Military Saves Weeks at Little Rock AFB

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Regina Agoha
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Little Rock Air Force Base experienced a week full of financial advice, free money and fun for all ages Feb. 25 through March 1, during Military Saves Week. Each day brought new and refreshing ways for Team Little Rock to save and spend money responsibly.

"The primary reason for Military Saves Week is to encourage military members to automatically begin saving in their life," said Ed Summers, 19th Force Support Squadron community readiness consultant.

The activities were geared toward financial education and encouraging people to reduce debt. Each day had a different theme, free lunch and vendor tables from banks, colleges and the library.

Feb. 25, Col. Trae Watkins, 19th Mission Support Group commander, kicked off the week's event at the Thomas Community Activities Center on base by urging all, especially the young Airmen, to start saving early. He also said to start with small amounts of money but increase as time goes on. At each table, there were pledges for everyone to sign, vowing to continue to save or start saving.

The speaker for the event, Phillip Carlisle, First Arkansas Bank & Trust investment officer, spoke on the topic, On the Road to Financial Success. He said, "There's no secret to financial success. Have a plan. You can't get there if you don't know where you're going." Carlisle also advised everyone to write goals down in detail. Set a budget, and get an education.

Feb. 26, at the Airman and Family Readiness Center, those who previously took the pledge had an opportunity to pick from the Saver's Tree and receive either discounts or monetary gifts, including $2 bills and one $500 envelope. There were also military saves slideshows and games to play.

Feb. 27, held the "Cracker Barrel'' event at the TCAC, introducing participants to four financial topics: thrift savings plan, basic budgeting, identity theft and planning for retirement. Participants would sit in one section for 15 minutes and learn all they could until the whistle blew, signaling it was time to rotate.

Feb. 28, the day one could assume most children from the ages of 2 - 12 were waiting for; Radio Disney came to perform at the TCAC. Characters Lulu, Sweet Tea and J-Lo danced, sang and performed a skit about learning how to earn, save, spend and share money to a crowd of more than 50 children. Along with their performance, there was a bounce castle, a huge screen with the Wii Dance playing, popcorn, pizza and free Radio Disney giveaways. The children were able to interact with the performers by answering questions, going on stage, playing games and doing dances with them.

A group of children at the event said they had lots of fun. "It was fun, and I won a prize!" said one child. "I learned not to steal, and that you can earn your money by doing a lemonade stand and that saving is good," said another child.

March 1, the final day of the program, recapped everything that was taught for the entire week, with an Invest Quest 5K Run at the War Fit track. The run was a six-person relay where the teams competed for time. Each member ran one lap, but before they could take off, they had to answer a question about finance. If the question was answered incorrectly, the whole team had to endure whatever repercussions were given to them, such as 60 push-ups or sit-ups.

Military Saves Week set out to urge, entertain, as well as educate Team Little Rock on the importance of saving and the many opportunities available to save and plan for the future. For more information or financial classes such as budgeting, home buying and more, contact Summers at the A&FRC.