R 151420Z FEB 12

ALCOAST 078/12
COMDTNOTE 1754
SUBJ: 2012 MILITARY SAVES WEEK
1. MILITARY SAVES WEEK, 19-26 FEBRUARY 2012, IS A NATIONAL SOCIAL
MARKETING CAMPAIGN TO PERSUADE, MOTIVATE, AND ENCOURAGE SERVICE
MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO TAKE FINANCIAL ACTION IN BUIDLING
WEALTH THROUGH SAVING MONEY AND REDUCING DEBT.
2. THE COAST GUARD (CG) IS A PARTNER IN THE MILITARY SAVES CAMPAIGN
AND IS COMMITTED TO HELPING OUR CG FAMILY, INCLUDING SERVICE MEMBERS,
FAMILY MEMBERS, RETIREES, AND CIVIL SERVANTS, TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION
TO BUILD WEALTH, NOT DEBT.
3. AS A FIRST STEP, GO TO WWW.MILITARYSAVES.ORG AND TAKE THE PLEDGE
TO SAVE REGULARLY. THIS SEEMINGLY SIMPLE GESTURE CAN HAVE A POWERFUL
IMPACT IN SOLIDIFYING YOUR BEST INTENTIONS TO PREPARE FOR YOUR
FUTURE.
4. SINCE POOR FINANCIAL READINESS AFFECTS MISSION EXECUTION, IT IS
ALSO A COMMAND ISSUE. ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WITH THE ECONOMIC
CHALLENGES OF TODAY, A SOUND SAVINGS INITIATIVE IS CRITICAL TO
HELPING CG MEN AND WOMEN ACHIEVE FINANCIAL FITNESS. MILITARY SAVES
WEEK PRESENTS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE ALL PERSONNEL TO
INCREASE PERSONAL SAVINGS, DECREASE DEBT, AND DEVELOP FINANCIAL
FITNESS HABITS THAT LEAD TO IMPROVED PERSONAL FINANCIAL STABILITY AND
ULTIMATELY, TO MISSION READINESS.
5. COMMANDING OFFICERS AND LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS CAN ALSO SUPPORT
THEIR PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES BY FOSTERING A CULTURE THAT
ENCOURAGES ALL TO SAVE, BUILD WEALTH, AND AVOID THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL
OF DEBT WHICH CAUSES FINANCIAL DISTRESS. DELIBERATE ACTIONS BY
COMMANDS CAN HELP CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE WHERE SHIPMATES ARE
COMFORTABLE DISCUSSING FINANCIAL ISSUES EARLY WITH THEIR CHAIN OF
COMMAND. THIS WILL ALSO INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD THEY WILL SEEK
ASSISTANCE FROM APPROPRIATE RESOURCES.
6. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES INCLUDE:
    A. MILITARY SAVES - WWW.MILITARYSAVES.ORG. IN ADDITION TO
PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE SAVINGS PLEDGE, THIS SITE
PROVIDES INFORMATION ON HOW TO SAVE ON AUTO PURCHASES, SAVE FOR
EMERGENCIES, SAVE FOR A HOME, GET OUT OF DEBT, AND MANAGE SAVINGS AND
INVESTMENTS.
    B. WORKLIFE4YOU - WWW.WORKLIFE4YOU.COM OR 1-800-222-0364.
PROVIDES
INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES TAILORED TO INDIVIDUAL NEEDS FOR CG
EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
    C. TSP - WWW.USCG.MIL/PPC/TSP.ASP. PROVIDES CG EMPLOYEES WITH
INFORMATION AND RELATED LINKS FOR INITIATING AND UPDATING TSP
ACCOUNTS, ON CONTRIBUTION LIMITS, CG CONTACTS, AND FORMS.
    D. FEED THE PIG - WWW.FEEDTHEPIG.ORG. PROVIDES USEFUL INFORMATION
IN A HUMOROUS WAY ON SAVINGS TIPS, DISCUSSION FORUMS, EDUCATIONAL
GAMES AND TOOLS.
    E. VISIT OFFICE OF WORK-LIFE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM WEBPAGE
- WWW.USCG.MIL/WORKLIFE/FINANCIAL.ASP FOR MORE FINANCIAL INFORMATION
AND RESOURCES.
7. FREE CREDIT SCORE - FINRA EDUCATION FOUNDATION IS ALLOWING CG
ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR SPOUSES TO ACCESS THEIR FICO
SCORES AND THE EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION AND TOOLS IN THE FICO STANDARD
SERVICE FROM FICO.COM FOR FREE. PLEASE VISIT WWW.SAVEANDINVEST.ORG,
CLICK ON "FREE CREDIT SCORE AND ANALYSIS TOOL", THEN "REGISTER FOR
YOUR FREE FICO CREDIT SCORE" AND USE ACCESS CODE ESEL9KVN. THIS IS
ONLY AVAILABLE 1 FEBRUARY - 31 MARCH 2012.
8. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT THE OFFICE OF WORK-LIFE HQ
FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES SPECIALIST, MS. MITCHIA (SHAY) D. TULL-COOK
AT 202-475-5159, OR EMAIL
HQS-SMB-FAMILYSUPPORTSERVICES(AT)USCG.MIL.
9. RADM MAURA K. DOLLYMORE, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY AND WORK-LIFE,
SENDS.
10. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.