FORT SILL, Okla. (March 13, 2014) -- After a fire badly damaged his Elgin home Dec. 5, Sgt. 1st Class José Ortiz was reluctant to use Army Emergency Relief assistance.
As a senior noncommissioned officer, he thought that he should have had all his finances in tact. Through the urging of co-workers, Ortiz reached out to AER.
"They made the process seamless and were quick to respond," said Ortiz, a National Guard Soldier liaison with 1st Battalion, 19th Field Artillery. "AER staff understood our situation and the emotions that we were going through. They made us feel human."
Ortiz was one of three Soldiers who shared how AER assisted him during the Fort Sill AER kick off luncheon March 4 at the Patriot Club here.
Dozens of post and community leaders; AER project officers, unit representatives, staff and volunteers; Army Community Services leaders and family members attended the annual Army fundraiser.
"AER is absolutely the right thing to do, it's absolutely a great program, and it does nothing but take care of our Soldiers, our retirees," said Maj. Gen. Mark McDonald, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general.
AER is a nonprofit organization created in 1942, to provide emergency financial assistance to Soldiers, their families, retirees and surviving spouses, with grants or interest-free loans or a combination. It also assists National Guard and Reserve Soldiers on extended active duty, said John Starling, the program's narrator. Much of the program funding comes from Soldier and civilian donations. The AER theme is "A Soldier's First Choice: Soldiers Helping Soldiers and their Families Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow."
The event's scheduled keynote speaker, retired Lt. Gen. Robert Foley, AER director, was unable to attend the event because his flight from the east coast was canceled because of weather, said Cynthia Phillips-Lewis, AER assistant officer.
The six-week campaign runs through April 14. Fort Sill's goal is to make 100-percent contact with Soldiers to educate them about the program, and to raise $150,000, Phillips-Lewis, said.
Col. Glenn Waters, Fort Sill Garrison commander, said last year 536 Fort Sill Soldiers, family members and retirees were provided almost $600,000 in assistance. The top three categories of need were for housing, travel and utilities. Fort Sill collected about $260,000 last year, "so we got a lot bigger bang for the buck," the colonel said.
What if there was no AER at Fort Sill? "I believe a lot of the Soldier would resort to using high-interest loan companies that could place additional strains on those families," Phillips-Lewis said. Some of those rates could be 24 percent, the general noted in his presentation.
Spc. Katie Owen, A Company, 168th Brigade Support Battalion, ammo supply specialist, explained how AER came to her assistance after her bank and credit union froze her assets over a car payment dispute. "AER should be a Soldier's first choice," she said. "AER helped us stay afloat even through our hardship."
TO DONATE
Soldiers and retirees can contribute to AER by cash, check or payroll allotment by filling out DA Form-4908. Civilians can contribute by cash or check only. To donate, see your unit's military AER rep., or visit the AER office in Army Community Services in Bldg. 4700, 1st floor, north entrance. AER staff will also pick up donations at your office.
USING AER
Soldiers experiencing financial hardships should first consult with their command financial noncommissioned officer. They are familiar with AER, Phillips-Lewis said. Soldiers must provide documentation of their hardship when applying for AER. Commanders can approve up to $1,500; the AER office can approve up to $2,500; and the garrison commander can approve up to $3,500, Phillips-Lewis said. Amounts larger than that must be approved by AER headquarters.
Pfc. Nichole Geery, 4th Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery supply specialist, who also shared her AER testimony, said: "Sometimes we need a lending hand to get us back on our feet. AER can and will do that without judgment. Just like our battle buddies who stand next to us, they won't leave behind either."
For more information, visit www.aerhq.org.
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