The nonprofit that provides grants and loans to active-duty soldiers in times of need will begin offering assistance next year to members of the U.S. Army Reserve, regardless of whether they are on federal orders of more than 30 days.

Michael Grinston, chief executive officer of Army Emergency Relief, announced the change Oct. 14 during a forum on military and family wellness at the Association of the U.S. Army’s 2025 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C.

Grinston said that since becoming the head of AER in January 2024, he has wanted to expand the nonprofit’s mission to include Army Reserve and National Guard members. On Oct. 10, he received approval from the Office of the Chief of Army Reserve to start offering the nonprofit’s services to Reserve members “regardless of how long they’ve been on board.”

The change will not affect the National Guard, but Grinston said he is working to include that component.

“We're going to start adding Army Reserve full time, regardless of how long they've been on board, in January. That is done … I’m extremely proud of that,” Grinston said.

Army Emergency Relief provides grants and loans to active-duty soldiers and family members for financial emergencies, such as emergency travel, mortgages, rent, utilities and more during times of need, change of duty stations or unexpected events. Funded solely through donations, the organization has provided more than $2 billion in financial aid to 4 million troops and family members since its creation in 1942.

In 2024, AER helped more than 34,000 soldiers and families, according to the organization.

Grinston said that in addition to including Reserve members, he wants to make it easier for family members to apply for assistance. Currently, the active-duty soldier must apply for aid in-person or online; spouses who have a special power of attorney only can apply in person at an AER office.

Grinston said he would like to configure the online application process so that family members can upload their power of attorney and apply electronically.

“It’s my No. 1 priority,” Grinston said.

Grinston, who served as sergeant major of the Army from 2019 to 2023, spoke at a panel on health and wellness for Army personnel and families. He said financial stress, including the recent government shutdown that began Oct. 1, can have an outsized impact on Army families.

According to Grinston, since the beginning of the shutdown, which threatened to keep U.S. soldiers from receiving their paychecks on Oct. 15, AER has received 15,000 requests for assistance totaling $25 million.

The Department of War has shifted funding to ensure that troops will be paid this week, but the threat of a withheld paycheck caused significant stress, Grinston said.

“About 3% of the Army had come to us … for financial assistance. That’s 15,000 soldiers sitting there. When you think about lethality—can I actually go to the range, can I do this? Am I ready to go …  [if I] don’t know that my family is going to have money in the bank to pay for food? That’s a lot of stress,” Grinston said.

Service members began receiving their payments beginning Oct. 13. Grinston said he is proud to be part of an organization that can offer assistance to soldiers in their times of need.

Grinston recalled a recent conversation he had with a senior enlisted member who needed help paying for a $10,000 medical bed for a special needs child that wasn’t covered by Tricare. He said one of the missions of AER is to help troops so they want to continue serving.

He said he told the soldier: “We’ll give you the grant you need if Tricare doesn’t pay for your bills, [we’re] the first organization you should call as a leader or family member. We are your nonprofit.”

— Patricia Kime for AUSA