USAG Bavaria, Hohenfels  Base Essentials

Active-duty military, along with Department of Defense civilians, U.S. contractors, families and retirees may count on the Red Cross to provide round-the-clock emergency communications that link them with their families back home following the death or serious illness of a family member or other important events such as the birth of a child. The Red Cross sends messages quickly, anywhere in the world, including to ships at sea, embassies and isolated military units. The information or verification in a message assists the service member's command in making a decision regarding emergency leave. Messages may be initiated locally by calling the local office at DSN 314-522-1760 or CIV 09472-708-1760 during regular duty hours. Family members in CONUS are welcome to contact their local Red Cross to initiate messages. The Red Cross also offers health and safety classes, a volunteer program and a volunteer dental assistant training program.

Soldiers stationed in the USAG Bavaria Hohenfels Community are also eligible to request Army Emergency Relief assistance if they experience a financial emergency. AER 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 to AER

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) Financial Readiness Program AER at Hohenfels at 09472-708-4860.  AER Officers are also available in Hohenfels BLDG 10.

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.

Before departing, be sure to have all important documents (Leave and Earnings Statement, power of attorney, orders, etc.) with you, not in your household goods shipment. Should an emergency arise during travel, the Hohenfels Emergency Assistance Center can be contacted from stateside: 011-49-9472-83-2858 / local: 09472-708-2858. If you packed or lost you military ID card, you can contact the Hohenfels Pass Office to get a gate pass from stateside: 011-49-9472-708-2889 / local: 09472-708-2889.