FFSC Million Dollar Sailor Course Delivers Wealth of Knowledge
Story and photo by MC3 Dominique Pineiro, CNFJ Public Affairs

(Right) Michael J. Spiltener, a financial counselor at FFSC, helps MA2 Johnnie Harris fill out a financial planning worksheet during the Million Dollar Sailor course Dec. 6. The Million Dollar Sailor course is a two-day program that covers 10 different modules designed to help educate Sailors on how to navigate through various financial hurdles.

In an effort to establish better saving habits to prepare for their financial future, Sailors aboard Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) took advantage of a training opportunity designed to increase financial awareness at CFAY Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) Dec. 6-7.

Dubbed the Million Dollar Sailor course, the two-day program covers 10 different modules designed to help educate Sailors on how to navigate through various financial hurdles, such as how to become a smart consumer, managing debt, credit management and retirement planning.

“My job is to give Sailors the most up-to-date information to help them reach their financial goals,” said Michael J. Spiltener, a financial counselor at FFSC. “The better you manage your money, the more options you have, the more options you have, comes more financial freedom. We try to make the information relevant to the Sailors’ daily life and help them make sound decisions.”

Operations Specialist 2nd Class Mike Damon, assigned to Fleet Coordinating Group, echoed Spiltener’s sentiment, saying the information the class provides is pertinent, especially for Sailors separating from the service.

“ When I get out of the Navy, my life choices are drastically different,” said Damon. “In order to maintain my current lifestyle, it’s important to know what my options are and my main focus right now is to better invest my money.”

Splitener says one of the biggest problems he sees is Sailors not having a proper spending plan.

“Alot of times when a Sailor gets paid, he checks the balance in his bank account and sees if he has $500. He thinks to himself ‘I’ve got $500 to spend.’ The goal of this class is to help them build wealth so they can reach their individual financial goals,” Splitener said.

Navy Diver 2nd Class Joel Pengra, assigned to Ship Repair Facility – Japan Regional Maintenance Center, said the course was extremely beneficial in helping him establish a spending plan.

“In Japan you get away from a lot of stuff like house buying and car buying,” said Pengra. “So you can forget what to look for. Taking a class like this helps me gain knowledge on managing my money and helps me prepare for when I get back to the states when I buy my car.” While the class is geared specifically towards the military member, it’s open to everyone, including spouses.

“Usually the spouses are the ones who control the finances while the service member is deployed, TAD (Temporary Additional Duty) or on an [individual augmentee assignment], so the spouses need the information so they can start building wealth while the service member is away,” said Spiltener.

The Million Dollar Sailor course is offered quarterly at FFSC. For more information about FFSC or the Million Dollar Sailor course, visit https://www.cnic.navy.mil/Yokosuka/CommunitySupport/FFSC/index.htm.