DALLAS – LATINA Style magazine has named the Army & Air Force Exchange Service one of the 50 best companies for Latinas to work, further highlighting the Exchange’s commitment to diversity in the workplace.

 The Exchange’s selection to the 2014 LATINA Style 50 will be published in the magazine’s special August issue, and the Exchange will be recognized at the magazine’s awards ceremony and diversity conference early in 2015.

 “The Exchange consistently champions diversity, and this national award is a testament to our strong commitment to excellence,” said Exchange Executive Vice President & Chief Merchandising Officer Ana Middleton, one of the Exchange’s highest-ranking Hispanic women. “Diversity in the workforce is essential to ensuring the Exchange serves Soldiers, Airmen, their families and retirees in the best way possible.”

The Exchange was chosen for LATINA Style 50 after evaluation of more than 800 companies. The magazine’s annual rankings are considered a respected source of information for Hispanic women across the country.

 LATINA Style 50 highlights companies that have a dedicated effort to diverse recruiting and promotion initiatives. The report also highlights companies that have programs to recruit veterans and military personnel.  

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The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is a joint nonappropriated 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 – As has been widely reported, a data breach has affected 51 The UPS Store locations in 24 states—or about 1 percent of stores. Customer data, including names, addresses and payment information, may have been exposed because of malware hacking from Jan. 20 to Aug. 11. 

Military shoppers who have made purchases or shipped packages at The UPS Store locations operated through the Army & Air Force Exchange Service have not been affected by this breach.  

The Exchange offers The UPS Store at 33 locations. Customer information was not compromised at The UPS Store’s military locations. 

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The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is a joint nonappropriated 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 – Army & Air Force Exchange Service restaurants are helping Soldiers, Airmen and their families eat healthy while saving money with “Salad Wednesdays.”

Every Wednesday, guests can take $2 off any salad priced $4 or more at participating Exchange direct-operated restaurants. “Salad Wednesdays” are part of the Exchange’s Operation BEFIT initiative, designed to promote health and wellness. 

“Saving money while eating right is good for the body—and the wallet,” said Exchange Senior Enlisted Advisor Chief Master Sgt. Tony Pearson. “The Exchange wants to do its part by ensuring Soldiers and Airmen have a wide selection of healthy and affordable food.”     

Besides saving $2 on salads each Wednesday, customers who pay with their MILITARY STAR^® card receive an additional 10 percent off at Exchange restaurants.

Exchange restaurants are open to anyone – whether military, civil service, contractor or visitor – per Army Regulation 215-8 and Air Force Instruction 34-211 (I).  

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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 – The Army & Air Force Exchange Service announced it paid a dividend of $208 million in 2013 to morale, welfare and recreation efforts for the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy. Over the past 10 years, the Exchange has provided more than $2.4 billion in dividends to military programs.

“Roughly two-thirds of Exchange earnings are paid to the Services’ morale, welfare and recreation programs, while the other third is used to build new stores or renovate facilities,” said Exchange Senior Enlisted Advisor Chief Master Sgt. Tony Pearson. “For example, in 2013 we built new main stores at Fort Belvoir and Kirtland Air Force Base. The Exchange also constructed new Expresses at Fort Wainwright, Edwards Air Force Base and Fort Bliss and six other locations around the world last year.”  

Exchange support to the military goes beyond Soldiers and Airmen. Because the Exchange operates at Marine and Navy locations, funds are also returned to Marines and Sailors. The FY 2013 dividend of $208 million was distributed as follows:

Army:                                      $116.5M

Air Force:                                $  69.4M

Marines:                                  $  19.2M

Navy:                                      $    3.2M

Total:                                     $208.3M

The Exchange’s mission of providing quality goods and services at competitively low prices while generating earnings to support quality-of-life efforts means that the Exchange benefit is more than finding a good price on merchandise. This structure ensures that shoppers who take advantage of their Exchange benefit at brick-and-mortar stores or online at www.shopmyexchange.com are working to better their communities.

“When customers shop and dine at the Exchange, they are investing in their own community, making it a better place to live and work,” Ockenfels said. “100 percent of Exchange earnings serve Soldiers, Airmen and their families.”

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The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is a joint nonappropriated 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 – As a new school year kicks off, Army & Air Force Exchange Service shoppers can send their students to the head of the class with an Apple prize package thanks to the Unilever Back to School Axe Sweepstakes.

Six grand-prize winners will each receive Apple prizes with an approximate retail value of $2,000. Each winner will take home a MacBook, an iPad, an iPod Touch and a $25 iTunes gift card.

“The grand prize will help six lucky winners stay connected, whether they’re at home or on the go,” said Exchange Senior Enlisted Advisor Chief Master Sgt. Tony Pearson. “Entering is as easy as stopping by the local Exchange.”

Unilever Back to School Axe Sweepstakes entry forms are available at Exchange stores worldwide from Aug. 8 through Sept. 4. Authorized shoppers 18 years and older with a valid driver’s license can enter, and no purchase is necessary. The drawing will take place on or about Oct. 14.

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The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is a joint nonappropriated 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 – As military shoppers load up their students’ backpacks with pencils, notebooks and other back-to-school gear, MILITARY STAR^® card users can fill up on savings at pumps at Army & Air Force Exchange Service Express locations worldwide.

From Aug. 8 to Aug. 10, the Exchange is doubling the everyday 5-cents-per-gallon gas discount MILITARY STAR^® cardholders receive when fueling up. On those three days, drivers paying for gas with their MILITARY STAR^® card will receive 10 cents off per gallon.

“With back-to-school season in full swing, the MILITARY STAR^® gas discount gives military shoppers another reason to see how the Exchange makes the grade,” said Chief Master Sgt. Tony Pearson, the Exchange’s Senior Enlisted Advisor. “The extra savings at the pump are just the beginning of the value shoppers will find at their Exchange.”

No matter the season, shoppers can reap the benefits of paying with their MILITARY STAR^® card. Besides the everyday discount of 5 cents per gallon on all gas purchases, cardholders enjoy a 10 percent discount on all Exchange food court purchases year-round.

For information about the features and benefits of the MILITARY STAR^® card, shoppers can visit www.shopmyexchange.com/ExchangeCredit.

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The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is a joint nonappropriated 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].