Emergency Assistance

The American Red Cross is always available to offer emergency assistance to families around the world. They maintain an emergency messaging service and can coordinate financial assistance when necessary. It is vital that your family in the United States have the necessary information for you allowing them to send a Red Cross message should the need arise. They will need your full name, social security number, rank, phone number for your organization and your physical location. Ensuring they have this information will expedite the process of a message reaching you in a timely manner.

For more information on emergency assistance, call Army Community Service Garmisch Satellite Center at CIV: 09641-70-521-3572 or DSN: 314-521-3572.

GARMISCH

Soldiers stationed in Garmisch may use the online portal (www.armyemergency.org) to submit their AER financial request.  

For any questions contact the USAG Bavaria Army Community Service Office at CIV: +49 9641-70-599-1101 or DSN: 314-599-1101 or email usarmy.bavaria.id-europe.mbx.acs-frpaer@mail.mil.

All AER services are available.  Soldier’s assistance requests will be coordinated in the most efficient manner.

Army Emergency Relief is another resource that can be used in case of a financial emergency. It is a nonprofit organization that can provide financial assistance to meet unforeseen required travel and maintenance related expenses such as transportation, lodging or food, when applicable due to extraordinary costs involved with a permanent change of station.  Army Emergency Relief provides financial assistance to eligible soldiers and their dependents. The primary mission is to provide financial assistance to soldiers, active and retired, family members, widows and orphans in times of valid emergency needs. AER's Education Assistance Program is a secondary mission to help army families with the cost of undergraduate level education.

Assistance is provided in over 30 different assistance categories:

BASIC LIVING

• Rent
• Initial Deposit on rent
• Mortgage
• Temporary Lodging (Homeless)
• Food
• Utilities

MEDICAL

• Dental Care for Dependents (50/50 Loan Grant)
• Medical Care Co-Pays not covered by Tricare
• Cranial Helmets (Grant only)
• Non-Medical Attendant (NMA Travel
• Invitation Travel Order (ITO) – Soldier Hospitalized
• Special Medical Needs Equipment (Grant up to $4k)
• Privately Owned Vehicle
• POV repairs/Maintenance
• Monthly Vehicle Payments
• Vehicle Insurance Payment or Deductible
• Vehicle Fuel
• Child Car Seats
• Replacement Vehicle
• Rental Vehicles associated with POV repair or emergency travel
• Unforeseen Emergencies
• Emergency Travel (50/50 Loan Grant)
• Funeral Expenses
• Active Duty Dependent Spouse Funeral Expense (Bridget Loan up to $15K)
• Safe Travel Due to Domestic Violence
• Disaster Assistance (Evacuation, Stabilization-in-Place and recovery)
• Minor Home Repairs and Deductibles
• Clothing
• Non-receipt of pay or allowances
• Loss or theft of pay
• Immigration, visa and passport fees
• PCS Travel
• Initial Purchase of Basic Essential Furniture up to $4k
• Appliance Repair/Replacement
• Spouse re-licensing and re-certification fees
• Extraordinary PCS costs
• Home school and remote education assistance program
• COVID Childcare Relief Program

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY

Active duty soldiers, single or married, and their dependents. Army National Guard and Army Reserves soldiers on continuous active duty for more than 30 days and their dependents. Soldiers retired from active duty for longevity or physical disability and their dependents. ARNG and USAR soldiers who retired at age 60 and their dependents. Surviving spouses and orphans of soldiers who died while on active duty or after they retired.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND HOW TO APPLY

AER can help with emergency financial needs in over 30 different categories which include basic living, medical, privately owned vehicle, unforeseen emergencies and other types of unexpected situations.For more information soldiers may contact the Army Community Service (ACS) Specialist at Tel: 09641-70-521-3572 or DSN: 314-521-3572; or you can visit the ACS Satelitte Offcie in BLDG 203, Room 117.

Soldiers can also submit their request via AER remote assistance portal at www.armyemergencyrelief.org

Assistance is given in the form of an interest-free loan, grant, or part loan and part grant. Grants are assessed based on the service member's financial hardship and ability to repay the interest free loan. AER officers will review the service member's budget and supporting documentation when making a grant determination. Service members may use the Company Commander and First Sergeant Quick Assist Program or through Direct Access. All soldiers, regardless of rank and grade, are allowed direct access to AER without unit commander’s review and approval with the following safeguards: soldiers in the grades of E1 through E4 must have completed Initial Entry Training. All soldiers must have a minimum of 12 months' Time in Service or have completed IET, whichever is greater. Regardless of rank, financial assistance will be limited to two requests for assistance, loan or grant, within a 12 month period without the commander or first sergeant review. Soldiers who exhibit “High Risk” behaviors for financial problems will require the unit commander’s review and approval/concurrence.

If you are not within a 50 mile radius of a military installation, you may contact the American Red Cross, available 24 hours, at 877-272-7337. They will in turn contact HQ AER and, upon approval, provide the needed assistance.

For more information, visit the Army Emergency Relief website at www.armyemergencyrelief.org.

Planning for an emergency seems a bit misleading; if emergencies could be planned for, would they still be considered emergencies? At any rate, they do happen. As mentioned previously, the Garmisch-Partenkirchen community is small and does not provide a full range of the services found elsewhere.  However, because the community is so small, you will find a real hometown atmosphere and a sense of community.

Should an emergency arise, a phone call to your organization, the Deputy Garrison Manager's office, Army Community Service (ACS), the Chaplain or, if after hours, the Military Police Station is all it takes to start the flow of assistance.

For any financial emergencies, contact ACS at Tel:  09641-70-599-1101 or DSN: 314-599-1101, to direct you to information regarding Army Emergency Relief. 

Phone numbers to other resources for Financial and Emotional Emergency Assistance:

Chaplain:  +49 8821 750 2819

Chaplain Assistance:  +49 8821 750 2519

Red Cross:  877-272-7337

Military Police: 

DSN: 314-521-3618
CIV:   09641-70-521-3618
DSN: 314-521-3558
CIV:   09641-70-521-3558