Fort Carson kicks off AER campaign

FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Fort Carson Soldiers and community members gathered at the Elkhorn Conference Center March 3, 2016, to formally kickoff the Army Emergency Relief (AER) campaign for 2016.

This year marks 75 years that AER has delivered financial assistance to Soldiers and Families in need of support.

Maj. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves, commanding general, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, addressed the capacity crowd, many of whom are unit coordinators, and talked about how AER helps Soldiers and Families through some of life's most stressful moments.

"Every one of us, from one time or another, has needed a little help," Gonsalves said. "This program allows all of us and the rest of the 24,000 Soldiers and their Family members on this installation, not just the 4th ID, to help those in need. AER gave out almost $2 million to the installation last year and AER can't give out what we don't give back."

Army Emergency Relief is a nonprofit organization developed in 1942 to assist Soldiers and their Families. The organization operates through donations and offers both grants and short-term zero-interest loans to Soldiers in times of need. Since 2008, AER has provided $80 million a year. Since Sept. 11, 2001, it has distributed almost $600 million.

Numbers aside, AER is really about the Army and its ability to take care of its own, said Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Clinton J. Reiss, the keynote speaker.

He quoted a U.S. Army white paper saying that an American professional Soldier is an expert, a volunteer certified in the profession of arms, bonded with comrades in a shared identity and a culture of sacrifice in service to the nation and constitution, who adheres to the highest ethical standards and is steward to the Army as a profession.

"I thought I would share that message because it coincides with why we're here and talking about contributing to AER," Reiss said. "It is our responsibility to care for our own. AER gives us the opportunity to do this. Every one of us has dealt with hard times."

Staff Sgt. Kirby Wasson, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., relayed his experience with AER after enduring an emergency surgery earlier this year.

"I was in the hospital for two weeks, one in intensive care and another in the Family Care ward," he said. "My wife stayed with me the entire time. The difficult part of this scenario is that we are a two-income family and my wife received no paycheck during this time. Once I was released, she stayed with me another two weeks."

As a result, the Wassons ended up falling behind on car payments, insurance and phone bills. Kirby Wasson then went to AER and received a total of $2,400 -- $1,600 in the form of a grant.

"It was huge help to us and we got caught up," he said. "I now encourage everyone to tell their Soldiers about the program."

Sgt. Jeremiah Showers, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), spoke of his experience of needing funds following the death of a Family member. He went to AER for assistance and received financial help.

"It's important to hear these stories," Reiss said. "There are many more similar to them on our installation. As many as 1,500 Fort Carson Soldiers and their Families have been helped out by AER in the past year."

Despite the drastic need, Gonsalves said that Fort Carson community members' AER contributions were down nearly 40 percent in 2015 compared to 2014. He then announced Fort Carson's AER goal for 2016 is $200,000.

"I hope we all got something out of this kickoff event and can get back to our units and spread the word," Reiss said. "The campaign officially runs through May 15. We've got plenty of time to get the word out and get donations going."