COMMENTARY>>Panel assembled to help military housing crunch

By Master Sgt. Bob Oldham
154th Training Squadron first sergeant

Arkansas isn’t immune to the mortgage crisis that has a tight grip on the nation right now, and neither are those who wear the nation’s uniforms. Loans were easy to get, some people bought houses that were bigger than they actually needed. It was the American dream, right?

For some, though, it’s quickly becoming the American nightmare. Across the nation, Americans – and military members – are facing foreclosure and perhaps even bankruptcy. While our civilian counterparts outside the gate might not face many repercussions on the job for their personal financial decisions, a military member could become a security risk and lose their security clearance based on financial mismanagement. We are, after all, responsible for our own financial dealings.

Time and time again our community partners have demonstrated their commitment to the Air Force and our nation’s defense.
Ask anyone outside the gate, and they will tell you our military members in uniform are a precious national resource. These folks get it.

Sitting on the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce’s Military Relations Committee, committee members often ask me what they can do to help our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Guardsmen and Reservists. They really want to help, which is why they are assembling a panel to answer military members’ questions about the housing crunch and how our nation’s warriors can get themselves out from under the crunch, hopefully without too much financial pain or losing a military career along the way.

The panel is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Jacksonville Museum of Military History. It won’t cost a dime, and they won’t be there to push their particular services or products. They just want to help. If they can help one military family or 100, they know it will have been worth their time.

Depending on the turnout and response, they may offer more panels in the future. If you plan to attend, give me a call at (501) 987-6068 so that we can ensure we have enough seats. The panel is open to all military members, Guardsmen, Reservists and their spouses.