By Sean Ryan, Communications Director, Army Emergency Relief     April 2026

Army Emergency Relief (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 AAFES 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.

Tony Grinston, AER’s CEO—who retired as the Army’s top enlisted leader in 2023 to become AER’s chief executive officer—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, 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 childcare, 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. 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.