How to obtain an AER loan away from parent unit (on leave)?

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 15:20:50 -0400

Alright ladies and gents, interesting question. Bluff first then the details.

How do you get an AER loan, what is required to get one, and what can you do to get one when away from your unit/installation?

- A buddies kid of mine is in the army, is on leave and back from deployment to where his wife and kids.
- They need to get back to his primary duty station and "having car issues."
- They are horrible with money, savings, life, etc.
- He has started a GoFundMe, "eye roll" asking for help.
- I mention to apply for AER and his reasoning "excuse" is he needs his 1SG/commanders signature but "cant get a hold of them."

Is there a way to get an AER loan without that, or can it be obtained and then sent his parent unit etc?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2019 3:25 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 15:25:01 -0400

Well, if his credit sucks, he will fall under this:

When is a Soldier NOT eligible for direct access to AER?
Effective 9 September 2015, all Soldiers, regardless of rank, are authorized direct access to AER for financial assistance, except for those who fall in one or more of the categories listed below:

Soldiers in the grades of E-1 through E-4 who are in Initial Entry Training (Basic Training/OSUT) are not eligible for direct access to AER.
Soldiers with less than 12 months Time in Service (TIS) are not eligible for direct access to AER.
Soldiers who have two or more requests (Loan or Grant) within a 12 month period are not eligible for direct access to AER.
Soldiers who exhibit “High Risk” behavior for financial problems IAW AR 600-85 and Sec Army Directive 2015-21 are not eligible for direct access to AER.
Soldiers who fall into one or more of the categories listed above will require the Company Commander/First Sergeant review of their AER application prior to submitting a request for AER assistance.

Otherwise, he is eligible and can use this link for AER to answer all questions:

https://www.aerhq.org/Financial-Assistance

Financial-Assistance

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Sep 3 at 2019 3:25 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 15:25:07 -0400

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member Thanks for being charitable, Sean!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2019 3:50 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 15:50:02 -0400

Can't get in contact with his unit is an eyebrow raising comment that would lead to an offer to help him contact the unit for him before I'd pose any other offer of assistance.
Tell him to look at his leave form, if he has one, and provide you the opportunity to attempt contact.

Response by SFC Michael D. made Sep 3 at 2019 3:51 PM

SFC Michael D. — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 15:51:04 -0400

Have you tried contacting the Red Cross? They have loans also and can get in touch with Commands.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 3 at 2019 6:31 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 18:31:14 -0400

I don't know if this will amount to a hill of beans or not. I was a young enlisted married soldier once. I went to AER to get a loan. I was told that I had to be defaulting in my payments to secure a loan, the exact thing I wanted to prevent.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Sep 3 at 2019 7:50 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 19:50:21 -0400

There is no unit that cannot be contacted. There are multiple numbers, and almost all have Staff Duties and or CQ’s. He can reach his unit. So can anyone in the military that he knows. Thank you for your service.

Response by MAJ Rene De La Rosa made Sep 4 at 2019 2:10 AM

MAJ Rene De La Rosa — Wed, 04 Sep 2019 02:10:13 -0400

Have heard more than enough piss-poor reasons to get an AER loan from my Soldiers. For example, one bought a lemon on the side of the road. She claimed she did not have any money. Before you know it, she got a $4,000 grant (GRANT!) from AER. This upset me so much I refuse to give any money to AER anymore based on these shenanigans.
The Soldier in question does not have to get his commander's or first sergeant's signature anymore. They changed the policy for the worse, IMHO.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Sep 4 at 2019 5:52 AM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Wed, 04 Sep 2019 05:52:55 -0400

Way too many questions just by reading the post.