AP targets AER
Associated Press saw nothing wrong with Congress passing a $ trillion “stimulus” bill that Congress hadn’t read and that wouldn’t stimulate the economy. But that’s because they’re busy investigating why the Army Emergency Relief hoarded cash contributions instead of loaning it out.
For some reason, AP mixes up the term “veteran” to confuse the reader about the AER mission;
Today, AER’s mission is to ease cash emergencies of active-duty soldiers and retirees, and to provide college scholarships for their families. Its emergency aid covers mortgage payments and food, car repairs, medical bills, travel to family funerals, and the like.
According to 2007 U.S. Census Bureau figures, 1.3 million veterans — or 6 percent — lived in poverty, with 537,000 unemployed.
“I have so many people who are losing their homes, they’re behind on their mortgage payments, they’re losing their jobs because of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) or the medication they’re taking — and the Army Emergency Relief can’t help them,” says Outreach Director Sema Olson at U.S. Welcome Home Foundation, which finds aid for combat veterans.
The AER can’t help them because “veterans” are not necessarily “active duty or retired” soldiers. Their own charter requires soldiers to clear their debt with AER before they leave the service. Just like everything else civilians write in the media about the military, AP finds something wrong with soldiers donating to AER and the fact that military officers are on the board of the AER.
The truth is that AER loaned soldiers money when no one else would and if they hoarded money, it was because they’d rather have too much than too little – AP’s lack of scrutiny on Congress’ stimulus bill demonstrates where their priorities are. Every time I took one of my soldiers in need to AER, they got the help they needed and they didn’t pay interest on the loan and usually got the money the same day – and they can pay it back with allotments from their pay checks. What could be better?
I don’t know what AP is trying to prove here, all they proved is that AER is a responsible organization that helps the troops and plans for the future. I’m sure some people might have some bad experiences with AER, but I’ve never seen them do anything but help the troops.
Category: Media, Support the troops, Usual Suspects
Jonn, I have always had a love/hate relationship with AER. Sometimes they have done good, but my personal experience with them is that all too often they didn’t. I had far more success recommending my soldiers to Red Cross for financial assistance. When my wife was involved in the Family Support programs at various bases I was assigned, she too was often frustrated by the response she received from them.
I too realize that this is an AP story so must be taken with a huge grain of salt but if there is a kernel of truth to what they are reporting first off I wouldn’t be surprised and second off maybe a little attention applied to them would be good.
As for all of the stuff about offering incentives for donations, they just don’t know GI’s very well and I never really had a problem with that sort of stuff.
Hey, call the Associted Press’ National Desk tomorrow.
Give them hell.
I’ll send it to Jonn who can forward it to trusted readers.
I agree with just a grunt. It’s hit or miss with AER and I’ve had both good and bad experiences with nothing in between.
I called 3 national papers and 2 regional ones and brought the defects in this story to their attention.