AER campaign opens in Kaiserslautern

The annual Army Emergency Relief, hosted by the 21st Theater Sustainment Command and U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern, kicked off with a breakfast March 1 at the Kaiserslautern Activity Center on Daenner Kaserne.

Established in 1942, the program is designed to provide Soldiers, retirees and their families with financial support in times of need in the form of interest-free loans and grants.

Since its inception, AER has provided roughly $1.2 billion to the Army family, said Mary Himic, deputy to the USAG-K commander, in her opening remarks at the breakfast.

“Know that your money goes where it’s intended,” she said, noting that while a small portion of donations goes toward administrative fees, “the vast majority is going where it’s intended.”

Last year in Kaiserslautern, AER distributed $350,000 in loans and grants, said Maj. Gen. Patricia McQuistion, 21st TSC commanding general, the keynote speaker at the event.

“That’s an incredible amount of need. That’s an incredible amount of support,” she said.

“I will tell you that financial fitness is also a concern to us,” General  McQuistion said, referring to the Army’s comprehensive fitness program.

Soldiers and civilians wishing to make donations to the AER should visit their unit AER representative or stop by the USAG-K Army Community Service on Pulaski Barracks.

“We need to make sure every Soldier knows about AER benefits,” General McQuistion said, emphasizing the goal of contacting 100 percent of the population about the program.

The campaign is open through May 14. For more information, visit www.aerhq.org/.