Army Emergency Relief
Army Emergency Relief (AER) is a private, non-profit organization established to assist Soldiers and their Family Members in emergency financial situations due to no fault of their own. Financial assistance is given in the form of an interest-free loan, grant, or combination of the two. Loans are repaid by an allotment.
To apply for AER assistance, the Soldier should be seen by the Unit Commander/1SG for interview/counseling to determine if the situation can be resolved through the chain-of-command or some other source. After determining that the Soldier has a valid emergency, the unit commander would then authorize the individual to seek AER assistance.
AER can assist with:
- Non-receipt of pay or loss of funds-amount limited to that required to prevent privation.
- Travel expenses due to emergency situations.
- Funeral expenses when it is established that the Soldier is required to pay, or share in payment of funeral expenses for dependants or parents, where there is no insurance.
- Payment of medical, dental and hospital expenses when they cannot be deferred through usual repayment period after TriCare.
- Payment of initial rent or to prevent eviction.
- Purchase of food to prevent privation.
- Payment of required utility deposits or payment of bills to prevent termination of utilities.
- To cover cost of operation or repair of POV, when the vehicle is considered essential.
To insure the Soldier's/Family member's AER request for assistance is processed in a timely manner, Commanders/First Sergeants may call AER at 270.798.5518.
Resources and Forms
AER Checklist- use to determine the documentation needed to appy for assistance
Commanders Referral Tri-fold- refers to instructions for requests for assistance through the streamlined Commanders Referral Program.
Example of the Commanders Referral
AER Education Programs
AER’S Eduaction Program is a secondary mission to help Army families with the costs of education. The three seperate scolarship programs are:
Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program
- Applicant must be a spouse of an active duty or retired Army Soldier and must reside in the United States.
Applicant must be a widow(er) of an active or retired Army Soldier and must reside in the United States.
Stateside Applicants must be full time students.
Active Duty military personnel are not eligible.
First undergraduate degrees only.
Overseas Spouse Education Assistance Program
Major General James Ursano Scholarship Fund for Dependent Children.
Overseas Spouse Education Assistance Program
- Applicants must be a spouse of an active duty Soldier assigned in Europe, Korea, Japan, or Okinawa.
- Applicants must physically reside with the Soldier at the assigned location.
- Second undergraduate degrees are not eligible.
- Graduate and off post students are not elgible.
- Spouses may be part time or full time students.
Major General James Ursano Scholarship Fund for Dependant Children
- Dependant children, stepchildren, or legally adopted children of Army Soldiers on active duty, retired or deceased while in active duty or retired status. The children of Grey Area Reservists/National Guard are elgible as well.
Scholarship awards will be awarded up to half the cost of tuition. Scholarship awards are based on financial need, as evidenced by income, assests, Family size, and special circumstances.
Applications and instructions are available for all the scholarships on the AER website at www.aerhq.org
