‘Soldiers helping Soldiers’ – AER campaign begins

  • Published
  • By Army Staff Sgt. Matthew E. Winstead
  • U.S. Army Alaska Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  The 2012 Army Emergency Relief campaign kicked off March 1 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson with a briefing to AER representatives from U.S. Army Alaska.

AER is a private, nonprofit organization which provides emergency financial assistance to Soldiers (active and retired) and their families in time of distress.

Established to ensure there was an agency available that could provide prompt financial assistance for Soldiers and their families during World War II, AER provides emergency financial assistance in the form of no-interest loans or grants. In addition, AER provides scholarships to children and spouses of active duty and retired Soldiers as well as financial support to widows and wounded warriors.

According to an AER news release, beginning in January 2012, AER added four new categories of assistance to include: family member dental care, basic furniture needs, rental vehicles and replacement vehicles. These additions were made to meet the changing needs of today's Soldiers and families. Based upon feedback from our AER officers worldwide, nine new categories have been added in the last two years.

According to the release, in 2011 Army Emergency Relief provided $77.5 million in assistance to more than 64,000 Soldiers and their families. Under the streamlined Command Referral Program, company commanders and first sergeants have the authority to approve AER loans for their Soldiers up to $1,500.

AER assistance is based upon a valid need and is flexible in responding to all types of financial situations. There is no limit on the amount of assistance that can be provided, and no limit on the number of times a Soldier may make requests for assistance.
The organization receives its funding from voluntary contributions from Soldiers, unsolicited contributions, repayments of loans, and income from investments. The AER campaign at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson runs until May 15.

Dennis Scott, a retired sergeant major and the assistant secretary general from AER headquarters in Alexandria, Va., gave unit representatives an overview of the program and highlighted some recent changes and updates.

"We want to meet our two primary goals when it comes to AER," Scott said. "To inform the entire Army as to the function of AER and what it can offer, and to be a Soldier's first thought when he or she needs to consider any type of financial assistance."

Statistics have shown younger Soldiers unaware of the benefits of AER are much more likely to fall prey to unscrupulous lenders in times of financial distress, according to Scott.

He also noted that AER expanded the range of emergency situations for which it will provide assistance, including family member dental care, basic furniture needs, rental vehicles and replacement vehicles.

AER assistance is now available to medical retirees, and widows and orphans of Soldiers, Scott said.

In addition to emergency loans, AER also provides educational assistance to family members.

"In 2011, AER provided just over $1.6 million in education assistance for the children of Soldiers and $1.1 million in education assistance to around 625 spouses, which averaged out to be about $2,500 per spouse Armywide." Scott said.

Eligible recipients in Alaska received more than $400,000 in AER assistance last year, according to Salafai Ieremia, AER officer for the JBER Army Support Activity.

"In order to maintain the level of assistance that we can provide, we really need every Soldier to be aware of what AER is, how helpful it can be, and to understand how important it is to donate if they can," Ieremia said.

Ieremia and Scott said they hope to raise at least $35,000 in AER donations at JBER by the campaign's end May 15.

U.S. Army Alaska Chief of Staff Col. William Miller commented on the benefits and importance of the AER program and urged unit representatives to inform their Soldiers about the program.

"The great thing about AER is we get every dime we put into it spent toward us," Miller said. "We use it, not someone else. Help to let your younger Soldiers understand that this isn't about us helping the Army, this is really about us helping us."

For more information about AER, contact your unit AER representative or go to www.aerhq.org.