiness Center hosted several classes to educate Wolf Pack members on making smarter financial decisions. Some events included Investing 101; understanding the Thrift Savings Plan; Personal Financial Readiness 101 and Debt Management.

"We've had several Airmen become debt free following our debt-management program," Kern said. "We got a new program called Power Pay, which gives them a new payment schedule for paying off their debt, which could cuts years and thousands of dollars off their payment."

Even though Staff Sgt. Larry Russian, 8th Medical Operations Squadron, Aerospace Medicine technician, is conscious of his financial standing, he took the pledge because he felt extra information is always welcomed.

"From the information I was told it seem like useful information, as they deal with save.org which I use it and it give you good tips on financial future, stock and financial pathways to take if you want to save money," Russian said. "I recommend this for everyone because its useful information they could take into consideration if they want to save for the future and have emergency funds."

For those who have questions about a detailed financial situation, such as paying off a student loan, working with a mortgage and dealing with a short sale or are going through bankruptcy, the AFRC can help.

The AFRC will host a personal financial planning class for the next two weeks. For more information on class schedules or to make an appointment to see a financial planner, contact the AFRC at 782-5644. The AFRC is located in building 755, room 127.














In the Air Force, ever AFRC in order to have certification is required to have -personal financial counceler certified by a national org, so that would be your point of contact for Militarty Saves and financial management


You will have something for your future and will have a $25 gift cards if you can answer a question with AFN.
All the military services are promoting saving DoD wide, for their military members
We also have a financial planner who will be coming
We can also go out to into the units and provide information to them; CE Top 3 has already approached us to provide TSP training because ROTH TSP plan has already been put in place
This is the fourth year we've been doing the campaign here
and there were some things I was interested in like financial security, what everybody looks for. It's extra information I could use.