The 2026 Army Emergency Relief campaign kicked off March 1 and runs through June 14, the Army’s 251st birthday. The campaign is a key initiative for AER, a program that provides financial support to Soldiers, retired Soldiers and Families facing unexpected challenges. The campaign serves two main purposes: to educate Soldiers and Families about available assistance programs and to raise funds through donations to help those in need.
AER has been a cornerstone of Army support for more than 84 years, offering grants, zero-interest loans and scholarships. This year’s goal is 20% participation, including financial support generated by Army and Air Force Exchange Service point-of-sale contributions. Raising campaign funds assists in many ways, most importantly by helping Soldiers manage financial stress so they can stay resilient and mission ready.
AER Chief Executive Officer Tony Grinston—who retired as the Army’s top enlisted leader in 2023 to become AER’s CEO—said: “I truly love my job, and my role with AER has given me a renewed sense of purpose. I just help Soldiers when they’re going through a tough time. I can’t think of a better job.”
In 2025, AER assisted more than 31,000 Soldiers and Families across five categories of support. The largest category is basic needs and housing, which covers PCS moves, food and housing expenses (including rent, utilities, minor home repairs and car repairs). Health and wellness covers dental care, special-needs medical equipment, cranial helmets and Wounded Warrior support. AER also provides assistance under its third category, care during a crisis, which covers disaster relief, emergency travel and funeral expenses. The fourth category is Family support, which covers child care, paternity leave and immigration fees, among others. The fifth category is workforce development, which assists with spouse relicensing, recertification and career-skills support for those leaving the Army.
Overall, AER provided more than $20 million in grants, more than $40 million in zero-interest loans and supported 3,000 spouses and dependents with scholarships in 2025. The impact is substantial: 6.5% of the force uses AER services annually, which is why the campaign is so vital. AER does not receive government funding and relies solely on generous contributions. If you would like to support the program this year, please visit https://www.armyemergencyrelief.org/donate/. We thank you for your support now and throughout the years.
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