{"id":12224,"date":"2026-03-10T11:52:15","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T16:52:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/?p=12224"},"modified":"2026-03-10T11:52:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T16:52:15","slug":"real-heroes-win-exchange-shoppers-took-home-nearly-500000-in-prizes-in-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2026\/03\/10\/real-heroes-win-exchange-shoppers-took-home-nearly-500000-in-prizes-in-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Real Heroes Win! Exchange Shoppers Took Home Nearly $500,000 in Prizes in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

DALLAS \u2013 <\/strong>Real heroes win big with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service. In 2025, the Exchange awarded nearly $500,000 in sweepstakes prizes to service members, Veterans, retirees and military family members<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Among the larger prizes was a Red Bull KTM Bike Sweepstakes<\/a> won by retired Air Force Master Sgt. JR Parks, who served for 24 years and during the Vietnam War. The sweepstakes prize included a Red Bull KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition Bike and a $1,000 Visa gift card, valued at $13,499 total.<\/p>\n

\u201cI usually enter the Exchange sweepstake contests, but this one was a much bigger prize than I was used to seeing. I really appreciate the opportunity, and I\u2019m glad I won,\u201d Parks said.<\/p>\n

MILITARY STAR regularly holds sweepstakes for cardholders, including seasonal ones to celebrate the holidays.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought someone was pulling my leg when I got the call that I won,\u201d said retired Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Billy Abrams, a Veteran who won $5,000 in the MILITARY STAR card\u2019s eighth-annual Home for the Holidays sweepstakes<\/a>. \u201cI was watching a NASCAR race when I got the news and assumed a Navy buddy was messing with me before I remembered the contest. I used my MILITARY STAR card a couple of times that month at the Edwards Exchange, and that\u2019s all the luck I needed to win.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Exchange has sweepstakes for various communities, including military kids. The You Made the Grade sweepstakes<\/a> has rewarded students in first through 12th grade for above-average grades to encourage and inspire them to continue studying hard. Ninth grader Trenton Hall took home the grand prize in the form of a $2,000 Exchange gift card in 2025 at the Fort Gordon Exchange.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a parent, I felt excited and incredibly proud because Trenton loves school and puts in a lot of effort both inside and outside of the classroom,\u201d said his mother, retired Chief Warrant Officer 3 Tameka Hall. \u201cI truly feel blessed to have such a wonderful child.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Exchange hosts sweepstakes year-round, open to authorized Exchange shoppers 18 years and older, including Common Access Card holders and honorably discharged Veterans who have confirmed their eligibility to shop online. To enter, shoppers can visit\u00a0ShopMyExchange.com\/sweepstakes<\/a>. To participate in the Free Friday drawings, shoppers can follow the Exchange on Facebook at\u00a0Facebook.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is an honor to serve and support our Nation\u2019s heroes,\u201d said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Rich Martinez, the Exchange\u2019s senior enlisted advisor. \u201cThrough sweepstakes, the Exchange strives to bring joy to the military community, ensuring they know just how much we value their sacrifices and contributions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Social-media-friendly version: <\/strong>Real heroes win @shopmyexchange! In 2025, the Exchange awarded nearly $500,000 in sweepstakes prizes to the military community. Learn how you can win too: https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Q7PG-3ba<\/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

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 Real heroes win big with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service. In 2025, the Exchange awarded nearly $500,000 in sweepstakes prizes to service members, Veterans, retirees and military family members. Among the larger prizes was a Red Bull KTM Bike Sweepstakes won by retired Air Force Master Sgt. JR Parks, who served […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":314,"featured_media":12228,"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":[25,313],"tags":[160,174,107,41,42,33,57,39,62],"class_list":["post-12224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press_releases","category-sweepstakes","tag-aafes","tag-army-air-force-exchange-service","tag-exchange","tag-holidays","tag-military-star","tag-press-release","tag-sweepstakes","tag-the-army-air-force-exchange-service","tag-you-made-the-grade"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2026\/03\/10\/real-heroes-win-exchange-shoppers-took-home-nearly-500000-in-prizes-in-2025\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Real Heroes Win! Exchange Shoppers Took Home Nearly $500,000 in Prizes in 2025","url":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2026\/03\/10\/real-heroes-win-exchange-shoppers-took-home-nearly-500000-in-prizes-in-2025\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2026\/03\/10\/real-heroes-win-exchange-shoppers-took-home-nearly-500000-in-prizes-in-2025\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/021326-RealHeroSweepstakes.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/021326-RealHeroSweepstakes.png"},"articleSection":"Press Releases","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Karrington Bradley"}],"creator":["Karrington Bradley"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Exchange Newsroom","logo":""},"keywords":["aafes","army & air force exchange service","exchange","holidays","military star","press release","sweepstakes","the army & air force exchange service","you made the grade"],"dateCreated":"2026-03-10T16:52:15Z","datePublished":"2026-03-10T16:52:15Z","dateModified":"2026-03-10T16:52:15Z"},"rendered":"