Press Release
☷PoM financial readiness expert talks affording Monterey AER campaign
U.S. Army ( By Press Release office)
Mar 19,2024
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Mr . Elliott Crawford , the financial readiness program manager and AER officer for PoM , is sitting at his desk . Mr . Crawford , a retired Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 and current Army spouse , is located inside the Army Community Service building at Bldg 4260 Gigling Rd , Seaside CA 93955 . On March 15 , 2024 , Mr . Crawford can be found outside the Army Community Service building in Seaside , Calif . Being stationed at the Presidio of Monterey may offer beautiful views and wildlife , but it also means living in one of the most expensive areas in the country . Luckily , PoM ' s Financial Readiness Program is there to help service members with their finances . Mr . Elliott Crawford , the program manager , is an expert on thriving in a high - cost - of - living area like Monterey . When discussing financial advice for junior enlisted service members , Crawford says , "This is a great opportunity . I always tell other Soldiers , especially those aged 18 - 25 , that if you do things right here , you can become millionaires . Avoid debt , make smart choices when buying a car , and invest wisely while you ' re here . The money you make can set you up for millionaire status later in life . " Crawford stresses the importance of spending wisely and taking advantage of PoM services like the dining facilities and barracks . He advises single students at DLIFLC to avoid getting a car and instead focus on investing heavily in their TSP . Crawford sets three goals for Soldiers at PoM: building a solid emergency fund , heavily investing in their TSP , and saving for a down payment on a car or house . Crawford ' s advice differs for single enlisted service members at DLIFLC compared to those with families or stationed at PoM but not DLIFLC students . Single students have most of their expenses taken care of , while those with families face high housing costs . Crawford advises seeking resources to offset the expenses and consulting him before making any major financial decisions . He offers to go through their finances and establish a realistic budget . Let ' s work together to make sure you ' re making the right financial choices . My job is to help you stay in a good place financially , so come chat with me . " Crawford , who also serves as the Army emergency relief officer at PoM , talked about how Soldiers can benefit from AER . "If you come see me and it ' s clear you ' re struggling to make ends meet , I can point you in the direction of Army Emergency Relief , " Crawford explained . "They can assist with things like furniture , initial rent , and housing expenses . Before resorting to credit cards or loans , come talk to me so we can explore options with AER . " AER is a non - profit charity funded by donations , with the majority of funds going directly to support Soldiers and their families . Their goal is to provide grants , interest - free loans , and scholarships to ease financial burdens . The 2024 AER campaign started on March 1 and runs until June 1 . Crawford shared a success story of a Soldier at PoM who received $3 , 000 in AER funds for furniture for their family . "They were able to furnish their home for their family with that amount , " Crawford said . "This is just one example of how AER can make a difference for Soldiers in need . " Mr . Crawford , a retired Chief Warrant Officer 3 and Army spouse , transitioned to personal finance after retiring from the Army to help others succeed financially . The Financial Readiness Program at PoM can be found inside the Army Community Service building . For more information on the program and how to contact Mr . Crawford , visit presidio . armymwr . com/programs/acs/financial - readiness .
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