CEO emphasizes AER capabilities at Fort Leavenworth
FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS — Retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael A. (Tony) Grinston, chief executive officer of Army Emergency Relief, emphasized the capabilities of AER, in lieu of an AER donation briefing, as he addressed local AER campaign representatives and other community members during his visit to Fort Leavenworth May 5, 2025.
Grinston said AER loans and grants can help soldiers reduce or avoid debt and hardship in many situations.
“It’s really heartbreaking that people will suffer,” Grinston said. “‘I put myself into debt; I was strained at work; I didn’t know you had a program like this.’… So, we have all these programs to help people, but it does nothing if nobody knows about them.”
Grinston said AER helps soldiers with basic needs (e.g., house, car), care in crisis (e.g., hurricanes, floods), health and wellness (e.g., healthcare bills TRICARE doesn’t cover, overseas hospitals requiring upfront payment), separation/transition (e.g., SkillBridge travel), and family support.
AER funds are awarded to the soldier, but in one category — domestic violence — spouses can apply for a grant to escape a dangerous situation. If restricted reporting, Grinston said the soldier won’t be contacted, nor, in some cases, the garrison commander.
“That’s a case where spouses can get assistance without going through the service member; unfortunately, that’s about the only case.”
Grinston said when he talks with spouses, they tell him they weren’t aware of the extent of AER’s assistance.
“We’ve got progressive child care; we’ve got scholarships,” he said, referencing some of the ways AER can help families. “If you PCS and go to a high-rent district and you can’t afford your first month’s rent, you can’t afford that safety deposit, AER helps — 50 percent loan and 50 percent grant.”
AER primarily helps active-duty soldiers, but the Army’s non-profit organization also helps National Guard and Reserve soldiers, Army retirees and retiree surviving spouses. Grinston said AER has helped soldiers E9 and below and officers O6 and below.
“No major in the United States Army wants to say ‘I am struggling financially,’ and neither does a sergeant major, but you’re still struggling. You can come to us for help.”
He made the point that commanders can be heroes by authorizing AER funds when they have a soldier in need. In addition to funds being authorized by AER officers, Grinston said command team captains and first sergeants can help struggling soldiers by authorizing $2,000 in AER funds, and garrison commanders can approve $5,000.
AER officers are often financial planners as well who can help beyond the immediate issue, assisting with a budget and more. In addition, AER offers credits up to $500 on existing loans to soldiers who complete and pass financial literacy training. To explore the option, visit https://www.financialfrontline.org/tools-and-resources/educational-videos/.
Following Grinston’s sharing of AER assistance examples, briefing attendees talked with him about several issues during a question-and-answer session.
“Most of the time, when we get an AER brief, it’s about donations; it has nothing to do with capabilities,” retired Lt. Col. Greg Sanders, operations officer for the Command and General Staff School, told Grinston. “I believe, if we knew all of the capabilities, we’d certainly have more people here that can understand what AER has done for soldiers, their families.”
Sanders told Grinston the campaign would be more effective if the narrative could change from the anticipated donation request to showing how AER is helping soldiers and their families. He said his contributions to AER have been influenced by his own story of receiving assistance as a second lieutenant when he wasn’t paid for six months due to a paperwork error.
Grinston said he is trying to reach as many people in person as possible about AER capabilities, in addition to the videos, flyers and other ways AER information is being shared.
For more information on Army Emergency Relief, visit https://www.armyemergencyrelief.org/.
For more information on the Financial Readiness Program, visit https://leavenworth.armymwr.com/programs/acs/financial-readiness.
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