{"id":2618,"date":"2016-08-15T15:11:33","date_gmt":"2016-08-15T20:11:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/pressrelease\/?p=2618"},"modified":"2016-08-15T15:24:08","modified_gmt":"2016-08-15T20:24:08","slug":"joint-base-san-antonio-randolph-shopper-wins-5000-gift-card-in-sweepstakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/pressrelease\/?p=2618","title":{"rendered":"Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Shopper Wins $5,000 Gift Card in Sweepstakes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"PromotionJOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH <\/strong>\u2013 A military retiree from Victoria, Texas was presented with a $5,000 Exchange gift card at the Randolph Exchange on July 22.<\/p>\n

Martin Kocian, who served in the Army Reserve for 24 years before retiring at the rank of Sgt. 1st Class, was picked at random to win the Army & Air Force Exchange Service\u2019s Promotion in Motion sweepstakes<\/a> from nearly 20,000 entrants last month.<\/p>\n

While Kocian said he regularly enters Exchange contests, the $5,000 gift card is by far the most valuable prize he\u2019s won yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re excited when you hear you\u2019ve won, but until you get it you don\u2019t realize how big of a deal it really is,\u201d he said. \u201cThen, when you finally hold it in your hand, the reality of it all sets in and you get really excited.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kocian said he and his wife, Geneva, have simply been spending the card as they go \u2013 though he wants to make sure he has enough left over to buy a diamond ring for Geneva.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe ordered a camera and a few different things,\u201d he said. \u201cThere are a few big ticket items and appliances that we need. We\u2019ll put it to good use. It\u2019s not going to go stale on me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Larry Salgado, general manager of the Randolph Exchange, said the Exchange is happy to provide shoppers like Kocian with the opportunity to win such valuable prizes.<\/p>\n

\u201cOffering our shoppers the chance to win something of serious value is just another way we seek to add value to the Exchange shopping experience,\u201d Salgado said. \u201cOur customers are heroes, and sweepstakes such as these are simply a small \u2018thank you\u2019 to those who work so hard to protect American freedoms.\u201d<\/p>\n

— 30 —<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http:\/\/www.aafes.com\/about-exchange\/public-affairs\/press-releases.htm<\/a> or follow us on Twitter at https:\/\/twitter.com\/ExchangePAO<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Conner Hammett, 214-312-2714 or hammettc@aafes.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t

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