MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Ward
MEDIA ADVISORY: 12-047
RELEASE DATE: Aug. 29, 2012

DALLAS –The Army & Air Force Exchange Service has a mission to provide quality products and services at competitive prices. This same mission can also apply to authorized GSA SmartPay card holders who are looking for a one-stop source for products or services their agency or organization needs, at the best price.

In addition to the same friendly and knowledgeable service Exchange associates provide America’s warfighters, military units and government agencies using a SmartPay card at the Exchange or online at www.shopmyexchange.com benefit in a variety of ways:

• Savings – no sales tax and 10 percent off any purchase (excluding gas, tobacco, alcohol and certain Military Clothing items)
• Convenience – the Exchange offers a multi-category basket of goods that make it a “one-stop” supplier while shopmyexchange.com offers more than 18 million items
• “We’ll Match It” – match a competitor’s price on identical items
• Community – purchases support installation morale, welfare and recreation programs

“We thrive in providing great selection, savings and service to our military members and their families. We also offer these same assets to partners in the federal agencies,” said the Exchange’s Senior Enlisted Advisor Chief Master Sgt. Tony Pearson. “From military units to federal departments, the advantages of using the SmartPay card at the Exchange just make sense.”

In addition to the myriad of savings and convenience benefits of using the SmartPay card at the Exchange, civilian employees who are not normally entitled to Exchange privileges, but are authorized to make organizational purchases, need only show their SmartPay card and a government ID to make official purchases.

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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 Chris Ward, 214-312-2714 or [email protected].

MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Ward
MEDIA ADVISORY: 12-046
RELEASE DATE: Aug. 23, 2012

DALLAS – According to the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention, losses due to thefts from retail stores alone amount to more than 35 million a day. The Army & Air Force Exchange Service, which has contributed more than $2.4 billion to morale, welfare and recreation programs in the past 10 years, continues to focus its efforts on reducing theft to maximize the investment authorized shoppers make in their Exchange benefit.

Through an aggressive “Shoplifting Awareness Community Outreach” program targeted at youth, closed circuit televisions with DVR technology and high-tech Electronic Article Surveillance, the Exchange took “a bite out of crime” at its facilities last year as shoplifting cases dropped 12.7 percent, from 5,432 in 2010 to 4,742.

The value of merchandise involved in these incidents also dropped, from $533,760 to $529,440 in 2011.

“Because of the toll shoplifting takes on retail, shoppers typically pay 1.5 cents more per dollar as a result,” said the Exchange’s Vice President of Loss Prevention Rick Koloski. “Our proactive, and visible, efforts to prevent shoplifting have resulted in three consecutive years of decreases and, as a result, a stronger benefit for those we serve.”

If shoplifting is suspected, the Exchange Loss Prevention office turns the issue over to local law enforcement. In addition to possible disciplinary action and/or criminal prosecution, the Federal Claims Collection Act allows the Exchange to enact a flat, administrative cost (Civil Recovery) of $200. There may be further fees, in addition to the Civil Recovery Program, depending on the condition of the stolen merchandise.

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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 Chris Ward, 214-312-2714 or [email protected].

MEDIA CONTACT: SSG Mark Matthews
MEDIA ADVISORY: 12-045
RELEASE DATE: Aug. 9, 2012

DALLAS – What’s in the case? Why are the contents so top secret not even the commander is privy to its existence? Why is it secretly being hand carried by a noncommissioned officer? These answers and more are available for free at Exchange Stores worldwide in the latest installment of the free military-only “Avengers” comic book provided by the Army & Air Force Exchange Service and Marvel Custom Solutions.

“The level of cooperation and commitment between Marvel and the Exchange is outstanding,” said Chief Master Sgt. Tony Pearson, Senior Enlisted Advisor for the Exchange. “This is the 13^th comic book we’ve worked on together and my hope is there are many more to come.”

“All of us here at the House of Ideas greatly respect and admire the actions that the men and women of the U.S. military perform every day to ensure our freedom,” said Marvel Custom Solutions Editor Bill Rosemann. “The world saw the Avengers assemble in the record-breaking movie, but now only the real-world heroes of the military get to enjoy this all-new, action-packed adventure by the all-star creative team including writer William Harms, penciler Tom Raney and cover artist Alan Davis.”

This 22-page story tells the tale of a message intercepted by the Super Villain mercenary squad Serpent Society, stating that a package of unknown contents is being transported from Afghanistan to America by Sgt. Joe Wilton. As a group of Soldiers, along with Wilton, are returning home from deployment at the Atlanta International Airport, the Serpent Society attacks, seeking the case which they believe will grant them a fortune. It doesn’t take long for Captain America, the other Avengers and the returning service members to spring into action to protect innocent civilians and the secret contents of the case.

Captain America, Iron Man, Hawkeye, Thor, the Hulk and a plane full of Service Members stand ready once again to protect America from the ill will of the Serpent Society. However, this time the hero of the moment is a noncommissioned officer and his unwavering determination to complete his “top secret” mission and deliver the precious cargo.

Marvel and the Exchange have printed one million copies of the free comic book and are currently available at Exchange stores worldwide while supplies last.

“These comic books are a great medium for us to show our appreciation and gratitude for U.S service members,” Chief Pearson said. “This particular story is one of duty, integrity, loyalty and courage, something all Soldiers and Airmen can personally connect with.”

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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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About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years.  Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing.  For more information visit www.marvel.com.