Army Emergency Relief: Providing crucial support to military families in financial crisis

 

REDSTONE ARSENAL, AL, UNITED STATES
04.05.2024
Story by Sgt. Maj. Shelia Fourman 
U.S. Army Materiel Command    

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. – In times of financial distress, the Army Emergency Relief stands as a pillar of support for Soldiers and their families. Established in 1942, this private, nonprofit organization has been steadfast in its mission to assist military personnel facing unexpected and urgent financial emergencies.

“AER has provided our Soldiers and their families for more than 80 years,” said Army Materiel Command’s senior enlisted leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Jimmy Sellers. “As a current AER board member, I’ve learned significant information about the methods our Soldiers can help their fellow Soldiers.”

The annual campaign runs for three months each year to raise financial awareness among our Soldiers and to provide Soldiers and Department of Defense employees a chance to contribute through donations. With a track record of aiding over 4 million Soldiers and family members, AER continues to be a vital resource, providing over $2 billion in financial assistance since its inception, including $1 billion since 9/11.

Active-duty Soldiers and their immediate family members are eligible for AER funds, which cover a wide range of emergency financial needs. From emergency travel to healthcare expenses not covered by TRICARE, AER extends support in various critical areas such as mortgage or rent, temporary lodging, funeral expenses, vehicle costs, and more. Notably, AER also offers scholarships to spouses and children of both active and retired Soldiers, further reinforcing its commitment to supporting military families.

A unique aspect of AER is its decentralized approach to fund distribution. Funds collected by AER are held for Soldiers and their eligible family members with local commanders granted access for disbursement. This ensures that assistance is tailored to individual needs and approved on a case-by-case basis. Additionally, reciprocal agreements with organizations like American Red Cross and other military aid societies, facilitate access to AER assistance for Soldiers and their families.

“The key to our success is to have dedicated representatives assigned, who will make sure that 100%of the workforce/formation is contacted and aware of the ongoing campaign,” said Sellers. “In other words, kindly educate and inform how we can help AER continue assisting Soldiers and their families in a time of need.”

Recognizing the urgency of certain situations, AER has streamlined processes to expedite assistance. Soldiers meeting specific criteria can directly approach AER offices without going through the chain of command, ensuring swift support. Moreover, the Commander's Referral Program enables quick approval for no-interest loans up to $2,000, empowering Soldiers to address financial challenges promptly.

Additionally, AER's secondary mission provides financial assistance in the form of grants to spouses and dependent children who are pursuing their undergraduate degree. These AER programs for dependent children education include the MG James Ursano Scholarship Program and The Mrs. Patty Shinseki Spouse Scholarship Program.

Most importantly, AER's operations are sustained through voluntary contributions from active and retired Soldiers, loan repayments, and investments. As a non-governmental entity, AER operates independently, allowing for flexible and efficient distribution of funds without external directives.

In times of crisis, the AER continues to be a pillar of support for Soldiers and their families, embodying the Army ethos. With its unwavering commitment to providing financial assistance and scholarships, AER remains an indispensable resource, ensuring that no soldier faces financial hardship alone.

For more information, visit www.armyemergencyrelief.org. 

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Fort Huachuca community celebrates Month of the Military Child

 

FORT HUACHUCA, AZ, UNITED STATES
04.06.2024
Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kelvin Ringold 
U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command  

Sparky the Fire Dog greets children during the Fort Huachuca Month of the Military Child event April 6. The Fort Huachuca Fire & Emergency Services joined service members, civilians and members of the community gathered at the Thunder Mountain Activity Center to celebrate the Month of the Military Child. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kelvin Ringold)

Hands-on fire training highlights Wildfire Exchange between Washington National Guard and Royal Thai Army

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Austin Miller, Washington Army National Guard talks with a Royal Thai Army service member about the fire shelter during a wildfire subject matter expert exchange at the Royal Thai Army Area Three training area, Chiang Mai, Thailand on March 28, 2024. (Courtesy Photo)

CAMP MURRAY, WA, UNITED STATES
04.09.2024
Story by Joseph Siemandel  
Joint Force Headquarters - Washington National Guard  

In early April, the Washington National Guard and Royal Thai Army concluded their third and most hands-on wildfire exchange in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

“The wildfire subject matter expert exchange has created a unique opportunity to not only bring together and share information between the Washington National Guard and the Royal Thai Army but also collaborate with the Thai Royal Forestry Division (RFD) and the WA Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the lead agencies for wildfires and forest management in Northern Thailand and Washington State, respectively,” said Col. Amanda Doyle, lead for the wildfire exchange.

Washington state wildfire seasons range from routine to truly historic with an average of more than 240,000 acres burned each year. Wildfire seasons in the Kingdom of Thailand have become more common in the past decade. The peak fire season typically begins in early February and lasts around 13 weeks, ravaging much of the country, including the agriculturally based northern provinces. This common threat is the reason the Washington National Guard and Royal Thai Army brought the idea forward.

“Under the umbrella of the State Partnership Program, the Washington National Guard has continued to develop and refine the concept for the wildfire exchange with the Thai Directorate of Civil Affairs,” said Doyle.

