Military Financial
Readiness
We are proud to serve our nation’s armed forces and their families by providing comprehensive financial education programs and resources that support them throughout all stages of their careers and personal lives. Our commitment is to ensure they have the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed, intelligent financial decisions. We pledge to abide by the directives and policies established by the Department of Defense, the individual military services, and local installation commanders.
TAKE COMMAND®: Your Path to Financial Readiness and College Credits
TAKE COMMAND, our comprehensive online financial readiness program, is designed specifically for service members, their families, and the organizations that support them. This program is crafted to guide you through every career and life stage, from the beginning of your military service to separation or retirement.
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- Comprehensive Coverage: Our courses address a wide range of financial topics tailored to the unique needs of military life. Whether you’re just starting your service or preparing for retirement, we have content to support you at every stage.
- Flexible Learning: Each course is designed to be completed in under an hour, making it easy to fit into your busy schedule. Plus, with 24/7 access via computer, smartphone, or tablet, you can learn whenever and wherever it’s convenient for you.
- Free Access: TAKE COMMAND courses are available at no cost, providing valuable financial education without any financial burden.
- Accreditation and College Credits: We’re proud to announce that our courses have been accredited by The American College of Financial Services. By successfully completing these courses, you have the opportunity to earn college credits, adding further value to your educational and professional journey.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance your financial knowledge and earn college credits. TAKE COMMAND today and take control of your financial future!
TAKE COMMAND Course Topics
Cornerstones of Financial Readiness
- Financial Challenges Unique to the Military
- Understanding Your LES/Payslip
- Creating a Basic Spending Plan
- Understanding Banking
- Organizing Finances
- Assessing Your Financial Status Upon Promotion
- Introduction to Investing
- Blended Retirement System (BRS) and Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
Preparing Financially for Change
- Permanent Change of Station (PCS)
- Deployment/Redeployment
- Separation from Service
- Military Retirement
Preparing Financially for Life Events
- Marriage
- Divorce
- Addition of a First Child
- Disabling Sickness or Condition
TAKE COMMAND Testimonials
“I enjoyed this course and wish I had this available when I first enlisted.”
“The Retirement course, in particular, had a lot of great resources- the before, during, and after budget sheet as well as the handbook.”
“I believe that this course would be extremely valuable to our new service members and any service member that has not completed a financial education course”
TAKE COMMAND Mobile App
Developing a mobile app will deliver TAKE COMMAND content to a broad age demographic in an enhanced, intuitive user experience allowing for gamification, badging, and expansion of additional content to fresh audiences. This app, coupled with accreditation of TAKE COMMAND curriculum, represents an extraordinary opportunity to further help service members and their families develop positive financial behaviors.
How you can help put TAKE COMMAND in the hands of those who need it!
We are challenging our supporters to help us raise the capital of $98,000 to develop, launch, and deploy this app. Thank you for joining us in the movement to end financial insecurity in our nation’s military. Your 100% tax-deductible gift says our service families are worth it!
Military Financial Education Presentations
Request Military Financial Education Presentations
If you are interested in having FCEF provide a presentation or would like to be a volunteer speaker, please fill out the form and email it to us at edufoundation@fcef.com.
Our financial readiness presentations and programs for service members and their families cover topics specific to military families, as well as a variety of general personal finance principles. We can also create more comprehensive programs that educate service members on several financial principles and sound practices. Our presentations and seminars can either be conducted by one of our volunteer speakers or train individuals from a military unit or organization to do them. Below is a list of presentations available and several free financial education guides for the military community.
Quick Reference Guides 
Quick reference guides offer valuable and practical financial information vital in a service member’s personal life and military career. Download now or order hard-copies below.
- THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN (TSP)
- BUDGETING TIPS FOR SERVICE MEMBERS
- PREPARING FOR DEPLOYMENT
- MILITARY LIFE INSURANCE
- FINANCIAL TIPS FOR SERVICE MEMBERS.
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Order your hard-copy Quick Reference Pocket Guides here
Military Financial Education Guides
These website learning modules provide valuable and detailed information on select military-related topics.
Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)
Provides basic information about the Survivor Benefit Plan, including premium and benefit calculations, eligibility, beneficiary categories, changing beneficiaries, disenrolling, and Reserve Component SBP (RCSBP).
Military Life Insurance
Provides basic information on military life insurance programs including SGLI, TSGLI, FSGLI, and VGLI, and converting these policies to a permanent commercial insurance policy. It also discusses the Survivor Benefit Plan, Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance, and the VA Beneficiary Financial Counseling and Online Will Preparation programs.
Veterans Disability Benefits
Provides basic information about filing with the VA for a disability rating and appealing a decision, and information about various special programs for disabled veterans.
VA Home Loan Program
Provides information about the VA Home Loan Program, its advantages, loan types, “full” and “remaining” entitlement, how to obtain a Certificiate of Eligibility, the VA Funding Fee and other costs, and how to spot misleading solicitations.
Approval Letters
In recognition of our commitment and our continual adherence to established guidance, First Command Educational Foundation has been granted official approval to conduct educational programs for five military services.
Air Force Approval Letter
Coast Guard Approval Letter
Navy/Marine Corps Approval Letter
