- Financial Readiness Program (FRP). FRP provides comprehensive educational and counseling programs in personal financial readiness. The program covers indebtedness, consumer advocacy and protection, money management, credit, financial planning, insurance, and consumer issues. Other services offered include mandatory financial literacy, financial planning for transitioning Soldiers, financial counseling for deployed Soldiers and their Families, and the Department of Defense Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance Program.
- Army Emergency Relief (AER). AER is the US Army's own nonprofit organization dedicated to alleviating financial distress in the force. AER provides grants and zero-interest loans to active-duty and retired Soldiers and their Families. AER has supported over 4 million Soldiers since 1942. AER offices are conveniently located at installations around the world. Visit ArmyEmergencyRelief.org to learn more.
- Online Support and Education. Go to Financial Frontline for self-service financial literacy education and help.
- Blended Retirement System. The Blended Retirement System (BRS) combines elements of the legacy retirement system with benefits similar to those offered in many civilian 401(k) plans. Get smart on retirement benefits with the Army Retirement Services Office and Joint Knowledge Online Training.
- Financial Readiness Affiliates
- Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). The TSP is a federal government-sponsored retirement savings and investment plan available to both federal civilian employees and members of the uniformed services. The TSP offers the same type of savings and tax benefits that many private corporations offer their employees under 401(k) plans. The retirement income a TSP account provides will depend on working-year contributions and the earnings on those contributions. Learn more at the official Thrift Savings Plan website.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The CFPB makes markets for consumer financial products and services work for Americans — whether they are applying for a mortgage, choosing among credit cards, or using any number of other consumer financial products. The CFPB gives consumers the information they need to understand the terms of their agreements with financial companies. Learn more about the CFPB, visit the CFPB on-demand forum and tools website, or order free CFPB publications.
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) Military Line. The BBB Military Line provides free resources to our military communities in the areas of financial literacy and consumer protection through the efforts of 112 BBBs across the US. Visit the BBB Military Line to learn more.
- Car Buying for the Savvy Consumer
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- Module 1: Choosing the Right Vehicle
- Module 2: Inspections, Warranties and Financing
- Module 3: Closing the Deal
- Army Emergency Relief (AER) Overview
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Overview
Army Emergency Relief is the U.S. Army's own nonprofit organization dedicated to alleviating financial distress on the force. AER provides grants and zero-interest loans to Active Duty and Retired Soldiers and their Families. Over 4 million Soldiers supported since 1942. AER officers are conveniently located at installations around the world. Visit ArmyEmergencyRelief.org to learn more.
Education Programs
AER’s Education Program is a secondary mission to help Army Families with the costs of education. The three separate scholarship programs are:
Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program
• Applicant must be the Spouse or widow(er) of an active duty or retired Soldier and reside in the United States.
• Stateside applicants must be full time students.
• First undergraduate degrees only.
• Active duty military personnel are not eligible.Overseas Spouse Education Assistance Program Major General James Ursano Scholarship Fund for Dependent Children.
Overseas Spouse Education Assistance Program
• Applicants must be a Spouse of an active duty Soldier assigned in Europe, Korea, Japan, or Okinawa.
• Applicants must physically reside with the Soldier at the assigned location.
• First undergraduate degrees only.
• Off post students are not eligible.
• Spouses may be part time or full time students.Major General James Ursano Scholarship Fund for Dependant Children
• Dependent children, stepchildren, or legally adopted children of Army Soldiers on active duty, retired or deceased while in active duty or retired status.The children of Grey Area Reservists/National Guard are eligible as well.
Scholarship awards will be awarded up to half the cost of tuition. Scholarship awards are based on financial need, as evidenced by income, assets, Family size, and special circumstances.
Applications and instructions are available for all the scholarships on the AER website at https://www.armyemergencyrelief.org/resources/
- AER Resources and Forms
- Available Courses
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Credit Booster
Learn how to read and understand your credit report; how a credit score is determined and how you can improve your score. Learn how to correct errors found on your credit report which can reflect on your credit score. Also, you will learn how to understand the calculation of finance charges and how to lower your interest rate.
Banking
Discover the differences in banking institutions. This class places emphasis on record keeping and personal organization of finances.
