Military Saves Campaign kicks off Feb. 25 Published Feb. 14, 2008 By Tech. Sgt. Donald Osborn 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Travis will officially kick off its second annual Military Saves campaign "Operation Financial Freedom," Feb. 25 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the base theater. The campaign is a social marketing campaign to persuade, motivate and encourage military families to save money every month, and to convince leaders and organizations to be aggressive in promoting automatic savings. The campaign is a growing network of organizations and individuals committed to helping and supporting military members and their loved ones build personal savings arsenals to provide for their immediate and long-term financial needs. "This campaign is a great opportunity to encourage Wingmen and their families to save money and to remind them that we are here in the Airman and Family Readiness Center available for one-on-one appointments and offer monthly classes on many financial subjects from budgeting to investing," said Mike Wade, Airman and Family Readiness Center financial counselor and the base project officer for the annual Military Saves campaign. "Who would want to be an average American: $10,000 in credit card debt, living above our means spending an average of 10 percent more than we make each paycheck? It's worse than living paycheck to paycheck because when it catches-up with a family, it's devastating in many ways." The number one cause of divorce, suicide, loss of security clearances and loss of productivity at work," he said. Military Saves was developed and tested by its non-profit sponsor, Consumer Federation of America and the military services from 2003 to 2006 and launched throughout the Department of Defense Feb. 25, 2007. It is part of two larger campaigns -- the DoD Financial Readiness Campaign, and the national America Saves campaign. "The campaign was a success for us last year," said Mr. Wade. "I define success as people responding to the personal challenge of the campaign: to build wealth, not debt, by signing-up to be a saver at www.militarysaves.org. We had over 400 do that last year, the most in the entire State of California." This year at both of the kick-off events on Feb.25 at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m., Travis will have the benefit of learning different ways to save and earn money through the teachings of Loral Langemeier, author of the best seller; "The Millionaire Maker," and founder and chief executive officer of Live Out Loud. According to her Web site; www.liveoutloud.com, Loral is a master coach and wealth strategist who has helped hundreds of people become millionaires in three to five years by using educational tools to learn to act, think and make money the way the wealthy do -thousands have already done it. "We're very excited to have the opportunity to come to Travis and show our nation's warriors how to build wealth and not debt," said Loral Langemeier. "We feel that the tools we are going to leave them with have the potential to change their lives for the better." The following are the schedule of events for the 2008 Military Saves campaign: - Campaign Kick-off, Operation Financial Freedom, with guest speaker Loral Langemeier Feb. 25 from 10 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 3 p.m. at the base theater - Day and evening Financial Freedom classes at the Airman and Family Readiness Center -- Feb. 26 at 1 p.m. · Using Credit Wisely and Reducing Debt (two hours) -- Feb. 26 at 5:30 p.m. · Personal Finances for Teens (1 hour) · Investing Made Easy (1.5 hours) · Millionaire Maker Game being played -- Feb. 28 at 9 a.m. · How You Can Buy a Home (three hours) -- Feb. 28 at 5:30 p.m. · Using Credit Wisely and Reducing Debt · Car Buying: Used and New (1.5 hours) · Investing for Retirement (1.5 hours) · Millionaire Maker Game being played The two kickoff events at the base theater are first come, first served. Everyone attending receives a free autographed copy of Loral's best seller, "The Millionaire Maker" and a chance to win one of five $100 savings bonds being given as door prizes. The classes offered by the AFRC are by reservation only. In addition, free childcare is available for the 5:30 p.m., classes Feb. 26 and 28. To reserve seats and childcare for the classes, contact the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 424-2486.