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JBSA News
NEWS | Jan. 9, 2018

Army Emergency Relief policy change: emergency travel for active duty Soldiers

By Army Emergency Relief Army Emergency Relief

As of Jan. 1, Army Emergency Relief has changed its approach to providing assistance to active duty Soldiers and their eligible family members for emergency travel expenses.

 

AER remains committed to get every Soldier and their eligible family member to the emergency location should they experience a death or serious illness of an immediate family member, in accordance with Army Regulation 600-8-10, para. 6-1. AER evaluates each emergency travel assistance initially starts as a loan.

 

This approach will change as AER officers will review each emergency travel situation in the same manner as described above; however, the initial assistance will start as a combination of half loan (50 percent) and half grant (50 percent), and depending on the Soldier’s financial situation, could become a full grant (100 percent).

 

An emergency travel loan will not increase beyond 50 percent and the grant will not decrease below 50 percent of the total assistance provided.

 

Additionally, this policy guidance will authorize a company commander or first sergeant under the Company Commander and First Sergeant Quick Assist Program (formerly the Commanders Referral Program) to approve emergency travel requests up $2,000 as a loan (50 percent) and grant (50 percent). 

 

AER officers will review all requests to ensure compliance with this policy and the emergency leave guidance prescribed in the Army regulation.

 

This policy guidance is not extended to active duty Soldiers traveling on a Department of the Army Form 31 (leave form) that is marked “Other - under emergency conditions” for grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, or when the DA Form 31, states “Emergency Leave” for grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and a Loco Parentis memorandum is not provided with the DA 31, Leave Form. 

 

Any requests for assistance where a DA 31, Leave Form states "Other - under emergency conditions" for a non-immediate family member, IAW AR 600-80-10, para 6-1, the case will be processed as a full loan. 

 

This change in approach aligns with AER’s core mission, benefits Soldiers and families, and is good use of dollars to expand programs supporting the Army Team.

 

For more information, call the AER office at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston at 210-221-1612.