However, resource   management   and   living within a budget can be difficult for a significant number  of  Navy  and  Marine  Corps  members and   their   families.   Problems   associated   with resource  management  can,  on  occasion,  severely strain  a  family  relationship.  When  this  occurs, the  chaplain  may  be  asked  to  provide  pastoral counseling  and  referral  assistance.  The  follow- ing  paragraphs  provide  the  RP  with  basic  I&R information   concerning   the   resource   agencies programs,  and  personnel  concerned  with  family resource  management. THE  ALLOTMENT  SYSTEM The  allotment  system  is  a  financial  program available  to  service  members.  An  allotment  is a  Navy  or  Marine  Corps  member’s  request  and authorization  for  the  Navy  or  Marine  Corps Finance Center to send part of the member’s pay to a spouse, a dependent, or to a certain institu- tion  without  a  handling  charge  to  the  member. There  are  approximately  twelve  types  of  allot- ments used by the Navy and the Marine Corps. These allotments are outlined in figure 5-4. Many  of  the  financial  problems  of  Navy  and Marine  Corps  members  and  their  dependents stem  from  allotment  checks  being  delayed  or being   sent   to   the   wrong   address.   This   often occurs   because   the   service   member   fails   to register the allotment for the spouse or depend- ent,  or  fails  to  provide  the  new  address  when  a change   occurs.   It  is  also  important  to  realize that   a   “D”   allotment   check   is   not   forwarded immediately after an application has been made for one. Allotment checks may not reach a serv- ice member’s family for as long as 5 to 8 weeks after  the  allotment  application  has  been  made. A  check  for  a  “D”  allotment  is  normally  mailed at  the  end  of  the  month  for  which  it  is  made payable by the service member. When  a  problem  with  an  allotment  occurs, the Disbursing Clerk at the appropriate Navy or Marine Corps activity should be notified so that corrective  action  can  be  taken.  The  RP  should facilitate   efforts   to   notify   the   appropriate disbursing or finance office whenever assistance is   required.   In   some   instances,   if   a   spouse or  dependent  does  not  receive  an  allotment check  when  it  is  expected  or  due,  some  form  of financial assistance from the Navy Relief Society may  be  provided. FINANCIAL    MANAGEMENT All  members  of  the  Navy  and  Marine  Corps are   expected   to   provide   adequate   and   con- tinuous   support   for   their   lawful   dependents. Failure  to  pay  just  debts  or  repeatedly  incur- ring   debts   beyond   a   member’s   ability   to   pay may  adversely  affect  the  status  of  a  member’s security   clearance,   advancement   status,   duty assignments, reenlistment or extension of enlist- ment   eligibility.   Some   circumstances   such   as financial   responsibility   may   be   grounds   for disciplinary  action  or  administrative  discharge. The  Navy  and  Marine  Corps  encourage  all members  of  the  naval  service  to  conduct  their financial  affairs  in  such  a  manner  as  to  reflect credit  upon  themselves  and  the  naval  service. The  Navy  MILPERSMAN  and  the  Marine Corps Manual for Legal Administration  contain in-depth   information   concerning   indebtedness, support  of  dependents,  and  financial  responsi- bility. The RP should maintain or have access to Navy  and  Marine  Corps  Instructions,  Notices, and Bulletins which pertain to the indebtedness of  military  personnel. In  the  following  paragraphs  we  will  discuss the  principal  agencies  and  programs  concerned with  the  management  and  utilization  of  fam- ily   resources   by   military   members   and   their families. The   primary   Navy,   Navy-affiliated,   and civilian  agencies  and  programs  which  provide financial  counseling  and  assistance  to  Navy and  Marine  Corps  members  and  their  families include: The  Navy  Relief  Society  (NRS) The  American  Red  Cross  (ARC) Navy Legal Services Consumer  Credit  Counselors Command  Career  Counselors Household   Referral   Office   and   the Household  Goods  Shipping  Office 5-17