Are contributions to AER mandatory in order to receive assistance?

Contributions to the Army Emergency Relief (AER) program are not mandatory for soldiers to receive assistance. AER is designed to provide financial assistance to soldiers and their families in times of need, and the program relies on voluntary contributions from soldiers to fund its resources. While contributions support the program and can help ensure its sustainability, they are not a prerequisite for receiving aid. Soldiers can access assistance without having made contributions, which encourages individuals to seek help during critical situations without the barrier of prior financial obligations.

In contrast to this understanding, the other options suggest that contributions are either obligatory or limited to certain groups of soldiers, which is not in line with AER policies.