U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Susan Moreno Chaplain (Capt.) Ruth Segres, 11th Wing chaplain, begins the first SAVE program briefing June 22 at the Stewart Theater. The program is aimed at junior enlisted Airmen and company grade officers to encourage them to take control of their financial futures and begin putting money away at the start of their careers, and make saving an ingrained part of their lifestyle.

The new program targets junior enlisted Airmen and company grade officers to encourage them to take control of their financial futures and begin putting money away at the start of their careers, and make saving an ingrained part of their lifestyles.

Chaplain (Capt.) Ruth Segres, 11th Wing chaplain, is the project coordinator for the SAVE program, which has been in the works since earlier this spring.

Chaplain Segres opened the briefing with a simple sentiment for young Airmen to contemplate.

‘‘Here is what I know: Eventually, your time of service will end, and you will either separate or retire. You have the grand opportunity now to start writing your ending,” she said. ‘‘Today, we are going to look at two ways to set up a victorious ending through financial fortitude either through a personal savings account or through a Thrift Savings Plan.”

The Thrift Savings Plan is a U.S. government-managed, 401(k)-type payroll-deduction program designed to provide a tax-deferred retirement plan for servicemembers and federal civilian employees.

Military members can contribute any whole percentage up to 92 percent of basic pay, as long as the annual total of the tax-deferred investment does not exceed $16,500 for 2010. If contributing from basic pay, Airmen also may invest all or part of their bonuses, special pay or incentive pay.

She then pointed out that there is no reason Airmen can’t treat themselves once in a while — but it should only be once in a while, or else it isn’t a ‘treat,’ and it should be something affordable, she said.

Chaplain Segres then offered a personal anecdote about when she bought herself a motorcycle.

‘‘The motorcycle was something I could afford because I saved money for it, and I didn’t incur another bill,” she said. ‘‘I still had my monthly bills and student loans, but I was still able to save money.”

She encouraged attendees to set up a direct deposit from checking to savings and then forget it.

‘‘Saving takes discipline and sacrifice,” she said. ‘‘You have to be very deliberate about it. Give thoughtful consideration to how much you can afford to set aside. Starting small is better than not starting at all.”

With TSP enrollment rates for Airmen being the lowest across all service branches, Chaplain Segres reiterated that when ‘life happens,’ people need to be financially prepared for the unexpected, so that they aren’t left to ‘start over’ in the aftermath.

Air Force District of Washington senior leaders hope that the new program will take off at the Air Force level, ingraining the practice of saving into Air Force culture.

‘‘With this program, we’re trying to broaden the Wingman concept,” said Chaplain Segres. ‘‘We’re trying to encourage Airmen to help look out for each other’s futures as well as other areas of their lives.”

For information about the Thrift Savings Plan, visit www.tsp.gov.