From staff reports FORT SILL – The impact from Fort Sill’s Army Emergency Relief resulted in the “Best Large Installation” award for the second consecutive year.
A community-wide effort raised more than $211,000 from active-duty soldiers and retirees, which helped provide over $1 million in assistance to military families in 2023. According to a recent press release, AER is a nonprofit organization founded in 1942, and provides financial assistance to soldiers, retirees and their families through interest-free loans, grants and educational scholarships.
From the beginning, AER has provided $2 billion to nearly four million soldiers, including $1 billion since 9/11.
“In 2023, we provided over $1.02 million in assistance in the form of interest-free loans and grants. Almost $230,000 of that was grants, which were not required to be paid back,' said Daniel Farrell, financial readiness specialist and AER assistant.
Examples of support included assisting a soldier whose air conditioning broke during 100-degree heat, Farrell said. In another case, AER helped a soldier’s spouse with rent while he was job-hunting.
Fort Sill’s success stems from widespread participation across the installation, the news release said. More than $169,000 was raised among about 2,200 active-duty soldiers, reflecting a participation rate near 23%. Farrell said the broad support was crucial to the program’s achievement and highlights the community’s commitment to fellow service members.
The program also supports education, providing nearly $300,000 in scholarships for college to children and spouses of soldiers and retired soldiers.
“The success of this campaign has been because our leadership here at Fort Sill has been very supportive. It's a great partnership between the commanding general, garrison, and all the different commanders of the brigades,” said Zilpa Oseguera, financial readiness program manager.