By Justin Creech
Staff Writer
Thursday, March 8, 2012

Army Emergency Relief fundraising drive begins with a kickoff event hosted by Army Community Service, March 20 at Wood Theater.

The event will raise awareness for the AER program and give Soldiers an opportunity to contribute funds directly to help their fellow Soldiers.

AER is a private nonprofit organization incorporated in 1942 by the Secretary of War and the Army Chief of Staff in response to Soldiers and Families needing financial assistance during World War II.

Since it’s founding, AER has provided over $1 billion in financial assistance in form of no-interest loans.

“The purpose of the AER Campaign is two-fold,” said Vonnie Blanken, ACS, AER officer. “Their main theme has always been Soldiers helping Soldiers, but here’s the deal — you have to be Army; you have to be active duty, on active-duty orders or a retiree. Sometimes we get Department of Disabled American Veterans requesting funds, but they aren’t eligible.”

Active-duty Army Soldiers, retirees and spouses of both are eligible for AER funds. In order to apply for funds, applicants can to go to ACS and fill out the forms, or they can access them at www.aerhq.org.

Soldiers can apply for funds for a number of needs including rent and mortgage payments, medical bills, car payments, groceries and gas for their vehicle.

“There was Family a few years ago that lived in Germany, and the Soldier’s wife needed cancer treatment,” Blanken said. “The German doctors had an experimental treatment that TRICARE wouldn’t cover. So, they called back to the states, called AER and got a check for $100,000. I’ve done checks as big as $14,000 for mortgages. The money is strictly based on need.”

The need situations AER will approve money for have changed to include rental vehicles and dental services for depends of active duty and retired Soldiers.

Families can now receive assistance for dental examinations, cleanings, filling of cavities, root canal therapy and other dental procedures.

Soldiers on emergency leave or awaiting major repairs of a primary vehicle may obtain AER assistance in obtaining a rental vehicle for a period of 7-10 days.

“This is a great service, especially for people who live in Jamaica, or the Virgin Islands or overseas,” said Blanken. “Places where you land in the airport and it’s like ‘OK, how do I get to my Family’s house?’ ”

The money is normally approved and disbursed rapidly.

Staff Sgt. Emmanuel Ogbolu, Headquarters Battalion Noncommissioned Officer in Charge has requested AER funds in the past and said the turnaround is immediate.

“I was in Alabama and my wife was in Minnesota,” said Ogbolu. “I went to the (AER Office) and told the lady I needed money for rent. So, she said call the complex and have them fax us the rent agreement. I did that and it only took 15 minutes for them to print out a check for me.”

AER also offers three different scholarships to eligible applicants. Information on these scholarships can also be found at www.aerhq.org.

The scholarships are not income based and are available to part-time students as well.

“AER gave out six scholarships at Fort Belvoir last year,” said Blanken. “Everybody who applied last year averaged $1,800 in scholarship funds.”

Any Soldier or spouse who applies for AER funds must bring the appropriate documentation which includes Department of the Army Form 700, signed by their unit commander or first sergeant, their military ID card and copies of the bills they are having difficulty paying.

The only service documentation is not required for is food and gas. There is also no limitation on the amount of funds a Soldier can ask for.