DALLAS – The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is encouraging shoppers worldwide to hop to it and take a crack at $3,000 in prizes.

With the Patriot Family Easter Egg Hunt Contest, shoppers can search for clues at their local Exchange and post the correct answers on the Exchange’s Facebook page contest tab at www.facebook.com/AAFES.BX.PX. Shoppers can pick up a clue map at their local Exchange or download one from www.shopmyexchange.com/patriot-family.

Four winners will take home a $500 Exchange gift card, and 10 winners will receive a $100 Exchange gift card. Winners will be randomly selected and notified by email.

“While shoppers are on the hunt for clues, they can fill their baskets with everything they need to celebrate Easter,” said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Sean Applegate, Exchange senior enlisted advisor. “The Exchange is stocked with Easter candy, spring attire and more for the holiday.”

The contest runs March 6 through April 3. No purchase is necessary to win. Authorized Exchange shoppers can enter, and children younger than 18 must have their parents’ consent.

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The Army & Air Force Exchange Service goes where Soldiers, Airmen and their families go to improve the quality of their lives through goods and services provided. Exchange earnings provide dividends to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs. The Exchange is part of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors, responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force through the Chiefs of Staff. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.shopmyexchange.com or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ExchangePAO.

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Media Notes:

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Julie Mitchell, 214-312-3327 or [email protected].

DALLAS – The Army & Air Force Exchange Service made dreams come true for three grand-prize winners of the MILITARY STAR^® “Your Holiday Bill Is On Us” sweepstakes—and for one young Soldier from Fort Bliss, winning has changed her life. 

As a grand-prize winner, Sgt. Kakala Loketi had her MILITARY STAR^® account paid in full. During a presentation at Freedom Crossing at Fort Bliss, Loketi took scissors to an oversize MILITARY STAR^® statement, symbolizing her $8,200 bill being wiped clean. 

“This is a huge relief for me and my family,” said Loketi, who is married and has a 4-year-old son. “A weight has been lifted off me.” 

Loketi, who will soon head to Korea for a yearlong deployment, said she primarily used her card for family emergencies. She also would help young Soldiers in her unit who were low on money by buying them basic necessities, including gas. 

“The MILITARY STAR^® Card allowed me to take care of my Soldiers,” she said.

Two Army retirees also received grand prizes in the worldwide contest. Retired Col. Steve Schwaiger, who was stationed at Joint Base Langley-Eustis and now works on base as a civilian contractor, received a $2,500 credit. Retired Army Lt. Col. Jon Riches, who lives in Abilene, Texas, also received a $2,500 account credit during a presentation at Dyess Air Force Base.

For Schwaiger, his prize came at the perfect time. He and his wife just bought their first home. His wife and teenage daughters are weighing in on how to spend his winnings.

“I’m taking everyone’s orders—it’s kind of like a Christmas dream list,” he said. 

Riches, an 80-year-old Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm veteran, hasn’t decided how he will spend his prize. He says visiting Dyess and shopping at the Exchange strengthen his military connection.

“I’ve always felt at home in the military,” Riches said. “It’s nice to go back and feel spirit of the military community at Dyess and with the Exchange.”

The MILITARY STAR^® card is a line of credit for use at the Exchange—no matter where military members serve. During November and December, shoppers were automatically entered in the sweepstakes each time they used their MILITARY STAR^® card to pay for purchases at any Army or Air Force Exchange location or on shopmyexchange.com. The Exchange received nearly 4 million entries in the worldwide contest.

Besides the grand prizes, 10 second-place winners received $1,000 statement credits, and 25 third-prize winners earned $500 credits. A complete list of winners can be found at www.myecp.com.

 “The Exchange is honored to ‘pay it forward’ to Sgt. Loketi, Col. Schwaiger and Lt. Col. Riches, who have devoted their lives to service and sacrifice,” said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Sean Applegate, Exchange senior enlisted advisor. “This contest allowed us to make dreams come true and change lives.”

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The Army & Air Force Exchange Service goes where Soldiers, Airmen and their families go to improve the quality of their lives through goods and services provided. Exchange earnings provide dividends to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs. The Exchange is part of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors, responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force through the Chiefs of Staff. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.shopmyexchange.com or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ExchangePAO.

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 Media Notes:

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Julie Mitchell, 214-312-3327 or [email protected].

DALLAS – Three young scholars have learned that good grades can pay off in a big way thanks to the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s You Made the Grade program.  

Anastasia Newsome, 13, won the grand prize in the program’s semiannual sweepstakes. Anastasia, a seventh-grader in the gifted-and-talented program at TK Stone Middle School in Elizabethtown, Ky., received a $2,000 Exchange gift card during a surprise presentation at the Fort Knox Exchange.  

