Armed Services HomeAn army sergeant, a parachute rigger, was in the middle of a divorce and was seeking financial assistance. He was trying to find a place to live that could accommodate his children every other weekend, while ensuring he would still have enough money to continue paying child support.
“I went to my commander. I got the form, filled it out and came over to the Army Emergency Relief (AER) and told them I was going through a divorce,” he recalled in a video now posted on AER’s website. “I needed help with my rent, my utilities, and about 15 minutes later, they handed me a check.”
In 2011, AER provided $77.5 million in assistance to more than 64,000 soldiers and their families.
Another soldier, a fire direction specialist, needed financial support for his only son, who was battling cancer. The AER paid all his son’s medical bills and provided him with a grant, not a loan, so he doesn’t have to pay anything back.
“They helped us a whole lot mentally because I was really drained,” the specialist said.
A private nonprofit organization incorporated in 1942 by the Secretary of War and the U.S. Army Chief of Staff, AER’s mission is to aid soldiers and their dependents. The AER is dedicated to “Helping the Army Take Care of Its Own.”
“Being able to provide financial assistance to soldiers in a time of need is the right thing to do for our soldiers,” said Lt. Gen. Robert F. Foley, U.S. Army retired, and AER’s director. “These magnificent soldiers every day are willing to deploy to areas where they may be put in harm’s way.”
In 2011, AER provided $77.5 million in assistance to more than 64,000 soldiers and their families.
AER is part of the Fund in Support of Our Troops, a Raytheon employee-sponsored, donor-advised fund that benefits nine Armed Services organizations. Fund donations are evenly distributed to each organization, including AER, once during the year.
To learn more about the AER visit www.aerhq.org.