'Military Saves' Week starts Sunday

The campaign is a week of intense focus on taking financial action and making a commitment to save money. In 2008, the Navy will focus specifically on saving for emergencies, reducing debt to improve personal financial readiness and promoting youth financial responsibility.

This initiative is part of the Military Saves Campaign, a year-round social marketing campaign to persuade, motivate and encourage Department of Defense employees to save money and reduce consumer debt. The campaign reaches out to service members, spouses, youth and civilian employees.

"We're stepping up our efforts to increase individual and family financial fitness by providing additional educational programs at our Fleet and Family Support Centers and by working directly with command financial specialists to provide information and personalized assistance in addressing unit financial readiness," said David DuBois, deputy manager for Fleet and Family Support Programs, Commander, Navy Installation Command.

"We have increased the number of accredited financial counselors in the Fleet and Family Support Centers available to provide one-on-one help in developing realistic and achievable financial plans," DuBois said.

"We're increasing the involvement of our partner agencies, on-base financial institutions, consumer awareness experts and nationwide industry leaders to help improve your financial fitness."

As part of Military Saves Week, installation leadership and will focus on encouraging Sailors to take action and make a commitment to save money. They will work with a variety of installation resources to motivate military members and their families to make a commitment to save by offering special events, classes and resources that focus on individual financial fitness.

The campaign is a command initiative in which leadership can work to create a culture that encourages savings and financial readiness. Through the campaign, leadership will promote wealth-building messages for military