The Army’s official relief group has already approved more than $7 million in payments to active-duty soldiers and their families facing a missed paycheck next week amid the government shutdown. The Air Force’s designated charity says it has received hundreds of applications for help and has “several million in potential funds available” for airmen and Space Force guardians.

With troops’ Oct. 15 pay date rapidly approaching and no resolution to the federal government shutdown in sight, three major service relief nonprofits are seeing a surge in requests for financial assistance.

“This is untrod ground for us as servicemembers have always been paid during shutdowns,” retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Ed Thomas, the CEO of the Air Force Aid Society, or AFAS, said in a statement. “So we’re leanin

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