Fort Bragg Financial Boulevard

Fort Bragg Financial Boulevard
Financial Readiness Program Newsletter up date March 2009
Volume 2, Issue 2
2009 Army Emergency Relief Campaign
Why does AER have a fundraising campaign? To provide an opportunity for Soldiers to help their fellow
Soldiers during financial hard times and to create awareness, and a understanding of AER benefits. Soldiers
can make their contribution through their Unit Campaign Manager (UCM). Stop by the AER Office located at the
Soldier Support Center Bldg 4-2843, 3rd Floor or call (910) 396-2507 or the Satellite office in Gavin Hall, 82nd
ABN Division area.
Military OneSource Tax Filing Service
Free Tax Consultation and E-Filing Filers who use Military OneSource online system can expect to receive
their refund within 10 days, Military OneSource tax consultants, are trained to answer questions on preparing
and filing taxes and provide other financial management information. Tax consultants are available by phone at
1-800-730-3802
April 15, tax filing deadline is fast approaching.
The Fort Bragg Tax Center is open to Soldiers, Retirees, and Family members for preparation of Federal and
state tax returns. For faster service, please have the following documentation; Military ID, W2 form, power of
attorney if filing jointly and your spouse is deployed. The Fort Bragg Tax office is located on Macomb and
Armistead street in the XVIII Airborne Corps Staff Judge Advocate building 2-1133. Hours of operation are 9am to
9pm M-F, and 9am to 5pm Saturdays. The Tax Center will close 30 April 2009. For more information contact
(910) 396-8299
2009 Fort Bragg Consumer Awareness Month 1 - 30 April
Nuts and Bolts: Tools for Today’s Economy
Fort Bragg Consumer Awareness Month highlights consumer protection and education efforts across the
country. See calendar for class schedules. For more information contact us at (910) 907-3670

Fort Bragg Commercial Solicitation News update
What is Consumer Awareness and its need?
What is the difference between frauds, scams and misrepresentations? Fraud is a deliberate
deception. It is usually illegal and there are numerous consumer laws to protect us. Scams are unfair acts of
exploitation, they are not necessarily illegal. Scams take advantage of areas where there are no consumer
laws to provide protection. Misrepresentations are also not necessarily illegal. They are simply misleading by
making you think the deal is different than it really is. A key point to remember is that while some business
practices may be unethical, they are not illegal. If you think you have been a victim of a financial scam, make
sure you report it as soon as possible to your financial institution, law enforcement, supervisor, Fort Bragg
Consumer Complaint Office, Better Business Bureau, and the North Carolina Department of Justice. For assistance
contact Mrs. Gloria Simmons at 643-7461.
Protect Yourself from Identity Theft While Deployed
Soldiers away from their usual duty station, may place an "active duty alert" on their credit report to help minimize the risk of identity theft
while they are deployed. When a business sees the alert on their credit report, it must verify their identity before issuing them credit. The
business may try to contact them directly, but if they’re on deployment, that may be impossible. As a result, the law allows them to use a
personal representative to place or remove an alert. Active duty alerts are effective for one year, unless you request the alert to be removed
sooner. If their deployment lasts longer, they can place another alert on their credit report.
To place an "active duty" alert, or to have it removed, call the toll-free fraud number of one of the three nationwide consumer reporting
companies: Equifax, Experian, or Trans Union. The company will require you to provide appropriate proof of your identity, which may include
your Social Security number, your name, address, and other personal information.
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com
Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com
You need only to contact one of the three companies to place an alert - the company you call is required to contact the other two, which will
place an alert on their versions of your report, as well. If your contact information change before your alert expires, remember to update it.
When you place an active duty alert, your name will be removed from the nationwide consumer reporting companies' marketing lists for prescreened
offers of credit and insurance for two years - unless you ask that your name be placed on the lists before then. Prescreened offers
- sometimes called "preapproved" offers - are based on information in your credit report that indicates you meet certain criteria set by
the offeror.
It is highly recommended you check your credit report prior to deploying and upon your return. You can request a free credit report by
calling (877) 322-8228, www.annualcreditreport.com, or by mail: Annual Credit Report Requesting Service, P. O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA
30348-5281.
If you have any questions regarding your credit report, please contact the ACS Financial Readiness office at
396-2507/7289.