Her father, Brian Newsome, who medically retired from the Army in 2004, didn’t tell her she had won the sweepstakes, leading Anastasia, a straight-A student, to believe that he had won a prize instead. 

“I’m still trying to get it through my head that it’s $2,000,” said Anastasia, who plans to spend her winnings on items for school, including a tablet, clothes and books. “The program is a great way to reward kids and make them want to achieve higher standards like getting A’s and B’s.” 

Nathan Tuttle, a sophomore at Key West High School, took home the second prize, a $1,500 Exchange gift card. Nathan, who has an A average, entered the drawing at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Exchange. His father, retired Air Force Col. Ron Tuttle works for the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson, telecommuting from the family’s home in Florida. 

Nathan is no stranger to winning. He earned a grand prize of $3,000 in savings bonds from the program in 2011.  

“It’s exciting to win—especially twice,” the 16-year-old said. 

For the third prize, a $500 Exchange gift card, two sisters turned sibling rivalry into sibling revelry. Megan Walters of Mooresville, N.C., daughter of retired Staff Sgt. Kevin Walters. Megan, a sixth-grader who earns straight A’s, received her prize during a presentation at the Fort Bragg North Post Exchange.   

Megan split the prize with her older sister, Sydney, a seventh-grader who also earns perfect marks. The sisters had entered the sweepstakes at Fort Bragg for the last few years, vowing to share the prize should either of them win. 

Through the You Made the Grade program, first- through 12th-graders with a B average or higher are eligible to receive a coupon book filled with Exchange discounts and a sweepstakes entry form for a shot at a $2,000, $1,500 or $500 prize. Drawings are typically held in June and December.  

“These three young scholars deserve to be rewarded for their commitment to excellence in the classroom,” said U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Sean Applegate, Exchange senior enlisted advisor. “The Exchange understands the challenges that military students face—and we appreciate the sacrifices they make, too.”  

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The Army & Air Force Exchange Service goes where Soldiers, Airmen and their families go to improve the quality of their lives through goods and services provided. Exchange earnings provide dividends to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs. The Exchange is part of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors, responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force through the Chiefs of Staff. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.shopmyexchange.com or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ExchangePAO.

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 Media Notes:

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Julie Mitchell, 214-312-3327 or [email protected].

DALLAS – A $10,000 grand prize is up for grabs in the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s latest “Because of You” contest. And, for authorized shoppers, entering is as easy as visiting shopmyexchange.com.

With the Spend Free Spree contest, military shoppers have a chance to win a $10,000 Exchange gift card, or a $2,000 gift card for second place. From Feb. 13-28, authorized Exchange shoppers can enter at shopmyexchange.com/Because OfYou. The contest is part an Exchange yearlong effort to recognize service members’ unique contributions to our country.

“This $10,000 prize could change someone’s life,” said Chief Master Sgt. Sean Applegate, Exchange senior enlisted advisor. “This is the Exchange’s way of thanking military members and their families for their service and sacrifice.”

Complete contest rules can be found at shopmyexchange.com/BecauseOfYou. Winners will be notified on or about March 15.

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The Army & Air Force Exchange Service goes where Soldiers, Airmen and their families go to improve the quality of their lives through goods and services provided. Exchange earnings provide dividends to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs. The Exchange is part of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors, responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force through the Chiefs of Staff. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.shopmyexchange.comor follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ExchangePAO.

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 Media Notes:

 For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Julie Mitchell, 214-312-3327 or [email protected].

DALLAS – The Army & Air Force Exchange Service has been named a Diversity Leader Award winner from Profiles in Diversity Journal for 2015, emphasizing the Exchange’s commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

The Exchange was one of only 19 large organizations—those with 3,000 associates or more—to be honored in the seventh-annual competition.  Organizations were evaluated on employee engagement, advancement opportunities, board composition, workplace recognition, community engagement and more.

“A diverse and inclusive workforce allows the Exchange to better carry out its mission of serving military members and their families around the world,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Joseph Ward, Exchange deputy director. “The Exchange embraces the value of diversity not only in our associates but in our customer base as well.”

The Exchange and other winners are featured in the magazine’s most recent issue, November/December 2014.   

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The Army & Air Force Exchange Service goes where Soldiers, Airmen and their families go to improve the quality of their lives through goods and services provided. Exchange earnings provide dividends to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs. The Exchange is part of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors, responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force through the Chiefs of Staff. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.shopmyexchange.com or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ExchangePAO.

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 Media Notes:

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Julie Mitchell, 214-312-3327 or [email protected].

DALLAS – For many, the dawning of a new year is a time to focus on health and fitness. In fact, nearly one-third of Americans who make new year’s resolutions focus on health and fitness, according to the Cooper Clinic. From low-calorie meals in the food court and Expresses to the latest workout gear in the Main Store, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service is doing its part to ensure Soldiers, Airmen and their families have a healthy new year.  

