Joint Base San Antonio > News

Army Emergency Relief campaign kicks off
March 7, 2023 — Army Emergency Relief was created to alleviate financial distress as an incident to service. AER helps Soldiers and families get back on their feet through interest-free loans, grants and scholarships when monetary needs arise, and also provides budgeting and financial counseling. This year’s AER campaign runs from March 1 to May 15, but donations are accepted year-round... MORE

Army Emergency Relief campaign kicks off
March 16, 2022 — Army Emergency Relief was created to alleviate financial distress as an incident to service. AER helps Soldiers and families get back on their feet through interest-free loans, grants and scholarships when monetary needs arise, and also provides budgeting and financial counseling. The annual AER campaign runs from March 1 to May 15... MORE

Exchange shoppers can support military relief when shopping
December 17, 2021 — Army & Air Force Exchange Service shoppers can support the military community by donating to the Air Force Assistance Fund and Army Emergency Relief this holiday season... MORE

Army & Air Force Exchange Service shoppers can support the military community by donating to the Air Force Assistance Fund and Army Emergency Relief this holiday season.

AAFES partners with military relief funds to help Soldiers, Airmen in need
July 13, 2020 — Soldiers, Airmen and other authorized shoppers can donate to Army Emergency Relief, or AER, or the Air Force Assistance Fund, or AFAF, at the register at any Exchange... MORE

Helping those in need is always in season – and now Army & Air Force Exchange Service shoppers can donate any amount to military relief funds year-round at their nearest Exchange store.

AER expands assistance eligibility for Guard, Reserve
May 28, 2020 — The Army Emergency Relief program recently expanded its assistance eligibility for Army National Guard and Reserve Soldiers impacted by COVID-19 missions or policy... MORE

Soldiers can now apply for AER assistance electronically
March 27, 2020 — The Army Emergency Relief program has implemented changes to assist Soldiers and families impacted by the spread of COVID-19... MORE

New AER program to offer $1,500 for out-of-pocket childcare costs
January 29, 2020 — Army Emergency Relief will begin providing up to $1,500 Feb. 1 to help cover childcare costs for Soldiers and families who move to a new duty station... MORE

Army Emergency Relief will start offering up to $1,500 on Feb. 1 as part of a program to offset costs that arise when there's no availability at on-post childcare facilities and more expensive civilian services are required.

Army Emergency Relief offers $2,500 relicensing aid for spouses
June 17, 2019 — Army spouses can now apply for reimbursement of up to $2,500 in professional relicensing expenses through Army Emergency Relief when they move to another state... MORE

Janice Taylor, a representative from the Defense Finance & Accounting Service speaks with a potential candidate Sept. 19, 2018, during the Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Department of Defense Hiring Heroes Career Fair. Army Emergency Relief recently announced a new program that would reimburse spouses up to $2,500 for relicensing expenses, making it easier for them to continue their careers when they move to another state.

Army Emergency Relief wants no Soldier left behind financially
February 12, 2019 — The Army Creed of leaving no Soldier behind on the battlefield also applies to helping others in the Army family with their finances when needed, according to Army Emergency Relief, or AER... MORE

Retired Army Lt. Gen. Raymond V. Mason, director of Army Emergency Relief (left), and retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Charles E. Durr Jr., AER chief of assistance, review AER educational materials at U.S. Army Installation Management Command headquarters at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Jan. 23.

Army North helps kick off Army Emergency Relief campaign
March 5, 2018 — Lt. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, commander, U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) kicked off the 2018 Army Emergency Relief campaign at the Fort Sam Houston Theater at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston March 2... MORE

Lt. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, commander, U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) kicked off the 2018 Army Emergency Relief campaign at the Fort Sam Houston Theater at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston March 2.

Army Emergency Relief scholarship application deadline approaching
February 9, 2018 — The Army Emergency Relief scholarship program is a secondary mission to help Army families with the cost of education. The scholarship application timeline opened Jan. 1 with the deadline for all applications and supporting documents submitted online of April 2... MORE

The Army Emergency Relief scholarship program is a secondary mission to help Army families with the cost of education. AER offers two scholarships: the Spouse Education Assistance Program and the Maj. Gen. James Ursano Scholarship Program for Dependent Children.

Army Emergency Relief campaign kicks off March 2
February 8, 2018 — The 2018 Army Emergency Relief, or AER, kick-off campaign take place from 2:45-4 p.m. March 2 at the Fort Sam Houston Theater, 2472 Stanley Road, at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston... MORE

The Army Emergency Relief mission it is to provide financial assistance to Army Soldiers in times of valid emergency need. Last year, AER provided JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Soldiers and their families with more that $1 million in assistance ($1,006,972.32), a 54 percent increase locally.

Army Emergency Relief policy change: emergency travel for active duty Soldiers
January 9, 2018 — 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... MORE

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.

Army Emergency Relief raises approval authority levels
September 14, 2017 — The approval authority levels for the Army Emergency Relief Commander’s Referral Program, or CRP, which is available for company commanders and first sergeants, has been raised has increased from $1,500 to $2,000 as of Sept. 1... MORE

Army Emergency Relief contributions grow at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston
August 2, 2017 — Army Emergency Relief donations went up 19 percent this year... MORE

Lt. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, senior commander, Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis addressed Army Emergency Relief Project Officers Aug. 1 at the historic quadrangle. Buchanan thanked the project officers who make 100% contact with Soldier and civilian during the AER campaign that ran March 1 – May 15. Donations increased 19% this year and Buchanan presented a check in the amount of $149,245.45 to AER Director Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Raymond V. Mason. AER is a private non-profit organization dedicated to providing financial assistance to Active Duty and Retired Soldiers and their Families in interest-free loans and grants.

Army Emergency Relief campaign kicks off
March 2, 2017 — Lt. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, commander, U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) spoke on the importance of Army Emergency Relief, or AER, during the campaign kickoff event at the Fort Sam Houston Theater March 1... MORE

Lt. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, commander, U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) spoke on the importance of Army Emergency Relief, or AER, during the campaign kickoff event at the Fort Sam Houston Theater March 1. AER is the Army's own emergency financial assistance organization and is dedicated to “Helping the Army Take Care of its Own.” AER financial assistance is conducted within the Army structure by mission commanders and garrison commanders through AER Sections located at U.S. Army installations worldwide. The general referenced several cases where AER assisted Soldiers with financial needs. Of all the Army values, he said contributing to AER to help out fellow Soldiers is the most selfless service act anyone can do and also highlighted the importance for every Soldier to know about AER and the services they provide. In addition, this year marks the 75th anniversary of AER, a program of Soldiers helping Soldiers since 1942.

Army Emergency Relief campaign kicks off March 1
February 14, 2017 — The 2017 Army Emergency Relief kick-off campaign take place at 10:30 a.m. March 1 at the Fort Sam Houston Theater, building 2270, at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, with Lt. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, ARNORTH commanding general, as guest speaker. A reception at the Fort Sam Houston Theater will immediately follow the ceremony... MORE

The 2017 Army Emergency Relief kick-off campaign take place at 10:30 a.m. March 1 at the U.S. Army North Quadrangle at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, with Lt. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, ARNORTH commanding general, as guest speaker. A reception at the Fort Sam Houston Museum will immediately follow the ceremony.