FREE” MONEY
FOR
EDUCATION
Spouse &
Children
Scholarship
Program
AER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS
The MG James Ursano Scholarship Program is for dependent children of
Active, Retired and Deceased Soldiers. The MG James Ursano Scholarship Program
offers scholarships based on financial need, academics and leadership/achievement.
To be eligible, applicants must maintain a cumulative GPA of a 2.0 on a 4.0 grading
scale; be full time undergraduate students for the entire academic year at a school
accredited by the U.S. Department of Education; and be dependents of a Soldier on
federal active duty, a retiree, or a deceased active or retired Soldier. To be a dependent
you must be under the age of 23, registered in DEERS and unmarried for the entire
academic year.
The 2009-2010 MG James Ursano Scholarship Program Application will be available on
our (AER) web site, www.aerhq.org after December 1, 2008 and will be due on March 2,
2009. Hardcopy applications may be requested by contacting Mrs. Kasey Phillips at
703-428-0035, kasey@aerhq.org or by mail to: HQ, Army Emergency Relief, MG James
Ursano Scholarship Program, 200 Stovall Street, Alexandria, VA 22332-0600.
The Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program (SEAP) is a needbased
education assistance program designed to provide spouses of active duty and
retired Soldiers, and widows(ers) of Soldiers who died either on active duty or in a
retired status, and residing in the United States, with financial assistance in pursuing
educational goals. The purpose of the program is to assist spouses/widows(ers) in
gaining the education required to allow them to qualify for increased occupational
opportunities.
To be eligible, applicants must maintain a cumulative GPA of a 2.0 on a 4.0 grading
scale; be full time undergraduate students for the entire academic year at a school
accredited by the U.S. Department of Education; and be dependents of a Soldier on
federal active duty, a retiree, or a deceased active or retired Soldier. To be a dependent
you must be registered in DEERS.
The 2009-2010 SEAP Application will be available on our (AER) web site,
www.aerhq.org after December 1, 2008 and will be due on March 2, 2009. Hardcopy
applications may be requested by contacting Mrs. Diann Evans at 703-325-2091,
diann@aerhq.org or by mail to: HQ, Army Emergency Relief, Stateside Spouse Education
Assistance Program, 200 Stovall Street, Alexandria, VA 22332-0600.
The 2009-2010 Student Aid Report (SAR) is needed for both the MG James Ursano
Scholarship Program and the Stateside Spouse Education Assistance
Program. The process to obtain the SAR is started by submitting

"Money Tips in a struggling economy"
the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). After analyzing the data on the
Student Aid Report (SAR) is produced and sent to the applicant. Since AER is not an education
institution, we will not receive a copy of the SAR unless the applicant mails us a
copy after they receive their copy.
The Overseas Spouse Education Assistance Program (OSEAP) is a needbased
education assistance program designed to provide spouses, residing with active
duty Soldier’s in an Overseas Command only, with financial assistance in pursuing educational
goals. The purpose of the program is to assist spouses in gaining the education
required to allow them to qualify for increased occupational opportunities.
To be eligible, applicants must maintain a cumulative GPA of a 2.0 on a 4.0 grading scale;
be an undergraduate student at a school accredited by the U.S. Department of Education;
be dependents of a Soldier on federal active duty and reside with active duty Soldier in
an Overseas Command. To be a dependent you must be registered in DEERS.
The 2008-2009 Overseas Spouse Education Assistance Program Application is now
available on our (AER) web site, www.aerhq.org. Spouses must renew every Term. The
deadline for each Term application, renewal form and/or supporting documents to AER
for AY 2008-2009 is:
Deadlines:
Term 4 = March 2, 2009
Term 5 = May 11, 2009
Hardcopy applications may be requested by contacting Ms. Kristin Chapman at
703-325-0313, Kristin@aerhq.org or by mail to: HQ, Army Emergency Relief, Overseas
Spouse Education Assistance Program, 200 Stovall Street, Alexandria, VA 22332-0600.
For more information call AER at (910) 396-2507
Practice the Big "D" Word...(Discipline) and pay down debts month by month.
Make a list of all the debt payments made each month. Choose one of your debts to pay off first--either the one with the highest interest
rate or the lowest balance. (Most people like the one with the lowest balance because it gives me a feeling of accomplishment). Cut back
on casual spending , entertainment other impulse extras to trim and to make a manageable spending plan. As a result of cutting back on
spending, perhaps you will find an extra $50, $75, $100 or even more to devote to pay more toward this debt each month. Continue to
make minimum payments on all other debts. When the first debt is paid off, add that money you were paying on the first debt to the minimum
payment being made on the next lowest debt; soon that debt will be paid out too. Continue this process to liquidate one debt after
another until you become debt free. You will then have money to pay cash for what you want, money to start or increase savings and
increase investing. Your financial life should be wonderful!!!! Remember...once all debts are eliminated, this same principle can be used to
pay off a vehicle payment or a mortgage. So do not forget to practice the Big "D" Word...Discipline...to assist with managing finances in
this struggling economy.

