Almost a decade ago Fleet and Family Support Program started a wealth building course called the Million Dollar Sailor. The course was designed to give Sailors and their families the tools and knowledge they needed to create solid financial health that will enable them to live the life of their dreams.

The Million Dollar Sailor (MDS) program now offers three ways to complete the course. The first way is the two-day in house training at a Fleet and Family Support Center (FSSC). The second is the new online course.

“An hour here, 20 minutes there, and before you know it you fit solid financial training into your crazy schedule,” said Dana Carlyle, Personal Financial Management Analyst at Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC).

The third is a combination of both, but for now this must be done sequentially. Students can do the first half of the course online and can complete the second half in person. After the new year, the online portion should be accessible by individual modules and provide even more flexibility for completion.

Although, the options to complete course have changed the goal of the course is still simple.

“The goal is to make Million Dollar Sailors, of course,” said Carlyle. “This course equips Sailors and their families with the tools and knowledge needed to set themselves on that path.”

The course teaches that individuals who make small financial adjustments and start good financial habits in their career can be a millionaire by the time they reach retirement age, or sooner.

The topics covered are spending plans, credit, car buying, house buying, saving, and investing in an easy to understand format. Completing the course helps Sailors financial readiness, but it also helps with the Navy's overall readiness.

“If you deploy and are worried about hiding your car so the repo guy won’t find it, your mind is not on the mission,” said Carlyle. “We want to equip Sailors with the tools they need for financial security so they can stay lethal and focused.”

Carlyle also stated that using the skills learned in the MDS course reduces stress, security clearance issues, divorce, and suicide. It increases retention and family support of staying in the military.

“It’s difficult to find any aspect of life that finances do not somehow affect,” she said.

The Million Dollar Sailor is an integral piece of the PFM (Personal Financial Management) program and many who go through the program often fine tune their plans with other PFM offerings, like the no cost, confidential, one-on-one financial counseling session at our Fleet and Family Support Centers.

The MDS course was originally designed for E4 and E5 ranks, it is extremely valuable and available to all Sailors, their families, and anyone who can log into Joint Knowledge Online. Also, most installations allow government civilians to attend PFM classes that are not full. Active duty personnel have priority. Interested parties can find the on-line course at https://jkodirect.jten.mil/. Once logged in, go to the courses tab and type in “Million Dollar Sailor” to find the course.

The Fleet and Family Support Program promotes self-reliance and resiliency to strengthen the military and its family members, support mission readiness, assist commanders in planning for and responding to family readiness needs, and facilitate building a strong community network of services through community outreach and partnerships.

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