MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Service members looking to take control of their finances, save more
money or eliminate debt can take advantage of Marine Corps Community
Service’s Personal Financial Management Program.
"The importance of financial management for service members is to ensure
that we’re living within our income and not accumulating debt," said
David Kendall, Marine Corps Air Station New River personal financial
management specialist.
While there are resources such as the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society,
Operation Homefront or the Semper Fi Fund, the Personal Financial
Management Program allows service members to sit down one-on-one with a
personal financial program team member for counseling or assistance.
"The Personal Financial Management Program assists military members in
achieving and sustaining personal financial readiness," said Maribel
Lee, Marine Corps Community Services personal financial manager. "We do
this by providing training, education, counseling and coaching and
providing financial information and referral for military members and
their families."
While the program primarily focuses on assisting military members and
their families, personnel with base access can access services when
staff is available.
"Finances permeate all aspects of life," said Lee. "An unstable
financial foundation can lead to debt issues that can affect a service
member’s career, personal life and wallet. We are here to assist not
only with the budgeting aspect of personal finance but with consumer
awareness as well. The best way to avoid financial difficulties is to be
educated."
The program also hosts workshops including taking control of your
finances, money "habitudes," credit and debt management, car buying,
investment basics, understanding your thrift savings plan and home
buying and selling.
They also provide unit briefs for pre-deployment and post-deployment
workshops. Commanders and unit leaders can also request support for
professional military education finance briefs and command financial
specialist courses.
"(Our) personnel have assisted service members with cash flow
management, debt reduction/elimination, building a savings safety net,
and with fundamental investing advice," said Lee. "We have assisted
military members with issues such as security clearance concerns,
transition concerns resulting from end of active service or retirement
and home mortgage concerns."
For more information, contact PFMP at LEJPFM@usmc-mccs.org or visit www.mccslejeune-newriver.com/finance.