Allison Hoy | Joint Base Lewis-McChord Public Affairs | March 27, 2025

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – When Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Cabrera’s older brother died on Christmas Day 2023, and the funeral was scheduled more than 1,000 miles away in California, he contacted Army Emergency Relief at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Cabrera, a member of JBLM’s 7th Infantry Division staff, had known about AER since he was a private, and he checked in to see if the organization could help him and his family make it to his brother’s service under emergency leave.

AER is the Army’s official nonprofit organization. An independently run entity, its mission is to provide grants, interest-free loans and scholarships to promote readiness and help relieve financial distress of Soldiers and their Families.

The organization offered Cabrera a half-grant, half-loan, “and we were able to pay for housing over there and travel expenses” there and back, including an Airbnb, gas and food, Cabrera said.

“It made all the difference in the world,” he said, adding he might not have been able to attend the February 2024 funeral, or might’ve had to go alone, without AER assistance.

“That time of year, finances aren’t great,” he said.

Now, Cabrera is an installation coordinator for the AER Campaign at Waller Hall. This year’s AER Campaign Kickoff, held March 26 at Carey Theater, included a visit by AER CEO Tony Grinston, the retired 16th Sergeant Major of the Army and a previous I Corps command sergeant major at JBLM.

In a four-year span, one in five Soldiers will use AER, Grinston said, adding that leadership should share that statistic with Soldiers.

“It’s hard to ask for help. It’s hard to ask for behavioral health help, and it’s hard to tell somebody you need help with money,” he said. “It’s not joyful. But we’re still going to be there, no matter what.”

Most of all, Grinston said he wants Soldiers to know what AER does.

“First and foremost, what I want you to do is know about how we’re here to help you,” he said. “We help Soldiers and their Families. You’re helping another Soldier go through a tough time.”

“Based 100% on the generous donations from Soldiers and American citizens, AER has provided $2 billion in assistance to nearly 4 million members of the Army team since 1942, including $1 billion since 9/11,” according to the AER website. “Through zero-interest loans, grants and educational scholarships, AER ensures no Soldier faces financial hardship on their own.”

Last year at JBLM, the AER participation goal was 25%, as it is this year. Those meeting or exceeding the goal included “39 companies (with seven of those achieving 100%), seven battalions (which achieved 40%-99%) and two brigades,” said Mary Cron, JBLM’s AER officer and Financial Readiness Program manager.

At the kickoff ceremony, 1st Multi-Domain Task Force was recognized for having the highest 2024 participation rate of 51%, and 1st Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division was recognized as having the highest monetary contribution of $65,058.01, Cron said.

Overall, 2024 donations at JBLM totaled $174,779 from 3,082 active-duty Soldiers – 11% of their population. The money went into an AER fund that grew to $2.1 million in assistance for 1,077 JBLM active-duty Soldiers and Families. Breaking down that assistance, $1.5 million went toward 724 loans, $87,300 was used for 120 grants and $532,700 contributed to 233 combinations of loans and grants, according to Cron.

Additionally, for school year 2024-2025 at JBLM, AER provided a total of 57 scholarships for Soldiers’ children, totaling $203,700, and 29 spousal scholarships, totaling $61,500, Cron said.

The 2024 overall JBLM donations increased from those in 2023, when donations reached $159,156 from 2,268 active-duty Soldiers – 8.5% of their population. The 2023 AER fund reached $2.8 million in assistance for 1,347 active-duty Soldiers and Families.

This year’s active-duty JBLM donation goal is about $185,000.

“We want to keep going up,” Cron said.

The 2025 AER Annual Campaign started March 1 and ends June 14, on the Army’s 250th birthday. The Army-wide celebration led to AER’s participation goal of 25% of active-duty Soldiers, according to an AER video description.

AER is not federally funded and relies on donations from active-duty and retired Soldiers, Army Families, corporations and “generous Americans,” according to a 2025 AER campaign video.

“I absolutely encourage Soldiers to check the program out and at least ask to see if they’re eligible,” Cabrera said, explaining that “life happens” and “it’s worth the $5 bucks a paycheck, or whatever you want to donate.”

As of March 17, a new AER online assistance application “allows Soldiers and Families to request financial assistance online and receive the funds via direct deposit, Zelle or PayPal from anywhere in the world,” according to AER’s Facebook page. “Previously, Soldiers more than 50 miles from an Army installation had to request AER assistance through the American Red Cross or the nearest military aid society office.”

Assistance applications can also be completed at the AER office in JBLM’s Waller Hall.

The online portal includes a link for donations, which can also be made through each unit’s AER campaign representative.