Marine Corps Base Quantico

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANCTICO, Va. — Staff sergeants and above now have an opportunity to bolster their financial expertise with the “Command Financial Specialist” course. The new, weeklong class, hosted by Personal Financial Management Branch, is designed to improve overall financial readiness within Marine units by equipping leaders to teach. The first session was held Sept. 22 to 26, at the Religious and Family Service Center aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico.

“This program was created by Headquarters Marine Corps with the intent of educating Marines who are capable, able and willing, with vital financial knowledge and expertise that can be shared with fellow Marines and sailors within their unit,” said Louis Bromley, personal finance manager at PFMB.

The course covered leave and earnings statements, taxes, insurance, paid benefits, car buying, credit reports and investments. But perhaps the most important subject was budgeting.

“Bottom line, the underlying message throughout the week was the budget because that’s going to be the key to making all these other things work,” Bromley said.

Although the financial literacy messaging isn’t new, Bromley who typically teaches and counsels all Marines at Quantico, said the delivery is what is transformative. He said it’s the key to maintaining a continuum of financial education throughout the Corps.

“These [Marines] are there; they know what’s going on within their unit and who might be experiencing financial trouble,” Bromley said. “So, by them being there, they’re going to be more readily available to reach out and assist more swiftly.”

Ultimately ‘financial situational awareness’ is the goal, he said.

The class will be held twice annually. Bromley said he plans to host another course before year end but encourages interested Marines to contact the office at 703-784-2650 or email at Louis.bromley @usmc.mil.