Should an emergency situation arise, members of the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard and their families may qualify to receive financial or other types of assistance to tide them over. While eligibility factors vary, here are some resources to keep in mind, along with a brief description of their offerings and contact information:

AIR FORCE AID SOCIETY (AFAS)

Financial assistance from the Air Force Aid Society is available to Airmen and their eligible family members to meet their immediate needs in an emergency situation. The AFAS provides interest-free Standard Emergency Assistance Loans and Grants, for which there is a standard application and requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. It also provides Falcon Loans of up to $750, for which there is a streamlined application process that requires no budget information, backup documentation or First Sergeant/Commander approval. In addition, Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve personnel on extended active duty 15 days or more under Title 10 USC are eligible for emergency assistance when the emergency is incident to, or resulting from, an applicant’s active-duty tour. For more information, contact the AFAS at (703) 972-2650, or https://www.afas.org/.

ARMY EMERGENCY RELIEF (AER)

Army Emergency Relief serves as the U.S. Army’s emergency financial assistance organization and is dedicated to “Helping the Army Take Care of Its Own.” AER funds are made available to commanders to provide emergency financial assistance to soldiers — active and retired — and their dependents when there is a valid need. AER funds made available to commanders are not limited, and are constrained only by the requirement of valid need. For these reasons, the AER assistance program is conducted within the Army by major commanders and their installation/organization commanders through AER sections and other related organizations. For more information, contact AER at (703) 428-0000, toll free (866) 878-6378, or https://www.aerhq.org.

NAVY-MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY (NMCRS)

The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society provides financial assistance and education, as well as other programs and services, to members of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, their eligible family members, widows, and survivors. Its main goal is to help each person who comes to it get support for their immediate needs. Programs and services include: Financial Assistance and Counseling, Quick Assist Loans (QALs), Education Assistance, Health Education and Post-Combat Support, Budget for Baby, Emergency Travel, Disaster Relief, and Thrift Shops. For more information, contact the NMCRS toll free at (800)-654-8364, or online at https://www.nmcrs.org/.

COAST GUARD MUTUAL ASSISTANCE (CGMA)

Coast Guard Mutual Assistance is the official relief society of the U.S. Coast Guard. Established as a non-profit charitable organization, it works closely with the Coast Guard, but is an independent corporation. Its mission is to promote the financial stability and general well being of Coast Guard people through interest-free loans, grants, and financial counseling. For more information, contact CGMA at (703) 872-6716, toll free (800) 881-2462, or https://www.cgmahq.org/.