Therefore, now, Soldiers are required to take financial literacy training during significant times in their career. Individuals are also able to request a loan or a grant on behalf of their spouse if they have a power of attorney.ĭurr and Mason said they understand “life happens” and at times Soldiers do not come into the military knowing how to manage their finances. Scholarships in the amount of $2,500 to $3,000 are offered to spouses and dependents to help meet their educational goals of an undergraduate degree. Anything from $3,000.01 to $4,000 goes to the garrison commander for approval and everything more than $4,000 goes straight to the AER headquarters to receive approval.Īlong with loans and grants, AER helps spouses and dependents pursue their academic goals. With direct access, Soldiers can go directly to an AER representative and request up to $3,000. The Quick Assist Program was created in 2006, to give company commanders and first sergeants the tools to be able to approve Soldiers up to $2,000. There are two ways to apply for assistance: Quick Assist Program and direct access. Upon further review of the client’s budget plan and income, an AER representative can decide to keep the assistance as a loan, change it to a grant or do a combination of both. When COVID was bad we helped parents with educational assistance, like laptops for their children.”Īll help (except for cranial helmets and special medical needs equipment) starts off as a loan with zero-percent interest. “AER also helps assist with replacement vehicles, food, utilities, and initial deposits for rent. “We help with so much more than emergency leave,” said Durr. ![]() Courtney Davis)ĭurr said besides emergency travel (Soldiers needing to get home to care for family members), AER also provides assistance with permanent change of station, COVID assistance, basic living, medical and privately owned vehicles. Charles Durr, chief of assistance for the AER program, speak with junior non-commissioned officer about the AER program during a focus group at United States Garrison Humphreys, Army Community Service office Oct. Raymond Mason, AER director, and retired Sgt. The two forms of assistance come in grants and loans. Now, 80 years later, AER has 30 different categories of assistance, seven different situational areas and 71 AER locations in which active-duty Soldiers and their dependents, Reservists and National Guardsman (who have been activated more than 30 days), surviving spouses of deceased active duty, and retired Soldiers can apply for assistance. The American Red Cross noticed the dilemma, donated about 1.5 million dollars in seed money, and the Army Emergency Relief program was started. “We surely didn’t have the social programs that we have today, so if you had a baby in 1942 that was out of pocket.” ![]() “There were no programs within or outside of the Army that really provided financial assistance for those Soldiers who experienced that significant loss of income,” said Durr. ![]() Activated pilots and their families suffered a significant loss of income due to low military wages. The Army and Air Force were joint services, and civilian pilots were being drafted to active duty. 5, 1942, just prior to World War II, a time when the Army was trying to build up its combat power. Army bases to speak with and receive feedback from the installations’ community members about the Army’s AER program. Charles Durr, chief of assistance for the AER program, traveled up and down the Korean peninsula visiting U.S. ![]() 2, 2022ĬAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea - United States Army Garrison Humphreys’ installation leaders, Soldiers, spouses, military family life counselors, and the Better Opportunity for Single Soldiers president, sat down with the Army Emergency Relief director in mini focus groups across Humphreys on Oct.
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