In the Main Store, military shoppers will find a broad selection of products to encourage a healthy lifestyle as part of the Exchange’s BE FIT program. BE FIT promotes a healthier body and mind through good-for-you products and services.

“Soldiers and Airmen must be mission-ready in body, mind and spirit,” said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Sean Applegate, Exchange senior enlisted advisor. “The Exchange knows it’s crucial to provide the tools necessary to sustain a healthy, active lifestyle.”

Military shoppers who want a bite to eat without ruining their resolutions can turn to healthy options at the Exchange food court. In December, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen launched Exchange-exclusive salads. The new blackened chicken entrée salad, at 300 calories and only 14 grams of fat, includes a colorful medley of vegetables. A new smaller side salad also features the same vegetable medley but with only 25 calories and 0 grams of fat. Popeyes, which operates at 75 Exchange locations, also offers its Louisiana Live Well menu with 20 items, all 350 calories or less.  

In 2014, the Exchange opened Boston Market locations at Fort Bliss and Fort Meade, giving service members and their families traditional, homestyle meals. Boston Market’s menu also offers more than 100 different meal combinations totaling 550 calories or less.

Subway, with nearly 200 Exchange locations, is the first fast-food restaurant to earn the American Heart Association heart check for heart-healthy meals, dishes out fresh fare, too. Subway Fresh Fit® choices are certified by the American Heart Association and include eight subs with 6 grams of fat or less.

When dining at one of the Exchange’s 175 Burger King locations, service members can take advantage of an online Build-a-Meal menu that reveals nutrition facts for various meal combinations. Burger King also allows diners to select a side salad instead of fries for the same price and offers 10 menu items less than 500 calories. The Exchange also operates 50 Pizza Huts and 75 Taco Bell locations, which offer a variety of resolution-worthy initiatives.

Military shoppers can also fill up on healthy choices at 330 Express locations. Snack Avenue offers fresh salads with less than 300 calories, chilled fruit cups and oatmeal. The Fresh Fruit program, which has been in operation for several years, offers bananas, apples, oranges and other options in Express locations. Exchange Expresses offer customers a wide array of meal replacement options such as PowerBar, Clif Bar, Quest and Kind Bars, all available in assorted flavors.

“Offering fresh, healthy snacks and meals in a convenient location helps Soldiers and Airmen make smart choices on the go,” Applegate said. “The Express makes it easy to grab a healthy snack and go.” 

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The Army & Air Force Exchange Service goes where Soldiers, Airmen and their families go to improve the quality of their lives through goods and services provided. Exchange earnings provide dividends to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs. The Exchange is part of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors, responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force through the Chiefs of Staff. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.shopmyexchange.com or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ExchangePAO.

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Media Notes:

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Julie Mitchell, 214-312-3327 or [email protected].

DALLAS – With the swipe of a finger, military shoppers can launch a brand-new way to connect with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service through its free Exchange Extra app.

The app gives shoppers quick access to information on the latest Exchange promotions, contests, coupons, BE FIT information and more. The free app is available at the App Store for Apple products or Google Play for Android devices.

Once the app is downloaded, shoppers can scroll through for coupons and contest information. Touching the “Promotions” button brings up a list of special Exchange savings. The “BE FIT” button gives shoppers access to workouts and healthy recipes to keep them motivated to achieve their fitness goals. 

To access more digital content, including videos, product information and shopping lists, shoppers can touch the “Scan” button and hover over select images in Exchange specialty catalogs and on in-store signs. A colorful Extra label identifies what pages and signs are tied to digital content.

For Valentine’s Day, Easter and other celebrations throughout the year, customers can tap the app for recipes and other specialized content to enhance their shopping experience. 

“This app brings a whole new dimension to connecting with the Exchange,” said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Sean Applegate, Exchange senior enlisted advisor. “With the Extra app, shoppers receive latest savings anywhere, any time on their smartphones.” 

To find the app, shoppers should search for “Exchange Extra” on the App Store or Google Play.  

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The Army & Air Force Exchange Service goes where Soldiers, Airmen and their families go to improve the quality of their lives through goods and services provided. Exchange earnings provide dividends to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs. The Exchange is part of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors, responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force through the Chiefs of Staff. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.shopmyexchange.com or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ExchangePAO.

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 Media Notes:

 For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Julie Mitchell, 214-312-3327 or [email protected].

DALLAS – The Army & Air Force Exchange Service, with the support of U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, is adding a new system to gas stations on military installations worldwide to make it easier for drivers with disabilities to receive full-service fueling with the push of a button.

