Benefit Fact Sheet
Military and Family Readiness Centers (M&FRCs) offer information, education, and personal financial counseling to help individuals and families maintain readiness and build financial security. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2016 created 12 mandatory touchpoints where a Service member must receive financial literacy training. This change in law ensures Airmen and Guardians gain the knowledge and skills to make informed and effective financial decisions at various life stages.
Air Force Reserve Service members on drill status and their authorized family members are eligible for Financial Readiness services.
Military and Family Readiness Centers offer information, education and referral services to Airmen and their families. M&FRC offices refer members to qualifies community-based financial management personnel.
Mandatory Touchpoints created by the National Defense Authorization Act of 2016 include the following:
-
Initial Entry: Basic Military Training, U.S. Air Force Academy, Officer Training School or Reserve Officer Training Corps
-
First Duty Station: Service members must receive training within the first 90 days of arrival at their first duty station
-
Thrift Savings Plan Vesting: M&FRCs offer training and/or counseling on TSP Vesting to eligible service members
-
Continuation Pay: Available online via MyFSS, service members receive an email notifying them of eligibility for Continuation Pay.
-
Retirement, Separation or Transition to the Reserve Component: M&FRCs provide financial literacy training as a part of the Transition Assistance Program
-
Pre-/Post-Deployment: M&FRCs offer training and/or counseling for service members prior to, and upon return from deployment. Training may also be offered online.
-
Marriage: M&FRCs offer training and/or counseling for service members who get married
-
Divorce: M&FRCs offer training and/or counseling for service members who get divorced
-
Birth of First Child: M&FRCs offer training and/or counseling for service members who are expecting, give birth to, or adopt their first child
-
Disabling Sickness or Condition: Service members receive an assessment on financial readiness needs from the Recovery Care Coordinator in accordance with DAFI 34-1101, Warrior and Survivor Care.
-
Permanent Change of Station: M&FRCs offer training and/or counseling for service members who experience a subsequent permanent change of station while in grades E-4/O-3 and below
-
Promotion: M&FRCs offer training and/or counseling for service members who receive promotions while serving in the grades E2-E5 and O2-O4. Training for promotion to E2 will be delivered as part of Basic Military Training and to E3 as part of First Duty Station training.
In addition M&FRCs offers counseling prior to Airmen and Guardians electing the lump sum option on DD Form 2656, upon retirement under the Blended Retirement System. They can also assist with a personal financial analysis for parents seeking a child care hardship waiver (fee reduction).
AF Personnel Financial Readiness Program:
https://www.afpc.af.mil/Military-and-Family/Financial-Readiness/
DAFI 36-2906, Personal Financial Responsibility:
https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/dafi36-2906/dafi36-2906.pdf
DAFI 36-3009, Military and Family Readiness Centers:
https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/dafi36-3009/dafi36-3009.pdf