Probe finds Army charity is hoarding millions

Probe finds Army charity is hoarding millions

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updated 2 hours, 28 minutes ago

FORT BLISS, Texas - As soldiers stream home from Iraq and Afghanistan, the biggest charity inside the U.S. military has been stockpiling tens of millions of dollars meant to help put returning fighters back on their feet, an Associated Press investigation shows.

Between 2003 and 2007 — as many military families dealt with long war deployments and increased numbers of home foreclosures — Army Emergency Relief grew into a $345 million behemoth. During those years, the charity packed away $117 million into its own reserves while spending just $64 million on direct aid, according to an AP analysis of its tax records.

Tax-exempt and legally separate from the military, AER projects a facade of independence but really operates under close Army control. The massive nonprofit — funded predominantly by troops — allows superiors to squeeze soldiers for contributions; forces struggling soldiers to repay loans — sometimes delaying transfers and promotions; and too often violates its own rules by rewarding donors, such as giving free passes from physical training, the AP found.

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Can you friggin believe this?!?!?!!?!?!

I cant believe that a fund that is supposed to help the soldiers is being run so questionably.

Is the government, in this case the military, ever going to run efficiently??

Makes you wonder where all of the interest money that fund made over the years, went.

Someone has to have a ledger for that, you would think.

You got to ask yourself if the Army even cares about it's own troops well being with an article like this. They seem to like them fine if they are in theater but once they get home for leave....

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(visit the link for the full news article)

[edit on 23-2-2009 by wolf241e]