www.dmdc.osd.mil/fssa

AER can assist with the following:

	Non-receipt of pay or allowances
	Lack of basic necessities, like food
	Payments for initial rent, to prevent eviction, mortgage s payments, foreclosure or utilities
	Travel expenses for emergency leave
	Loss or theft of pay
	Funeral expenses
	Essential POV repairs or payments
	Medically authorized convalescent leave
	Extraordinary PCS costs
	Required down payments for medical services, equipment and supplies if the provider will not accept down payments.
	Travel funds for relocation, for Soldiers who have not yet received requested advanced pay
	Repair of HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) in emergency situations
	Purchasing and repairs of stove or refrigerator
	Child car seats
	Cranial helmets, when a helmet has been prescribed by an appropriate medical authority and has not been authorized by TRICARE.

Fort Bliss AER office is running a pilot program - this program is an effort to streamline the AER Loan process and to make AER more user friendly and decrease the amount of time the soldier is away from the unit. Soldiers wanting AER assistance can walk in and pick up an Application for AER Financial Assistance or use forms flow and when they have completed the loan application return it to the AER office with all the required documentation and signatures. This program will run similar to the Commanders Referral Program in which the loan application is dropped of by 11am the loan is ready for pick up the same business day, after 11am the loan is ready the following business day. Emergency Leaves still have priority and will always be processed first. During the last couple of months the AER workload has increased nearly 60 percent and we feel this is partially due to the changes made over the last year to better serve the soldier. If this program is successful as we feel it will be, Fort Bliss AER office will lead the way in ensuring our soldiers emergency's are expedited. For more information or Unit Training contact AER at (915) 569-4ACS (4227).

AER is a secondary mission to help Army families with the cost of undergraduate level education, post secondary vocational training, and preparation for acceptance by service academies for their dependent children. Learn about program eligibility and application requirements by visiting the AER Headquarters.

AER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS – “FREE” MONEY FOR EDUCATION

MG James Ursano Scholarship Program
The MG James Ursano Scholarship Program is for dependent children of active, retired and deceased Soldiers. The program was established in 1976 as a secondary mission to help Army Families with undergraduate college expenses for their dependent children. The MG James Ursano Scholarship Program funds are limited, therefore scholarship awards are limited.

The MG James Ursano Scholarship Program offers scholarships based on financial need, academics, and leadership/achievement for each academic year.

To be eligible, applicants must maintain a cumulative GPA of a 2.0 on a 4.0 grading scale; be full time undergraduate students for the entire academic year at a school accredited by the U.S. Department of Education; and be dependents of a Soldier on federal active duty, a retiree, or a deceased active or retired Soldier.  To be a dependent you must be under the age of 23 for the entire academic year, registered in DEERS and unmarried for the entire academic year.

Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program (SSEAP)
The Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program (SSEAP) is a need-based education assistance program designed to provide spouses of active duty and retired Soldiers, and widows(ers) of Soldiers who died either on active duty or in a retired status, and residing in the United States, with financial assistance in pursuing educational goals. The purpose of the program is to assist spouses/widows(ers) in gaining the education required to allow them to qualify for increased occupational opportunities.  Individuals who receive free tuition as a result of their employment will not receive tuition assistance from AER. However, they may apply for assistance for fees, supplies or books (no duplicates) for classes in which they are enrolled. Active-duty military personnel are not eligible.

For eligibility information, a list of required supporting documents and the online application, visit www.aerhq.org.