{"id":12199,"date":"2026-02-26T13:30:57","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T19:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/?p=12199"},"modified":"2026-02-26T11:28:47","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T17:28:47","slug":"army-air-force-exchange-service-to-expand-veteran-benefit-awareness-at-nasdva-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2026\/02\/26\/army-air-force-exchange-service-to-expand-veteran-benefit-awareness-at-nasdva-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"Army & Air Force Exchange Service to Expand Veteran Benefit Awareness at NASDVA Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"

DALLAS \u2013 <\/strong>During their midwinter conference, leaders with the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs will hear firsthand how the Army & Air Force Exchange Service continues to support all who have served<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Exchange\u2019s Senior Enlisted Advisor Chief Master Sgt. Richard Martinez (USAF) and Chief of Staff Lt Col (R) Jose Hernandez (USA) aim to strengthen relationships with state VA directors and better understand how the Exchange can further strengthen support of Veterans and their families.<\/p>\n

The hard-earned Exchange benefit is lifelong. Since 2017, the Department of War has authorized all honorably discharged Veterans shop tax-free\u2014with military-exclusive pricing\u2014at ShopMyExchange.com. In 2020, service-connected disabled Veterans and their caregivers were granted in-store privileges at PXs and BXs.<\/p>\n

\u201cState VA leaders play a critical role in connecting Veterans to the resources they\u2019ve earned,\u201d said Martinez, noting that this marks the first time the Exchange is presenting at the group\u2019s annual conference. \u201cWe\u2019re here to share information, answer questions and support those efforts by helping ensure Veterans understand how to access their earned benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n

Martinez and Hernandez will share a presentation at the NASDVA conference on March 3 at 4:30 p.m. in Crystal Ballroom A of the DoubleTree by Hilton in Washington, D.C. Conferencegoers are encouraged to attend to learn more about how the lifelong Exchange benefit improves Quality of Life for all who served and have served.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis conference is an important opportunity to collaborate with leaders who are deeply committed to serving Veterans,\u201d said Hernandez, who served 26 years the Army, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. \u201cBy working closely with NASDVA, we can help close information gaps and support shared goals of improving Veterans\u2019 Quality of Life.\u201d<\/p>\n

NASDVA has served Veterans of the United States and its territories for more than 75 years. The organization works to secure uniformity, equality, efficiency and effectiveness in providing services to Veterans and their families across all states and territories and is the nation\u2019s second\u2011largest provider of Veteran services.<\/p>\n

Exchange representatives will be available at a booth in the Crystal Ballroom from March 2 to March 3 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to meet with attendees and discuss eligibility, access and outreach opportunities related to Exchange benefits.<\/p>\n

Veterans with confirmed eligibility can shop tax\u2011free at ShopMyExchange.com<\/a>, enjoying exclusive military pricing on name\u2011brand merchandise. 100% of Exchange earnings are reinvested into military Quality\u2011of\u2011Life programs, directly benefiting Soldiers, Airmen, Guardians, retirees and Veterans.<\/p>\n

To learn more about eligibility and shopping benefits, visit https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/Community\/veterans<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Social-media-friendly version: <\/strong>Army & Air Force Exchange Service leaning forward to ensure all Veterans know of their lifelong tax-free benefits. Read more: https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Q7PG-3aL<\/a><\/p>\n

— 30 —<\/p>\n

Since 1895, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service has gone where Soldiers, Airmen, Guardians and their families go to improve the quality of their lives by providing valued goods and services at exclusive military pricing. The Exchange is the 51st-largest retailer in the United States. 100% of Exchange earnings support military communities. In the last 10 years, your Exchange benefit has provided $15 billion in earnings that support the military community, including through contributions to critical military Quality-of-Life programs. The Exchange is a nonappropriated fund entity of the Department of War and is directed by a Board of Directors. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our website at http:\/\/www.shopmyexchange.com<\/a> or follow us on X at https:\/\/x.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a>.<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

Media Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Karrington Bradley at 214-312-5111 or bradleykar@aafes.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Follow the Exchange:<\/p>\n

Facebook:\u00a0 www.facebook.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

Twitter:\u00a0 https:\/\/twitter.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

Instagram: @shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DALLAS \u2013 During their midwinter conference, leaders with the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs will hear firsthand how the Army & Air Force Exchange Service continues to support all who have served. The Exchange\u2019s Senior Enlisted Advisor Chief Master Sgt. Richard Martinez (USAF) and Chief of Staff Lt Col (R) Jose Hernandez […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":314,"featured_media":12202,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[24,25,319],"tags":[174,106,614,107,737,448,44],"class_list":["post-12199","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-executive_leadership","category-press_releases","category-veterans","tag-army-air-force-exchange-service","tag-army-and-air-force-exchange-service","tag-disabled-veterans","tag-exchange","tag-nasdva","tag-veteran","tag-veterans-online-shopping-benefit"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2026\/02\/26\/army-air-force-exchange-service-to-expand-veteran-benefit-awareness-at-nasdva-conference\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Army & Air Force Exchange Service to Expand Veteran Benefit Awareness at NASDVA Conference","url":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2026\/02\/26\/army-air-force-exchange-service-to-expand-veteran-benefit-awareness-at-nasdva-conference\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2026\/02\/26\/army-air-force-exchange-service-to-expand-veteran-benefit-awareness-at-nasdva-conference\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/02\/022626-NASDVA_Conference.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/02\/022626-NASDVA_Conference.jpg"},"articleSection":"Executive Leadership","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Karrington Bradley"}],"creator":["Karrington Bradley"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Exchange Newsroom","logo":""},"keywords":["army & air force exchange service","army and air force exchange service","disabled veterans","exchange","nasdva","veteran","veterans online shopping benefit"],"dateCreated":"2026-02-26T19:30:57Z","datePublished":"2026-02-26T19:30:57Z","dateModified":"2026-02-26T19:30:57Z"},"rendered":"