Military Saves Week

Second Lt. Kara Noble, 28th Comptroller Squadron deputy flight financial analysis commander, reads to children enrolled in the base Child Development Center during Military Saves Week at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Feb. 25, 2013. In support of Military Saves Week, a nationally recognized time designed to raise awareness of financial issues for military members and their families, Noble visited three different classes to read, “Benny’s Pennies,” a children’s book about saving money . (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Anania Tekurio/Released)

Military Saves Week

Laurie Hayes, 28th Force Support Squadron librarian, reads the book “Benny’s Pennies,” to children during Military Saves Week at the Holbrook Library on Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Feb. 28, 2013. The purpose of Military Saves Week is to encourage servicemembers and their families to make a commitment to begin the journey toward financial freedom. “Benny’s Pennies” illustrated the importance of saving money and how to spend money appropriately from a child’s perspective. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alystria Maurer/Released)

Ellsworth equips Airmen with financial tools for success

David Brinkworth, Airman and Family Readiness Center Community Readiness consultant, teaches Airmen, family members and civilians how to protect themselves against identity theft during a financial seminar in the Deployment Center at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Feb. 28, 2013. The week-long event, known as Military Saves Week, included book readings to children in the Child Development Center and the Holbrook Library, and daily financial seminars in the Deployment Center. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Hrair H. Palyan/Released)

Ellsworth equips Airmen with financial tools for success

Published March 5, 2013
By Airman 1st Class Hrair H. Palyan
28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- The Airman and Family Readiness Center conducted Military Saves Week Feb. 25 to March 1, in an effort to encourage Airmen and their families to make a commitment toward achieving financial freedom.

The week-long event, done in conjunction with America Saves Week, included book readings to children in the Child Development Center and the Holbrook Library, and daily financial seminars in the Deployment Center.

"We've been working hard during our seminars to promote positive changes in the personal financial behavior of attendees," said Laurie Adkins, AFRC Community Readiness consultant. "The 2012 Blue Star Families Military Family Lifestyle Report indicates that 68 percent of military families say that they feel stress from their family's current financial situation."

Adkins explained that stress caused by financial situations continues to have a negative impact on the Ellsworth community - not only in their personal lives, but often times, stress can carry over and affect their ability to focus on the mission. "Our goal is to assist in minimizing or eliminating these stressors," Adkins added.

"A large number of people we come into contact with at the AFRC come to us for financial assistance," said Adkins. "They do this because they love spending money, but they don't love when things go wrong because of their spending habits."

Dana Trayers, spouse of 1st Lt. Joshua Trayers, 28th Security Forces Squadron operations
officer, participated in several seminars during the week and said she learned about a variety of topics including maintaining credit scores, developing a budget and preventing identity theft.

"I didn't want to pass up the opportunity to take back valuable information to other spouses in the Key Spouse Program," Trayers explained. "I think it was a wonderful program that everyone can benefit from."

For more information on financial preparedness courses, call Adkins at (605) 385-4663.