FORT JACKSON, S.C. (March 5, 2015) -- The Army Emergency Relief fund is celebrating its 73rd birthday this year, but the program's director said its initiatives are still not fully understood by the Soldiers it is designed to benefit.
"We have got to create greater awareness of AER benefits," retired Lt. Gen. Robert Foley, director of Army Emergency Relief, told a gathering of Fort Jackson's leadership Monday at the NCO Club.
The AER program is a nonprofit organization established to help the Army provide financial assistance for Soldiers and their families through no-interest loans and grants.
Monday's reception marked the start of the post's contribution to the campaign, which runs through May 15.
Foley said there are a few "elementary questions" that need to be asked if Soldiers are going to better understand how AER can help them, their families and colleagues.
"Whose money is AER?" Foley asked. "It's Soldiers' money. Since 1942, Soldiers have been making donations to the AER general fund so that their fellow Soldiers will have the (money) they need for an emergency."
AER assistance is available to Soldiers and their families regardless of where they are stationed. The amount of available assistance is only limited by the amount of the need.
The second question Foley said should be asked is, "Who are the stewards of the AER process?"
The AER process is ultimately the responsibility of installation command, he said.
"It's (the job of) leaders at all levels, especially the leaders at the company (or) battery level," Foley said. "They are the stewards."
Soldiers needing AER assistance can contact their unit chain of command or go directly to the AER section on post. AER also has reciprocal agreements with the other military aid societies. Soldiers and families not near an Army installation can receive AER assistance at the nearest Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard installation with the respective Military Aid Society, or from the American Red Cross.
Raising awareness is ultimately a full-time aspect of the campaign, and not limited to its two-month fundraising initiative, Foley said.
"It's all year long," Foley said. "That's when we need to create that awareness. Because that interaction goes on in your organizations all the time. And I'm not there. I can't create the awareness. But you can. Which is why the AER process is counting on you to get that done."
"I know that, with the leadership we have in this room -- and all the great leadership we have in the community -- that Fort Jackson will make a difference," said Maj. Gen. Bradley Becker, Fort Jackson commanding general.
Additional program information is available at www.aerhq.org.
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