By Carl Surran
Financial Education Fair Program Begins
Fall 2005
More than 30 national, regional and local non-profit financial institutions recently gathered in Fort Bragg, N.C. for the Department of Defense's inaugural Financial Education Fair. Hundreds of military personnel, family members and financial program managers from Seymour Johnson AFB, Pope AFB and Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune also attended the event, making it a statewide endeavor.
The Financial Education Fair program aims to help ensure the fighting readiness of America's armed forces by enhancing their financial readiness to make informed decisions in their everyday lives, according to John Molino, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military, Community and Family Policy. Molino opened the event, and various military representatives and media personalities held workshops to discuss important personal finance principles.
Saving, investing and budgeting on a military income - while coping with frequent moves, career changes for the spouse and new schools for the kids - require special skills and planning, added program manager Lynn Olavarria of Fort Bragg Army Community Services. The goal of the Financial Education Fairs is to train and enlighten servicemembers, raising awareness of opportunities available to them as they deal with the challenges of mobilization, relocation and deployment, she said.
Base commanders and financial program managers interested in hosting a Financial Education Fair at their installations are encouraged to contact Marcus Beauregard, DoD Financial Readiness Campaign Coordinator and DoD-State Liaison Office, at Marcus.Beauregard.ctr@osd.mil.
* * * * *
