Military Saves campaign begins Published Feb. 27, 2013 By Airman 1st Class Joshua Eikren 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Each year the Scott Airman and Family Readiness Center promotes personal financial behavior during Department of Defense Military Saves Week campaign. Scott Air Force Base kicked off the campaign Monday and it ends March 2. The goal is to create an environment promoting financial readiness. Members at the Scott AFRC will provide education and tools to implement the savings initiative. "Financial readiness is important because it helps alleviate stress of servicemembers and their families, and supports overall mission readiness," said Lona Berndt, 375th Force Support Squadron community readiness consultant. The campaign motto this year is "Set a Goal, Make a Plan, Save Automatically." Research has shown that individuals who set up a savings plan are more likely to save successfully. This is accomplished through setting a goal, making a plan and creating an automatic savings account. The process is to start small by creating an emergency account, save three to six months living expenses and move to thinking big by starting a medium-to-long term plan and begin a retirement savings plan. "The campaign may only last a couple weeks, but the process lasts a life time," said Berndt. The Airman and Family Readiness Center will have a certified financial counselor here for two weeks providing one-on-one support. For more information, call 256-8668.