{"id":4751,"date":"2019-12-17T18:15:49","date_gmt":"2019-12-17T18:15:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/?p=4751"},"modified":"2019-12-17T18:29:19","modified_gmt":"2019-12-17T18:29:19","slug":"10000-deployed-troops-to-see-star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-for-free-thanks-to-army-air-force-exchange-service-and-the-walt-disney-studios","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2019\/12\/17\/10000-deployed-troops-to-see-star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-for-free-thanks-to-army-air-force-exchange-service-and-the-walt-disney-studios\/","title":{"rendered":"10,000 Deployed Troops to See \u2018Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker\u2019 for Free Thanks to Army & Air Force Exchange Service and The Walt Disney Studios"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"DALLAS \u2013 <\/strong>The force will be strong with 10,000 deployed service members during free first-run screenings of \u201cStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker\u201d thanks to the Army & Air Force Exchange Service and The Walt Disney Studios<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Troops in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates and undisclosed locations in Southwest Asia will see the highly anticipated movie for free during its initial run. The special showings of the film start Dec. 18\u2014two days ahead of its U.S. release\u2014and will roll out through Jan. 5.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince 2012, the Exchange has forged a partnership with The Walt Disney Studios to bring first-run movies to our Nation\u2019s heroes,\u201d said Exchange Director\/CEO Tom Shull. \u201cBringing a blockbuster movie like \u2018Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker\u2019 to deployed troops during the holidays is a big morale boost. These service members are away from family and friends during this special time of year\u2014and seeing a big release at the same time it\u2019s being shown back home strengthens their connection with family and friends and eases the tensions of deployment.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Exchange and The Walt Disney Studios have a tradition of bringing big movies to deployed troops during the holidays. In 2017, \u201cStar Wars: The Last Jedi\u201d screened in the Middle East. \u201cRogue One: A Star Wars Story\u201d played in 2016, and \u201cStar Wars: The Force Awakens\u201d played in 2015.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a privilege to do something special for these brave men and women,\u201d said Ken Caldwell, Executive Vice President and General Sales Manager for North American Sales and Distribution at The Walt Disney Studios. \u201cThis is our way of thanking our troops for their service.\u201d<\/p>\n

The free screenings will take place at locations where the Exchange does not operate Reel Time Theaters, however Exchange theaters in Qatar, Afghanistan and Kuwait will play the movie during its normal theatrical release.<\/p>\n

Facebook-friendly version: <\/strong>The force will be strong with 10,000 deployed service members during free first-run screenings of \u201cStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker\u201d thanks to the Army & Air Force Exchange Service and The Walt Disney Studios. Read more: https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Q7PG-1eD<\/a>.<\/p>\n

— 30 —<\/p>\n

Since 1895, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange) has gone where Soldiers, Airmen 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 62nd<\/sup>-largest retailer in the United States. Its earnings provided $2.3 billion in dividends to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs over the last 10 years. The Exchange is a non-appropriated fund entity of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors. The Exchange is a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Partner, planning and conducting events and activities that recognize the service, valor and sacrifice of Vietnam Veterans and their families in conjunction with the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration. 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 Twitter at https:\/\/twitter.com\/ExchangePAO<\/a>.<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

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

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Julie Mitchell, 214-312-3327 or mitchelljul@aafes.com.<\/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","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DALLAS \u2013 The force will be strong with 10,000 deployed service members during free first-run screenings of \u201cStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker\u201d thanks to the Army & Air Force Exchange Service and The Walt Disney Studios. Troops in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates and undisclosed locations in Southwest Asia will see […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":4753,"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],"tags":[48,112,35,220,39],"class_list":["post-4751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press_releases","tag-deployed","tag-disney","tag-military","tag-star-wars","tag-the-army-air-force-exchange-service"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2019\/12\/17\/10000-deployed-troops-to-see-star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-for-free-thanks-to-army-air-force-exchange-service-and-the-walt-disney-studios\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"10,000 Deployed Troops to See \u2018Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker\u2019 for Free Thanks to Army & Air Force Exchange Service and The Walt Disney Studios","url":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2019\/12\/17\/10000-deployed-troops-to-see-star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-for-free-thanks-to-army-air-force-exchange-service-and-the-walt-disney-studios\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2019\/12\/17\/10000-deployed-troops-to-see-star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-for-free-thanks-to-army-air-force-exchange-service-and-the-walt-disney-studios\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/12\/95250-RT-1stRun-StarWars-RiseSkywalker_FB-1-e1576606518537.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/12\/95250-RT-1stRun-StarWars-RiseSkywalker_FB-1-e1576606518537.jpg"},"articleSection":"Press Releases","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Marisa Conner"}],"creator":["Marisa Conner"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Exchange Newsroom","logo":""},"keywords":["deployed","disney","military","star wars","the army & air force exchange service"],"dateCreated":"2019-12-17T18:15:49Z","datePublished":"2019-12-17T18:15:49Z","dateModified":"2019-12-17T18:29:19Z"},"rendered":"