Fort Bliss Monitor

AER hosts informational forums
National reps reach out to troops, family members, FRGs

Master Sgt. Steve Miller
Public Affairs Chief

Fort Bliss Soldiers and family members had the opportunity to learn more about Army Emergency Relief and ask questions of national AER representatives during a series of open forums held last week.

The forums were held by Dennis Spiegel, AER national deputy director for administration, and his assistant Thomas Quinn. As a retired colonel and command sergeant major, respectively, both have firsthand knowledge of the financial twists and turns Soldiers’ lives take. In late 2003, AER was named one of the 12 best charitable organizations in America by Reader’s Digest.

“We listen to the situation, find out what the Soldier has done to rectify the problem and take the chain of command’s input, which is always important,” Quinn said. “Then we make a decision.”

Spiegel and Quinn began their discussions by recapping what the AER program is, who it is designed to help, the categories of authorized assistance, new programs that are available and by emphasizing that Soldiers’ need of the AER program is greater now than ever.

“Assistance to the Reserve Component, in particular, has increased dramatically over the past two years due to activation of those forces, who often see a significant drop in income when they are activated,” Spiegel said. “In the first 53 years of the AER program, from 1942 through 1994, we provided $550 million of assistance. In the last 10 years, we’ve given out $355 million – that’s nearly 40 percent (39.2 percent) of the all-time total.”

Spiegel added that AER assisted 2.4 million Soldiers from 1942 through 1994. In the last 10 years, AER has assisted 653,000 Soldiers, 21.4 percent of the all-time total. Last year, AER assistance worldwide totaled $35.4 million, plus another $4 million in scholarships to family members.

Total Fort Bliss AER cases rose from 57 in January 2004 to 104 this year – an increase of 82.5 percent – and the dollars AER provided went from $29,583.34 in January 2004 to $69,224.76 this January, a 134 percent increase, according to statistics provided by the post AER section.

“Our board of managers consists of active-duty personnel, retirees and three spouses – 21 people in all – who determine (AER) policy, so they know the kinds of problems Soldiers face,” Spiegel said. “We could provide $60 to $70 million in assistance per year if people came forward (for help).”

AER has instituted four new programs designed to further help Soldiers over the past 18 months. One provides assistance to Soldiers wounded in a combat zone, with the first $100 given as a grant.

“Some Soldiers are coming out of the combat zone with nothing. Their spouse left, took the kids and all of their belongings. We thought it was the least we could do for their service fighting for this country,” Spiegel said of the $400,000 provided under the program so far.

Another program provides spouses of Soldiers killed on active duty lifetime membership in the Armed Forces Service Corporation, which helps widows with current and future government claims answer all questions about survivor benefits and family assistance needs. So far, AER has provided $160,000 under the program.

A third new program has expanded AER assistance for auto repairs to include normal maintenance and safety items. The program applies to a Soldier’s private vehicle deemed essential for transportation to and from work so he or she can perform his or her duties.

“This applies to things like inspections, oil changes and tires – anything that’s a safety issue. We won’t buy fancy rims or juice up your car for you,” Spiegel said.

Finally, Spiegel discussed the Commander’s Referral program, which is being tested at Fort Bliss and five other Stateside posts. The program allows a Soldier’s unit commander the authority to approve a loan of up to $500 for immediate valid financial needs. It is designed to simplify and expedite emergency financial assistance for Soldiers and intended to be a tool for commanders to have a mechanism to assist their Soldiers with short-term problems or needs for basic living expenses, he said.

Soldiers may only obtain loans twice a year under the Commander’s Referral program, and the existing loan must be paid before additional assistance is authorized, AER officials said.

“Payday lenders do $27 billion a year in business,” Spiegel said. “There are more payday lenders in California than (there are) McDonald’s (restaurants). We can help Soldiers avoid a loan with 863 percent interest if they’ll just come to us. The Commander’s Referral program is one way they can get money quickly without going to the loan sharks,” Spiegel said.

Some of the questions Spiegel fielded concerned chain-of-command involvement in the AER process, how much of the Army contributes to the annual AER campaign and whether or not rank is an issue in obtaining AER assistance.

“We make the chain of command aware so they can help solve the financial problem that is causing the need for assistance,” Spiegel said. “It’s a readiness issue.”

Spiegel said only about 30 percent of the active-duty Army contributes to the annual campaign but stated AER investments provide the bulk of the program’s operating budget.

“Rank is not an issue, and you don’t have to contribute to the campaign to get assistance,” Spiegel said. “Health (when it’s bad) does terrible things to families. We’ve had colonels, sergeant majors and first sergeants, for example, come to us for assistance.”

Spiegel lauded Fort Bliss for being the only installation that teaches a financial management course for trainees – during Advanced Individual Training.

“This is the only post in the Army that does it,” Spiegel said. “It’s a two-day course conducted over two separate Saturdays, and they teach them things like consumer awareness, making a spending plan – even how to read their LES (Leave and Earnings Statement). They get them early in their careers, which is great.”