In 2014, after a request from the Army & Air Force Exchange Service and Duckworth, the Department of Defense authorized $1.12 million for installing FuelCall assistance systems at military service stations. All told, 370 facilities on Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps installations worldwide will receive FuelCall, which allows drivers with disabilities to contact associates inside the store for assistance at the pump through an oversized call button instead of honking their horn or flashing their headlights to get an attendant’s attention. The call button can be reached through the driver’s side window, so the driver can press it without exiting the vehicle, which can be difficult and dangerous.

 “All persons with disabilities, including thousands of returning veterans, active service members, as well as military families with physical disabilities, understand the difficulty of filling up their tanks at gas stations that are supposedly accessible,” said Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran who lost the use of her legs and partial use of her right arm after her helicopter was hit by an RPG in 2004.

 “We must do better. The ability to drive independently is key to the American lifestyle,” Duckworth said. “Ensuring that disabled Americans can consistently and safely refuel their vehicles is critical to their ability to live independent and fulfilling lives. I applaud AAFES and the Department of Defense for their leadership on this issue, and I hope it serves as an example for gas station owners throughout our country.”

 So far, 16 Army & Air Force Express stations, including locations at Scott Air Force Base, Fort Belvoir and Fort Meade, have installed FuelCall. Thirty-eight additional locations are scheduled to begin offering the service in January. Plans call for the system to be added to 215 Express locations in the U.S. and overseas by May.

When an Express location equipped with the system has more than one associate on duty, motorists with a disability license plate or placard may have their gas pumped for them. Signs clearly identify what pump islands have the system and list the hours the service is available.

Making gas stations accessible to drivers with disabilities is a priority,” said Exchange Real Estate Vice President Michael Smietana. “This system allows wounded warriors and others with disabilities to easily get assistance at the pump without frustration.”

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The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is a joint non-appropriated fund instrumentality of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors which is responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force through the Service Chiefs of Staff.  The Exchange has the dual mission of providing authorized patrons with quality merchandise and services at competitively low prices and generating non-appropriated fund earnings as a supplemental source of funding for military morale, welfare and recreation programs. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.shopmyexchange.com.

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Media Notes:

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Julie Mitchell, 214-312-3327 or [email protected].

DALLAS – To recognize the unique contributions our military makes, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service is hosting a yearlong “Because of You” program, with new prizes each month.

The program kicks off with a chance to win a $10,000, $5,000 or $2,000 Exchange gift card. Authorized Exchange shoppers can enter the Proud to Serve essay contest between Jan. 9 and Jan. 31 by writing an essay of 300 words or less detailing why they are proud to serve.

Essays can be submitted to [email protected] with “Why I Serve” in the subject line.

“Because of the sacrifices of military members and their families, Americans enjoy freedom,” said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Sean Applegate, Exchange senior enlisted advisor. “The ‘Because of You’ program allows the Exchange to express gratitude for everything service members and their families do for this country.”

Proud to Serve essay contest winners will be notified no later than Feb. 19. Complete rules can be found at www.shopmyexchange.com/sweepstakes or at www.facebook.com/AAFES.BX.PX.

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The Army & Air Force Exchange Service goes where Soldiers, Airmen and their families go to improve the quality of their lives through goods and services provided. Exchange earnings provide dividends to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs. The Exchange is part of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors, responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force through the Chiefs of Staff. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.shopmyexchange.com or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ExchangePAO.

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Media Notes:

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Julie Mitchell, 214-312-3327 or [email protected].

DALLAS – The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is making it pay to go paperless for 100 lucky military shoppers who sign up to receive electronic statements from the Exchange Credit Program.

During the “Going Paperless Pays” sweepstakes, cardholders who switch from traditional paper statements to electronic versions from Jan. 1 to Jan. 31 will be automatically entered to win a $50 credit on their bill. Eligible lines of credit include the MILITARY STAR^® Gold card, Military Clothing plan and TAKE IT HOME TODAY ™. Throughout the sweepstakes period, 100 account holders will receive the credit. Only one sweepstakes entry per account is allowed. 

“Accessing statements online reduces clutter and conserves paper while decreasing the risk of having account information lost or stolen in the mail,” said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Sean Applegate, Exchange senior enlisted advisor. “And it’s beneficial to cardholders as the new MyECP.com site allows them to more easily manage their account, track spending and schedule payments.”

Cardholders can register for electronic statements by logging into their account at MyECP.com and selecting “Yes, please email” under “Update Contact Information” located on the “Tools” menu.

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The Army & Air Force Exchange Service goes where Soldiers, Airmen and their families go to improve the quality of their lives through goods and services provided. Exchange earnings provide dividends to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs. The Exchange is part of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors, responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force through the Chiefs of Staff. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.shopmyexchange.com or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ExchangePAO. 

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Media Notes:

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Julie Mitchell, 214-312-3327 or [email protected].