Who is eligible to receive assistance from AER?

The eligibility for assistance from the Army Emergency Relief (AER) program is extended to active duty soldiers and their eligible family members. This inclusion allows not just the soldiers themselves but also their spouses and dependents to receive support in times of financial need, ensuring that the entire family unit can benefit from the program. AER is designed to help with unexpected financial emergencies, such as medical bills, rent, or travel costs for emergency situations.

The focus on both active duty soldiers and their families reflects the military's recognition of the important role that family members play in the overall well-being and stability of service members. By extending assistance to eligible family members, the program acknowledges the interconnectedness of service members’ personal and financial challenges, reinforcing the support network that families provide to active duty personnel.

Options indicating only active duty soldiers or only retired soldiers restrict the program's reach and fail to account for the financial hardships that family members may also experience. Similarly, limiting assistance to dependents of retired soldiers would exclude currently active personnel, which is not in line with AER's mission to support soldiers and their families during active service. Thus, the correct answer reflects the comprehensive support intended for both personnel and their loved ones.