Spiegel also stated the Federal Reserve Board will conduct a study to track Soldiers who’ve taken the financial management course over a five-year period to see what happens.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	February 17, 2005

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	AER hosts informational forums National reps reach out to troops, family members, FRGs Master Sgt. Steve Miller Public Affairs Chief Fort Bliss Soldiers and family members had the opportunity to learn more about Army Emergency Relief and ask questions of national AER representatives during a series of open forums held last week. The forums were held by Dennis Spiegel, AER national deputy director for administration, and his assistant Thomas Quinn. As a retired colonel and command sergeant major, respectively, both have firsthand knowledge of the financial twists and turns Soldiers’ lives take. In late 2003, AER was named one of the 12 best charitable organizations in America by Reader’s Digest. “We listen to the situation, find out what the Soldier has done to rectify the problem and take the chain of command’s input, which is always important,” Quinn said. “Then we make a decision.” Spiegel and Quinn began their discussions by recapping what the AER program is, who it is designed to help, the categories of authorized assistance, new programs that are available and by emphasizing that Soldiers’ need of the AER program is greater now than ever. “Assistance to the Reserve Component, in particular, has increased dramatically over the past two years due to activation of those forces, who often see a significant drop in income when they are activated,” Spiegel said. “In the first 53 years of the AER program, from 1942 through 1994, we provided $550 million of assistance. In the last 10 years, we’ve given out $355 million – that’s nearly 40 percent (39.2 percent) of the all-time total.” Spiegel added that AER assisted 2.4 million Soldiers from 1942 through 1994. In the last 10 years, AER has assisted 653,000 Soldiers, 21.4 percent of the all-time total. Last year, AER assistance worldwide totaled $35.4 million, plus another $4 million in scholarships to family members. Total Fort Bliss AER cases rose from 57 in January 2004 to 104 this year – an increase of 82.5 percent – and the dollars AER provided went from $29,583.34 in January 2004 to $69,224.76 this January, a 134 percent increase, according to statistics provided by the post AER section. “Our board of managers consists of active-duty personnel, retirees and three spouses – 21 people in all – who determine (AER) policy, so they know the kinds of problems Soldiers face,” Spiegel said. “We could provide $60 to $70 million in assistance per year if people came forward (for help).” AER has instituted four new programs designed to further help Soldiers over the past 18 months. One provides assistance to Soldiers wounded in a combat zone, with the first $100 given as a grant. “Some Soldiers are coming out of the combat zone with nothing. Their spouse left, took the kids and all of their belongings. We thought it was the least we could do for their service fighting for this country,” Spiegel said of the $400,000 provided under the program so far. Another program provides spouses of Soldiers killed on active duty lifetime membership in the Armed Forces Service Corporation, which helps widows with current and future government claims answer all questions about survivor benefits and family assistance needs. So far, AER has provided $160,000 under the program. A third new program has expanded AER assistance for auto repairs to include normal maintenance and safety items. The program applies to a Soldier’s private vehicle deemed essential for transportation to and from work so he or she can perform his or her duties. “This applies to things like inspections, oil changes and tires – anything that’s a safety issue. We won’t buy fancy rims or juice up your car for you,” Spiegel said. Finally, Spiegel discussed the Commander’s Referral program, which is being tested at Fort Bliss and five other Stateside posts. The program allows a Soldier’s unit commander the authority to approve a loan of up to $500 for immediate valid financial needs. It is designed to simplify and expedite emergency financial assistance for Soldiers and intended to be a tool for commanders to have a mechanism to assist their Soldiers with short-term problems or needs for basic living expenses, he said. Soldiers may only obtain loans twice a year under the Commander’s Referral program, and the existing loan must be paid before additional assistance is authorized, AER officials said. “Payday lenders do $27 billion a year in business,” Spiegel said. “There are more payday lenders in California than (there are) McDonald’s (restaurants). We can help Soldiers avoid a loan with 863 percent interest if they’ll just come to us. The Commander’s Referral program is one way they can get money quickly without going to the loan sharks,” Spiegel said. Some of the questions Spiegel fielded concerned chain-of-command involvement in the AER process, how much of the Army contributes to the annual AER campaign and whether or not rank is an issue in obtaining AER assistance. “We make the chain of command aware so they can help solve the financial problem that is causing the need for assistance,” Spiegel said. “It’s a readiness issue.” Spiegel said only about 30 percent of the active-duty Army contributes to the annual campaign but stated AER investments provide the bulk of the program’s operating budget. “Rank is not an issue, and you don’t have to contribute to the campaign to get assistance,” Spiegel said. “Health (when it’s bad) does terrible things to families. We’ve had colonels, sergeant majors and first sergeants, for example, come to us for assistance.” Spiegel lauded Fort Bliss for being the only installation that teaches a financial management course for trainees – during Advanced Individual Training. “This is the only post in the Army that does it,” Spiegel said. “It’s a two-day course conducted over two separate Saturdays, and they teach them things like consumer awareness, making a spending plan – even how to read their LES (Leave and Earnings Statement). They get them early in their careers, which is great.” Spiegel also stated the Federal Reserve Board will conduct a study to track Soldiers who’ve taken the financial management course over a five-year period to see what happens.