Army Emergency Relief (AER), often referred to by the longer title ''Army Emergency Relief Fund'', is a

non-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

charitable organization A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good). The legal definition of a ...

independent of, but closely associated with the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, ...

, founded in 1942. The organization is headquartered in Arlington, VA.

Mission

The mission of the AER is to help US Army soldiers and their dependents, by providing emergency aid, in the form of either a direct grant (a cash gift, not to be repaid) or an interest-free loan, and by giving college scholarships to children of soldiers. Under Army regulations, officers must recommend whether their soldiers deserve aid. Loans up to $1000 do not require command recommendation, and there is no limit to the amount of funds Army Emergency Relief may authorize. Officers are responsible for ensuring that their soldiers repay AER loans.

Assets, aid, and expenses

In February 2009, the

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. new ...

reported that the AER had, between 2003 and 2007, distributed a total of $64 million in aid, an average of $13 million per year, while adding $117 million to its reserves, and reaching total assets of $345 million. AER ended 2007 with a $296 million in its investment portfolio of stocks and bonds. During that five-year period of 2003-2007, AER's emergency assistance consisted of 91 percent repayable loans and 9 percent direct grants. In 2008, AER gave out $5.5 million in emergency grants, $65 million in loans, and $12 million in scholarships, to a total of 72,000 people. For 2009, AER plans to reduce its total scholarships to $8 million. As of early 2009, AER was paying for a staff of 21 people, all at its headquarters at the Army Human Resources Command in

Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria is an independent city in the northern region of the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately south of downtown Washington, D.C. In 2020, the population was 159,467. ...

, with the Army paying 300 or so other civilians, located at ninety Army sites worldwide, who worked full-time for the AER. The Army also provides AER its office space at no charge.

Armed Forces Relief Trust

In 2003, a new nonprofit organization, the Armed Forces Relief Trust, was formed with assistance from the

National Association of Broadcasters The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is a trade association and lobby group representing the interests of commercial and non-commercial over-the-air radio and television broadcasters in the United States. The NAB represents more than ...

. The mission of the trust is to assist the four military aid societies - AER, the

Air Force Aid Society Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) is a non-profit, charitable organization that is the official charity of the United States Air Force. The organization is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. Mission The three-pronged charter supports the Air Force ...

, the

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) is an American non-profit organization that was founded in 1904. The society was created "to provide, in partnership with the Navy A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nat ...

, and the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, by providing a single place to receive donations for the entire U.S. Armed Services.{{cite news , title=Civilians slow to rally to military relief fund , date= November 24, 2003 , url=http://washingtontimes.com/news/2003/nov/24/20031124-120301-2327r/ , work=Washington Times

References

External links

Official AER siteArmed Forces Relief Trust
Charities based in Virginia United States Army associations United States military support organizations