Military aid societies are some of the most powerful – and least understood – tools in the military community. Organizations like NavyMarine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS), Army Emergency Relief (AER), Air Force Aid Society (AFAS), and Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA) stand ready to step in when a financial emergency hits, and they rely on the generosity of that same community when times are better.
There When You Need Them
Early in my career, as a young Private stationed in Germany, my father’s health suddenly took a turn for the worse. There was no extra money in my account for an emergency plane ticket home, much less spending money for a meal or two on my days-long journey. AER stepped in with the funds for the ticket and some cash for expenses so I could be with my family when it mattered most. That experience left a permanent mark. It showed, in a very real way, that the Army takes care of its own.
That single act of support shaped how I led Soldiers throughout my career. When I met a Soldier whose car had broken down, who was short on rent, or whose family was struggling with basic needs, my first instinct was to connect them with the appropriate aid society. Unexpected car repair? AER, NMCRS, AFAS, or CGMA might be able to help. Short on essentials between paychecks? Those same organizations exist exactly for those moments. No one should have to fight a private financial battle alone when these resources stand ready.
Their Impact in Real Numbers
The scale of what these societies do every year is remarkable. Army Emergency Relief, founded in 1942, has provided more than two billion dollars in financial assistance to over four million Soldiers and family members, including roughly 34,000 Soldiers and families helped in 2024 alone. Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society reports that it provided about $50 million in financial assistance through interest-free loans and grants in 2024 to support Sailors, Marines, and their families.
Air Force Aid Society, the official charity of the Air Force and Space Force, delivered about 14 million dollars in direct assistance in 2024, supporting more than 15,000 Airmen, Guardians, and families worldwide. Coast Guard Mutual Assistance provided over seven million dollars in grants and interest-free loans to over 5,500 Coast Guard members, civilian employees, and their families in 2024. Behind each of these numbers is a family that stayed in their home, repaired a vehicle, traveled for an emergency, or covered essential expenses because help was there.
How They Help
All four societies focus on immediate financial needs that directly affect readiness and family stability. AER assists with rent or mortgage, utilities, emergency travel, car repairs, medical and dental expenses, PCS-related costs, and more, often through grants or interest-free loans. NMCRS offers interest-free loans and grants for living expenses, transportation, family emergencies, and education assistance for spouses and children of Sailors and Marines. AFAS provides emergency assistance, community programs, and education support to Air Force and Space Force families. CGMA supports the Coast Guard community with disaster and emergency relief, day-to-day support, and education programs.
Getting help usually starts with a visit or call to your installation’s aid society office or going online to learn more and begin the process. Their websites are straightforward entry points:
- Army Emergency Relief (AER): https://www.armyemergencyrelief.org
- NavyMarine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS): https://www.nmcrs.org
- Air Force Aid Society (AFAS): https://afas.org
- Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA): https://mycgma.org
Each site explains eligibility, types of assistance, and how to apply.
How to Support Them
That day in Germany changed my perspective not just on asking for help, but on giving it. Today, as a retired Officer, it is a point of honor to contribute regularly to AER. Those donations are not abstract; they are a way of repaying the kindness shown to me as a Private and the support I saw given to my Soldiers over four decades. Every dollar given to these societies becomes fuel for another emergency flight home, another repaired car, another month of stability for a family under stress.
These organizations are funded largely through donations from the very community they serve—active duty, Guard and Reserve, retirees, civilians, and supporters. Campaigns each year raise awareness and invite contributions, but support does not have to wait for a campaign. A small monthly gift, a onetime donation, or designating an aid society in estate planning are all ways to ensure the next generation of servicemembers has the same safety net we did.
The military aid societies embody one of the best parts of military culture: taking care of our own. They are there for our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Guardians, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen when a crisis hits. And they are there at other times when we are in a position to support them. They were there when I needed them; they were there when my Soldiers needed them—and they are there when we can support them, too.