In 2022 the exchange included a virtual fire management, air quality concerns, and public information component, with the opportunity to have RFD experts and DNR specialists discuss wildfire topics relevant to both teams. Last year a group of Washington National Guard members traveled to Chiang Mai, Thailand for a weeklong in-person exchange. The team of experienced Washington National Guard wildland firefighters met with Royal Thai Army Area Three counterparts, as well as the Royal Forestry Department, to discuss firefighting tools and resources available and share best practices for firefighting hand crew organization, tasks and medical evacuation.

“The Guard team for this exchange includes individuals with joint planning and operations experience, focusing on the Washington National Guard strategic approach to wildland firefighting and other domestic response operations, as well as a number of experienced wildland firefighters and paramedics, with innate teaching and coaching abilities,” said Doyle.

This year’s exchange included techniques for employment of U.S. and RTA firefighting tools, to include Pulaskis, McLeods, combis, blowers and rakes. Participants discussed critical firefighting tactics, including hand crew organization and operation, building fire breaks, putting in hand lines, controlling spot fires, mop up operations, and safety and emergency protocols. The group also focused on operational control, management of fires and crews, and resourcing and logistical support.

“Participants in the wildfire exchange spent a day at the RFD firefighter training academy conducting hands-on training on controlled burns, effectively exercising tactics for fire control and fire suppression in a field environment,” said Doyle.

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Army Humvee passenger ejected after crash with 2 semis on I-75

SHARONVILLE, Ohio (WKRC) - A crash involving a military convoy shut down part of I-75 and injured three people on Wednesday.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, it was a three-vehicle crash that resulted in serious injury. It happened at 11:08 a.m. on the southbound lanes of I-75 near mile post 18.

Upon arrival, officials found that the crash involved a United States Army military vehicle operated by a 21-year-old, a Freightliner tractor-trailer driven by a 46-year-old, and a Peterbilt tractor-trailer driven by a 64-year-old.

The initial investigation revealed that all three were headed southbound. The military vehicle and the Freightliner were both in the right exit lane to I-275 W and the Peterbilt was in the right middle lane. The military vehicle then made a lane change into the right middle lane and then back into the right exit lane.

As it was changing lanes, the military vehicle hit the side of the Freightliner. It then went back into the right middle lane where it hit the Peterbilt. Hitting the Peterbilt caused the military vehicle to then travel off the right side of the roadway where it overturned into a tree line.

A 41-year-old passenger in the military vehicle was thrown from the vehicle. He was taken to UC Medical Center with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. The 21-year-old driver and her other passenger, another 21-year-old, were also taken to UC Medical Center with minor injures.

Both drivers of the two tractor-trailers were uninjured in the crash.

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24 displaced by Newburgh fire on Carter Street

Firefighters from several Hudson Valley departments responded to a fire that burned two residential buildings and displaced 24 people on Carter Street in Newburgh on Monday night.

Mark Lieb / Rockland Video Productions

By Lana Bellamy

April 9, 2024

NEWBURGH — More than 50 people have been displaced by two large residential fires in Newburgh over the past eight days.

City officials said 24 people were displaced Monday night after a fire on Carter Street burned multiple buildings. It occurred about a block away from a fire on Easter night on Lutheran Street that burned five residential buildings, 32-40 Lutheran St. All the structures were condemned, leaving 33 people, including three infants, without homes, Newburgh Chief of Staff Mike Neppl said.

Monday’s fire was concentrated in two buildings in the city’s historic East End: 59 and 61 Carter St. The first responders to arrive at the scene found both buildings engulfed, with flames spreading through the interiors, according to a news release from the Newburgh city government. An assistant fire chief was the first to the scene and immediately sounded a second alarm for more resources.

At about 12:30 a.m., crews stretched handlines into the buildings and began searching for sources of fire.

Video from the scene showed firefighters aiming hoses at potential hotspots, areas where fire could rekindle, in one of the burned-out, two-story buildings. 

Anthony Trujillo, 9, who lives at 61 Carter St., said at the scene, “I was like, ‘Dang, my house just burned down. Where am I going to sleep?’” He said his family would get help from the Red Cross.

That night, he was alerted to the fire by “popping noises” next door. His cousins, who lived in the downstairs portion of the building, yelled out that there was a fire. Anthony said he then woke up his parents and his two older siblings so they could escape.

The fire was deemed under control by 2 a.m. Crews remained at the scene until 7 a.m. to ensure it was completely extinguished, according to the release. One Newburgh firefighter and one resident received minor injuries and were taken to the emergency room at Montefiore St. Luke’s Hospital.

The American Red Cross responded to help the 24 people who were displaced Monday. Newburgh’s fire investigation unit is investigating the cause of the fire, but it is not considered suspicious, according to the release.

Newburgh’s fire department was assisted by city police, Empress Emergency Medical Services, and fire departments at Cronomer Valley, Stewart Air National Guard Base, West Point, Castle Point Veterans Affairs, Coldenham and Cornwall-on-Hudson.

The Red Cross, as well as various city departments, including the planning and executive offices, are also helping those displaced by the Easter fire.

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