Veterans often need support in financial management when returning home from overseas or ending their time on active duty within the United States. At the same time, crimes such as identity theft and fraud have run rampant across the nation for years now, and veterans – along with civilians – have certainly been targeted and victimized by the events. There have even been scams that specifically target service members and use digital tactics to steal from them.
This is one of the main reasons why more groups ought to be advocating for veteran financial management assistance, education and protection against some of the more common threats on the Web and elsewhere today. Certain projects and programs have already been launched with these objectives in mind, and a relatively unique one has been making a big difference in the state of Kentucky.
Operation Stand Down
The Bowling Green Daily News recently reported that Ron Georgette started Operation Stand Down – an organization that works to better inform veterans' financial decisions – in 2015, and has already made a solid impact on local individuals. The source noted that Georgette is a veteran of the U.S. Army himself, and believed that service members needed an entity to support them through the challenges of handling their budgets properly and avoiding problems.
"I started this because of veterans getting ripped off," Georgette told the news provider. "We want to make sure our veterans aren't getting the shaft. That's where the original idea spawned from. We have a great team who implemented it. It's totally unique."
He also explained that the current goal is to begin operating nationally in the near future, especially as there are only six VA Fiduciary Hubs in the country that can help with these matters. The Bowling Green Daily news added that the group currently works with one of the VA Fiduciary Hubs.
"When a veteran gets into a jam or some life-changing event, we will advance them their own money," Georgette asserted, according to the source. "We're on the fence between the VA and the families when it comes to finances. When you have family and friends handling finances it can cause problems."
Plenty of resources
While these types of groups can make a big difference on the ground, veterans can also find opportunities to learn more about proper financial management through a range of resources. For example, the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions offers information pertaining to financial literacy and other similar matters through its website, while VeteransPlus provides learning courses to service members and their families.
Whether in a stable, financially sound position or one that has been a bit rockier, veterans should always take advantage of opportunities to boost their financial literacy and better manage their bank accounts. Awareness and education are the best weapons to combat issues with cash flow down the road, and service members can begin to improve their financial stature by learning more.