Soldiers will soon get more financial help for emergency travel

Soldiers facing often-expensive flights for emergency travel will soon be able to get more financial help from their service’s official nonprofit organization.

Army Emergency Relief has changed its policy to provide 100% grants for airfare, with dollar caps, for qualifying active duty soldiers who need to travel because of an emergency such as a death or sickness in their family. The policy takes effect Jan. 1.

The services’ military relief societies provide financial assistance for a variety of situations.

These grants are up to $2,000 per request for round-trip domestic travel and up to $4,000 per request for round-trip overseas travel. If the travel costs exceed that amount, the remaining costs may qualify for interest-free loans. Airfare is the most expensive aspect of emergency travel.

This changes the policy from the current mix of 50% grant and 50% interest-free loan for airfare specifically. Now, qualifying soldiers will be able to receive a 100% grant, which means they don’t have to pay it back.

This applies only to airfare. Qualifying expenses for other emergency travel, such as gas for personal vehicles, food and lodging are still eligible for the 50% grant and 50% interest-free loan. But depending on the soldier’s financial circumstances, the interest-free loan portion could be converted to a grant.

The policy change is expected to double the amount of emergency travel assistance provided to soldiers and their families. It’s expected to cost about $5 million, said retired Army Col. Sean Ryan, spokesman for the nonprofit. Through the end of November 2024, AER provided 4,327 soldiers with nearly $4.6 million in assistance for emergency travel. Soldiers in the ranks of E-3 to E-7 used the program the most, he said.

Army Emergency Relief Director and CEO Tony Grinston, who assumed the helm of the organization in January, “felt soldiers should be able to attend funerals or visit hospitals with immediate family without the financial burden,” Ryan said.

The discussion about the expansion started in March, Ryan said, with soldiers’ concerns about being able to afford to bring their family members if a direct family member died. This was among the issues AER officials heard while visiting installations earlier this year, Ryan said.

As always, soldiers’ AER funding requests are considered on an individual basis. Army Emergency Relief funding is provided by donations.

For more information or to request assistance, soldiers may visit the local installation AER office or visit the Army Emergency Relief website.