TOWER BARRACKS, Germany – U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria kicked off its annual Army Emergency Relief campaign this year with special guest retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael “Tony” Grinston, CEO of AER.
This year’s campaign runs from March 1 to June 14, the Army’s birthday and the official kickoff took place March 4 at Tower Barracks.
Established in 1942, AER is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Soldiers, retired Soldiers and their Families through financial assistance. By providing grants, interest-free loans, and scholarships, AER helps alleviate financial hardships, address emergencies, and promote readiness, ensuring Soldiers and their Families can focus on their mission.
Grinston and his team visited Tower Barracks to engage key leaders as part of their efforts to raise awareness of AER’s mission, programs and impact, ensuring senior leaders are informed and equipped to advocate for and refer Soldiers and Families in need.
"I love my job,” Grinston said. “I love what I do, and I love helping Soldiers. Other than being the SMA, this is one of the coolest titles I’ve ever had. I want to be the best at what I do, and that means ensuring AER continues to bring stability and support to Soldiers and their Families."
Grinston took on the role of CEO of AER in 2024. Before that he served 36 years of distinguished service in the U.S. Army, including his role as the 16th Sergeant Major of the Army.
“It is an honor to have someone from AER Headquarters here for the annual kickoff, and you can tell that as CEO, he is totally behind the program, and you can feel the passion he brings to it,” said Patricia Mallard, Financial Readiness Program specialist, and Army Emergency Relief officer.“You can feel it is important to him to reach all levels, to sit down with leaders and Soldiers. You can feel he cares, which I believe will also have a positive impact on our campaign.”
AER’s Mission and Impact AER provides assistance for emergency travel, rent and basic needs. Some lesser known support programsinclude Immigration Expenses, Career Skills and Spouse Recertification, first month rent and deposits, and emergency needs of Families affected by domestic violence.
Molly Sullivan, AER officer and personal financial readiness specialist at USAG Bavaria, explained the flexibility of AER’s support.
“AER provides a mix of grants and loans, depending on the Soldier’s need,” she said. “Loans never have fees and are always interest-free. AER does not conduct credit checks, and many assistance cases are processed on the same day. AER also offers scholarships to spouses and children of Soldiers.”
Last year, AER at USAG Bavaria helped 567 clients with more than $1.1 million in assistance, including $207,339 in grants and $919,911 in interest-free loans. Additionally, 27 Families received $62,760 in scholarships for the 2025-2026 school year.
Recent improvements include transitioning emergency travel assistance to 100 percent grants and launching an online portal to streamline the application process. Assistance can be requested at https://aerprod.powerappsportals.us/.
Stories of Support Sgt. Abisso Landrou with the 41st Field Artillery shared how AER helped him during a Family emergency.
“I got a Red Cross call from Togo, saying that my mom needs [cancer] surgery, and at that time, I was a (private first class),” he said. “I had no saving, no money.But my mom said she won’t get the surgery before she sees me because we did not know if she was going to make it. But they had to operate soon before it got worse.
“So at that time, I was confused,” Landrou continued. “I didn’t know what to do, I couldn’t focus on work and then my sergeant brought me to AER.”
AER helped finance the flight, rental car and hotel within a day. Landrou only had to pay back part of those costs in interest-free installment payments.
“My mom’s surgery went smooth, and then I got a chance to spend some time with her,” he said. “I came back to duty, refreshed, and could focus on my job again, and I did not have to stress [about money].”
Landrou added that AER also helped bring his wife and son from abroad.
“This is a program for us Soldiers,” he said. “Emergencies happen; don't hesitate. If you need, go seek help. It's better to go to AER than to get a loan from a bank. That's my message to my Soldiers.”
Another recipient, Tristain Troy Nelson, Army spouse and prior service member, recounted how AER helped him and his wife travel to see his father in the intensive care unit.
”My dad was already in the ICU […] and we got the phone call that this will be the last chance to talk to him,” Nelson said. “So I panicked, and my wife brought up AER. We went through the paperwork, called Red Cross, then we talked to AER, and within a matter of three hours they paid for a full flight for both of us to go home.
“All those times you did donate and they always said ‘You never know when you may need to use it or someone next to you may need to use it,’ they were right,” Nelson said.
He now works at AAFES, one of the donation partners of AER, as a customer sales clerk.
“It's very special because now I am at the other end where I can actually help get those donations.”
Why community members should support, Soldiers should give
AER relies entirely on donations from Soldiers, retirees and supporters.
“It's about the young Family that needs help with childcare,” said Grinston during an AFN radio interview. “It's about the Soldier whose child had cancer and needed that portable suction machine ... we provided them [with financial assistance so] we could take that stress.
“We are only a donation-based organization,” Grinston continued. “We get no appropriated funds. Even if it’s just $1 or $10 a month, it’s about showing that you believe in helping Soldiers as much as we do.”
Contributing to AER directly supports service members facing challenges, ensuring they receive necessary assistance during difficult times.
“That dollar that you give is saving somebody's life somewhere,” Landrou said. “Even if it's not you personally, it's helping somebody that you work with, somebody that you've been here with, somebody that you know, since the Army is a big Family. So a little is still good. It's still helping out."
“Just donating a dollar here and there, it really does make a difference.” said Nelson. “A dollar here and there really does add up if a whole company, a whole battalion, a whole brigade, does it. I believe the math checks out.”
How to donate Community members can donate during checkout at AAFES and online through AER’s website at https://www.armyemergencyrelief.org/donate/.
Soldiers can donate in-person with their unit’s campaign representative and online at their unit’s specific webpage
Grafenwoehr: https://give.armyemergencyrelief.org/site/TR/Events/General?company_id=1068&pg=company&fr_id=1060
Vilseck: https://give.armyemergencyrelief.org/site/TR/Events/General?company_id=1069&pg=company&fr_id=1060
Hohenfels: https://give.armyemergencyrelief.org/site/TR/Events/General?company_id=1084&pg=company&fr_id=1060
For more pictures of the kickoff event visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCM94r