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US Army Recruiting Command. Army Family Action Plan. for Spouse Pre-Command Course 14 May 2007. U.S. Army Recruiting Command. 1. As of 10 May 07. ARMY EMERGENCY RELIEF. "Helping The Army Take Care of its Own". Widows. Scholarships. YESTERDAY - TODAY - TOMORROW. Deployments. Funerals.
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US Army Recruiting Command Army Family Action Plan for Spouse Pre-Command Course 14 May 2007 U.S. Army Recruiting Command 1 As of 10 May 07
ARMY EMERGENCY RELIEF "Helping The Army Take Care of its Own" Widows Scholarships YESTERDAY - TODAY - TOMORROW Deployments Funerals Soldiers Families
GENERAL OPERATIONS • Chartered in 1942 by Secretary of War Stimson. • AER is a non profit, tax exempt corporation • Not an Army or DOD organization • Funds not for use by Army • Government can not tell AER how to use Money • Mission accomplished by giving funds to Commanders for disbursement to soldiers • Only stipulations • Commander provides necessary facilities, equipment and people • Decisions within guide lines established by HQAER
New Initiatives • Commanders Referral Program • Co Cdr/1SG can approve up to $1000 (Simplify – Expedite – Streamline) • $200 Grants for evacuated Wounded Warriors • Membership in Armed Forces Services Corporation • Surviving spouse of Soldiers who die on Active Duty • Expanded “Auto Repairs “ – Normal Maintenance & Safety Items • Spouse Education expanded from OCONUS to Army-Wide. • Increase in Children’s Education annual allocation • Maximum Scholarship for Children of Soldiers who die on active duty
NEED FOR AER IS GREATER THAN EVER!!!(64 Years of Assist) AER Asst since 1942 = $944M (3M Soldiers) 2005 = $43.9M First 53 Years(1942-1995) Last 10 Years(1996-2005) $582 Million $362 Million (39%)
WHAT AER IS ABOUTMeeting EMERGENCY FINANCIAL NeedUnforeseen and urgent -Death of family member, Illness - Natural Disaster - POV repairs –Initial Rent & Deposit -No Pay WHAT AER IS NOT ABOUT We are not a social service agency AER Funds are not an Entitlement NOT a solution to “All Financial Problems”
Who is Eligible • Active duty Soldiers and family members • Army National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers on active duty over 30 days and their family members • Retirees and family members • Surviving Spouses and Orphans • GRANTS
Access • 97 AER Sections Worldwide • 317 Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard Installations worldwide. • 820 American Red Cross (ARC) Chapters Nationwide and two ARC Centers • AER Website (www.aerhq.org)
2005 ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Major Reasons for Assistance Reason Cases$ in Millions% of Total Travel 11,294 $ 8.2 20.7% POV 9,567 9.0 22.9 Rent 10,368 11.1 28.0 All Other 23,355 11.2 28.4 TOTAL: 54,584 $39.5 100% Assistance by Component Active 37,344 $33.1 84.0% (RC 3,776 3.2 8.07) Retired 3,728 4.5 11.3 Widows 1,967 1.9 4.8 Scholarships: 3,325 $4.4M 10.5 % of AD Force assisted each Year of which 92% to SSG & Below
FROM WHERE DOES AER GET ITS FUNDS? (2005) • Voluntary contributions from active and retired soldiers (13.8%) Campaign- Name awareness – Tax Exempt Status – Obtain funds • Repayment of AER interest- free loans (63.2%) • Investment income (15.8%) • Unsolicited contributions (7.2%)
WHY WE NEED A CAMPAIGN • Provide opportunity for all active duty Soldiers and retirees to contribute to the welfare of their fellow Soldiers. • Promote awareness of AER benefits and programs that are available to active duty Soldiers, spouses, retirees, widows, children and orphans. • Insure AER meets requirement for status as a non-profit, tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization.
WHY HAVE RESERVES? AND HOW ARE THEY USED • RESERVES are what keeps AER healthy as AER gives out more in grants/scholarship/writeoffs (7M) that it receives in campaign contributions (6.3M ) • All commanders have unlimited access for solving soldiers’ problems. • Immediate availability of funds in support of mobilization (Desert Storm - 1990-91) • Guarantee against catastrophic need. (e.g. “Payless” payday - 1995) • Cushion for “hidden demand” caused by rising inflation. (e.g. 1978-1981)
LOAN vs GRANT CONSIDERATIONS • During the last 10 years approximately 91% of assistance is in form of Loans • Grants should be considered only when inability to repay exist • Grants are not provided simply because soldier has a monthly deficit • Look at how they got there - Irresponsible, living beyond their means? • Grants for soldiers who have been financially irresponsible often reward this type of behavior while penalizing soldiers who are repaying their loan • Grants are not given for expenses which will be reimbursed by Insurance/Government
Medical/Dental/Hospital Funeral Expenses Travel Rent/Utilities/Clothing No-pay POV Maintenance Natural Disaster Widows (Grants) Emergency Assistance
Previously AER provided Up to $2500 grant when death of Spouse, Child, or Dependent Parent Nov 2001 SGLI extend to spouse and children AER will no longer providegrants but “Bridge loans” AER Will continue to provide grants for death of dependent parent or stillborns Travel cost associated with the death of adependent Funeral Expenses for Dependents of Active Duty Members
Divorces Marriages Education Expenses Rental, lease or purchase of POV Travel of Non-command sponsored Dependents Ordinary Leave Continuing Assistance Abortion Liquidation or consolidation of debts Business Ventures or Investments Bad Checks Civilian court fees, fines, judgments, liens, bail, legal fees, or income tax Goods or items for convenience, comfort, or luxury CATEGORIES OF UNAUTHORIZED ASSISTANCE
SCHOLARSHIPS-WIDOWS & ORPHANS (An Inherited Responsibility from ARS) • Founded in 1900 to provide relief for soldiers’ widows and orphans. • In 1976, AER received $3.5M from ARS when merged. • This money was incorporated into the AER investment portfolio pool and grew to $63.8M by December 2005. • During this same period, AER dispersed: • Assistance to widows and orphans: $29.9 M • Dependents children's scholarships: $27.1 M • Last Years scholarships ($4.4M) • 32% Active (61% Enl) 64% Ret (73%Enl) • 4% Deceased (65% Enl) 57M
What Is SEAP?{Spouse Education Assistance Program} • SEAP (Spouse Education Assistance Program) is a scholarship program for spouses of active duty personnel assigned and living in Europe, Korea, Japan and Okinawa. The spouse must also reside with the soldier at one of the assigned locations. This program is Army Wide as of 2006. To date 70% of assistance given has been to spouses of SSG and Below (86% all Enlisted).
SUMMARY • Private, nonprofit, corporation – Not Government agency or Government Money • AER is not an Entitlement – Unforeseen & urgent Emergency – Also, not solution to ALL problems. • AER assist 10.5% of Active Force each year with 92% of assistance going to SSG and below • AER wants Chain-of-Command Involvement • ARC Involvement • Commander has unlimited access • Decision regarding assistance should be within established guide lines, while ensuring fairness and equability • Your Support in Educating Soldiers about AER!
PARTNERS IN SUPPORT “AER is our ability to “Take care of our own.” It is our opportunity to put our words into action! The Army family taking care of soldiers!
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