Not totally surprising. If you never spent more than 29 days on an active duty installation, you may have never been introduced to it. Part of my ADOS inprocessing and outprocessing in Germany was a stop at AER and ACS.
I served in the US Army 1995-1998. The hardest part of my transition was my expectation that employers would want to hire me because I was a veteran. My dad served in WWII, and he told me that immediately after the war he could walk into a most any business, wearing his US Army Force uniform, and easiy get a job. It is not that way any longer.
Do you realize that 20% of the military age men in 1945 had served, and the women had taken their jobs in the interim. We had 10M men in uniform at the end of the war. Not wearing a "Ruptured Duck" was almost a mark of shame for guys.
I'm watching this wearing my crocs :). I'm glad Tony talks about "identity" we struggle hard with that as it is, it's nice having one of the guys at the top discuss that "role" change phenomenon. Tony is right about us not asking for help. If I understood how to ask for help I'd still have my career most likely. This seems to be more of a PSA - use your benefits boys and girls, they exist to make sure your families life doesn't implode after a major setback event that's out of your control in most cases.
Tony is right one of the hardest things we do as service members and veterans is ask for help we have this I’m fine or a the next guy needs help more than me mentality. I also remember when I was in aer we were told was enlisted only
HEY - one thing i`ll say is that AER is kind-of forced on lower enlisted - when I was in, they basically MADE you sign up as a E-1. AS an E-1 I didn't have an extra penny to be putting into the AER and I think that needs to change...
We regret Soldiers have experienced this. We have our own regulation (AR 930-4) and the policy for fundraising activities are outlined in AR 1-10 (1-11: Prohibited fundraising activities). AER HQ and our AER officers at each Army installation strictly follow these policies.
Easiest way to get an AER loan is to be irresponsible with your money first, if an emergency comes up example: legal issue, spend money on the lawyer first to get money to cover bills. AER is set that if you spend your money responsibly, you’re not going to get the much needed loan.
I am so impressed by the interview and the supports that your military has available to them. I am not surprised that it’s hard to find out about the help available. Oh, you get extra points for matching the colour of your crocs with your shirt! Lol
I made it to MEPS where I was told I was an idiot because I didn't know what polynomials were. I decided not to join because a buddy who served 8 years reminded me of a major knee injury that I recently recovered from & didn't list. He convinced me that I'd most likely do my knee in for good if I joined. I ended up meeting my future wife shortly thereafter. I'll take a little being ragged on if it makes one vet laugh. That's the least we civilians could do.
It is! We are proud to stand alongside the NMCRS, Air Force Air Society and Coast Guard Mutual Assistance as the official military relief organizations! While we aren't all structured or operate the same, our missions are the same: provide financial assistance to service members and their Families. www.defense.gov/Resources/Military-Support-Organizations/
I think the big problem with AER being successful at its mission is that asking for help thing. Maybe to get around that leaders could be responsible for periodically assessing their Soldiers' finances and ordering those who qualify for AER assistance to apply for it. I for one would not ask for help unless ordered to.
I’d love to join the U.S. Army if it wasn’t nearly impossible to get in. For the average American it’s really hard getting in. I was denied for something so stupid. Tell the decision makers to drop the nearly impossible standards to get in.
Go get a waiver you can get a waiver for almost anything. There is a pilot RU-vidr c.w. Lemoine and he has this thing called make them tell you no. Basically keep trying and finding ways to get what you want when they say no to you find a way around find a way to make it a yes until you have tried every single option available make them tell you no make them work for you.
