Kadena kicks off Military Saves Week Published Feb. 19, 2015 By Airman 1st Class Zade C. Vadnais 18th Wing Public Affairs KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Department of Defense employees and their families are encouraged to pledge to save money and reduce debt during the annual Military Saves Week, which is scheduled to kick off Feb. 23 and run through Feb. 28. Since 2007, the Airman and Family Readiness Center has promoted the Military Saves program in an effort to help struggling DoD employees with a range of financial problems from credit card debt to lack of a savings plan. Military Saves Week, an extension of the Military Saves program, is an annual event designed to promote healthy spending, financial planning and goal setting. "Military Saves Week is an initiative that asks service members, DoD civilians, retirees and their families to focus on their finances by taking a pledge stating they will work on building wealth instead of debt," said Charles Howard, 18th Force Support Squadron community readiness consultant. "The point is to bring awareness to financial well-being and stability because financial readiness equals mission readiness." To promote this year's theme, "Set a Goal, Make a Plan, Save Automatically," the AFRC has scheduled extra finance-related classes during Military Saves Week. These classes will cover topics such as credit management, the housing market and developing an effective spending plan. Howard said that in addition to the extra classes being held, financial readiness representatives from each unit will be conducting surveys and briefings at the unit and squadron levels. "Personal finance is one of those things that can affect every aspect of your life," Howard said. "If your finances are not in order, that pretty much affects everything you are trying to accomplish." For more information on Military Saves Week, visit militarysaves.org or call the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 634-3366.