Budget/Debt Management
This class teaches how to create an accurate budget/spending plan that you can stick to and that meets your need; plus information and strategies for managing personal debt; how to escape its clutches and improve your credit score.
Saving and Investing
This class provides and overview of all types of saving and investment products; this class covers the basic information needed to understand how savings plans and different types of investments work. The topics covered include IRA’s, 401K’s, TSP, 529 plans, and money markets accounts.
Understanding Insurance
Students will learn the basics of understanding insurance. The instructor will discuss the different reasons for purchasing insurance (life, auto, home, and renter’s).
Home Buying
Buying your first home can be overwhelming. You will learn home buying terms such as down payment, mortgage, escrow, financing, home inspection, survey, property taxes, fees, titles, insurance, and legal responsibilities.
Consumer Affairs and Identity Theft
The goal of this class is to help the soldier and their families make smart consumer decisions and how to avoid problems in our increasingly complex marketplace. Subjects include purchasing a car and auto repairs; dispelling myths and avoiding scams; telemarketing, internet and mail fraud schemes; consumer laws, and many other topics. Information is provided on how to resolve disputes effectively and what role local, state, and federal agencies play in protecting consumers.
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Pre-Purchase Information and Advice
We provide information on specific businesses and advice on many consumer subjects. Brochures and other literature on a variety of consumer subjects are available. You may also obtain phone numbers and addresses for local, state, federal and corporate consumer affairs agencies. -
Complaint Resolution and Requests for Assistance
We assist in resolving problems, please call for an appointment. Walk-ins will be seen upon space availability. - Providing solicitation information and service.
- Processing applications for permits to do business on post.
- Issuing and annually renewing permits.
- Monitoring the actions of the permit holders for regulation compliance.
- Initiating investigations upon receiving complaints of violations of AR 210-7, FH Regulation 210-7 Supplement and FH Regulation 210-5.
- Non-Receipt of Pay
- Loss of Funds
- Medical, Dental and Hospital
- Funeral Expenses
- Required Travel Expenses
- Food
- Rent / Utilities
- Essential POV Repair Privation
Shoemaker Lane, 2nd Floor BLDG 36000
Monday - Wednesday 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Closed Federal Holidays
+1 (254)553-3101
Email Us
Want to take charge of your finances? The Army's Financial Readiness Program (FRP) and Consumer Advocacy Services can help with comprehensive educational and counseling programs. Learn about debt, consumer advocacy and protection, money management, credit, financial planning, insurance, and consumer issues. Through classroom training and individual counseling, participants can learn how to save and invest money, establish savings goals, eliminate debt, and save for emergencies.
We offer:
Here are some other financial resources for Soldiers and their Families:
(Government Links)
(Non-Government Links, No Endorsement Implied)
Consumer Affairs Office
The Consumer Affairs Office offers many services to include:
Solicitation Office
We offer assistance to commercial businesses and their authorized agents interested in conducting business on the installation by:
Command Financial Specialist Program (CFSP)
Our command program, helps prepare Soldiers and Families to deal with financial situations for deployments as well as the financial realities of day-to-day military life. We provide commanders a mechanism through which financial education, training, counseling, and referral procedures are established in their units to promote sound financial practices, personal integrity, and financial responsibility.
Our objective is to enhance and maintain mission readiness and quality of life by providing Soldiers and their Family members a ready-made program to help achieve personal financial readiness and deployability through the use of sound money management and consumer skills.
Army Emergency Relief (AER)
We play a unique and important role in helping the Army "Take Care of Its Own." Our office provides emergency financial assistance to Soldiers, both active and retired, and their family members during period of valid emergencies.
Approval of an AER loan is based on the need created by an emergency beyond the control of the Soldier. Although each loan application is considered on its own merit, our office should be the last aid station when all other agencies have been unable to assist (Red Cross, Finance, other ACS programs, etc.)
We will consider cases in the following areas:
We are unable to provide assistance for abortions, bad checks, civilian court fees, fines or judgments, bail bonds, liens, legal fees, credit card bills, telephone bills, marriages, divorces, ordinary leaves or vacations, liquidation/consolidation of debts, overdrawn bank accounts/overdrafts, state or federal income taxes.
