Army Emergency Relief | Dec. 16, 2024
ARLINGTON, Va. – Airfare is the most expensive cost associated with Soldiers’ emergency travel, so to help ease that burden, Army Emergency Relief will offer full grants effective Jan. 1.
The emergency travel airfare grants are capped at $2,000 within the continental United States and $4,000 outside the continental United States. Remaining costs exceeding those caps will be offered as zero-interest loans.
Tony Grinston, AER CEO and 16th Sergeant Major of the Army, has firsthand experience with the stresses of emergency leave.
“We updated this policy because the last thing a Soldier should have to think about when needing to get home is the cost of a plane ticket,” he said.
AER’s current policy offers emergency travel airfare as half-grants, half-interest free loans. The policy change aims to provide the most assistance in the form of a grant, and the option most advantageous to the Soldier will take precedence.
AER is focusing its numerous assistance categories into five Areas of Support to better serve Soldiers, retired Soldiers and Army Families by helping alleviate financial stress and promoting economic stability. Those categories are:
- Care During a Crisis
- Basic Needs and Housing
- Health and Wellness
- Supporting Families
- Workplace Development
Emergency travel falls under Care During a Crisis, along with disaster assistance, funeral expenses and safe travel from domestic violence.
Read AER Policy Memo 2024-4 outlining the emergency travel airfare assistance update.
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