Army Emergency Relief
St. Patrick’s Day is the time to show off your Green
Are you feeling the St. Patrick's Day financial woes? Your Army Emergency Relief can help with
emergency financial needs for: Food, rent, utilities, vehicle repair, funeral expenses, and emergency travel in
time of need. Stop by and see us at the Soldier Support Center on the 3rd Floor or call us at (910) 396-2507 or
the Satellite office in Gavin Hall, 82nd ABN Division area. For a “one on one” appointment call (910) 907-5754
Command Financial Non-Commissioned Officer (CFNCO)
Corner
Congratulations to our new Command Financial Non-Commissioned Officers. The purpose of the CFNCO program
is to provide Commanders a program where education, training, counseling and referral is designed to promote,
enhance and maintain Soldier personal financial readiness.
Names
SFC Ingle Joseph 27th ENG BN
SFC Verango Patrick 27th ENG BN
2lt Glover Katie 108th HHB ADA
SSG Burgess Herbert 108th HHB BTE
SSG Aldrich Stephen 108th ADA E BTRY
SSG Narcisse Toshiba 188th BSB
SSG Ridley Carl 1/7 ADA
The next class is schedule from 11 May 09—21 May 09. To enroll contact us at (910) 396-2507
Come hit a whole in one on May 7
Army Emergency Relief is hosting it’s 1st Annual Golf Tournament (Captain’s Choice) this event is open to all
ID Card holders. ID Card holders can invite person of interest. With a friendly atmosphere and lots of green
to play on. For more information contact us at (910) 396-2507

AER Golf Time
1 st Annual
Army Emergency Relief
Golf Tournament
(Captain’s Choice)
7 May 2009 @ 1200
Ryder Golf Course
(Rain Date 14 May 2009)
4 Man Team - $144.00
-or-
Individual - $36.00
(Maximum of 3o teams)
Fried Chicken & BBQ Meal provided
Prizes to be awarded!!
Club rental available at the pro shop
Sign up at Ryder Golf Course
Benefits the Army Emergency Relief Campaign Drive

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3
AER Breakfast
0800 - 0900
8 9 10 AER
Unit Campaign
Manager (UCM)
Training
15 16 17
Budget and
Debt Mgt
1330 -1630
April 2009
(Fort Bragg Consumer Awareness Month)
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
5 6 7
Money and
Divorce
0900 -1200
12 13 14
Refresher
Checkbook
1330 -1630
19 20 21 “Scam Jam”
1300 -1700
PFMT
0800 -1700
26 27 28
First Time
Homebuyer
1330 -1530
4 5 6 7
11 12 13 14
18 19
1st Term Money
and Moving
0900 -1030
1
8 9
Savings and
Investment
0900 -1200
15
TSP Federal
1330 -1630
Car Buying Strat.
0900 -1200
22 23
29
TSP Uniform
1330 -1630
2 3 4
16
1st Term Money
and Moving
0900 -1030
30
20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
March 2009
(Army Emergency Relief Campaign Kick-Off)
10 11
17 18
24 25