ARLINGTON, Va. — The number of soldiers seeking help and the amount of financial aid they’ve received from the Army Emergency Relief Organization have jumped considerably in recent years, according to officials from the nonprofit organization.
Nearly 66,000 soldiers and families received some type of aid from the group in 2007, a 40 percent increase in people served over the 2005 number, retired Army Col. Dennis Spiegel, a group spokesman, said. And the Alexandria, Va.-based organization awarded almost $74 million in financial assistance, up nearly 70 percent from 2005.
The organization gives no-interest loans and grants to Army members facing money problems, as well as merit-based academic scholarships.
One of AER’s primary goals, Foley said, is to keep soldiers from going to payday lenders, who offer exorbitant interest rates.
Many soldiers run into severe debt after taking out such loans for what was initially a relatively small amount of cash.
In a news release AER Director retired Army Lt. Gen. Robert F. Foley highlighted one AER program that allows company or battery commanders and first sergeants to authorize $1,000 in interest-free loans to soldiers for car repairs, emergency travel, rent, “or really anything the soldier needs.”
About 85 percent of AER’s loan and grant assistance goes to staff sergeants and lower-ranking soldiers, according to the news release.
Because every case is different, there are no specific rules about what the AER considers a financial emergency, and no limits on the amount of the loan or grants soldiers can receive or the number of times they can apply to AER, Foley said.
The AER’s programs are open to active-duty soldiers and their families, and Army Reserve and National Guard members on active duty for more than 30 days and their families.
In addition, soldiers retired from active duty or the reserves and widowed spouses and orphaned children of soldiers once on active duty are eligible for the programs.
AER maintains offices at the Army Community Service buildings on all Army installations.
For more information, go to www.aerhq.org, or call toll-free (866) 878-6378 or DSN 312-328-0000.
