Military Times is hosting a sweepstakes to award one lucky winner a pair of ATN’s NGV7-2 Night Vision goggles (valued at about $2,000)!
These goggles are lightweight, compact, and are weather and fog resistant. Because they feature head mounting equipment, they can be used hands-free. Applications are being accepted through 3 March 2012, so click here for more details and to enter.
Good luck!
Image courtesy of Military Times
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You can show your appreciation to military servicemembers who came before you by sending them free valentines through your local Exchange now through Feb. 6th. 
Now in its second year, “Valentines for Veterans” is an annual Exchange campaign to send greetings to local Veterans Administration hospitals, Fisher House locations and military retirement facilities.
To send free Valentine’s Day cards, you can simply stop by participating Exchange facilities through Feb. 6th and fill out cards provided, or bring your own cards to drop off. The Exchange will arrange for delivery to local veterans on or before Valentine’s Day.
You can learn more by contacting your local Main Exchange and asking about “Valentines for Veterans”; you can also click here to locate your closest Exchange location.
“The veterans we delivered to in 2011 really appreciated all the Valentines greetings. Everyone loves to be remembered.” ~ Ray Lamy, Exchange HQs Military Outreach coordinator and Former Air Force servicemember
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By Angelica, Military Spouse and Exchange Guest Blogger
Oftentimes military families just need a little extra spending money. Some spouses are able to work outside the home, but for reasons such as transportation, access to employment off-base, and child care, smart and job-ready spouses might feel their options are limited. Working from home might be the answer, but it takes dedication to make a home-based business successful.
1. Deciding your business: Thinking of goods or services to offer others for a profit. Do you enjoy cleaning other people’s homes? Are you good at sewing, crafting, or knitting? Are you an excellent writer, graphic designer, or web designer? Do you love turning other people’s trash into treasure for resale? Do you know how to do hair, apply make-up, give facials, or massages? Are you an excellent photographer? Are you handy with electricity, plumbing, or painting? Are you patient enough to work with children and provide tutoring or babysitting services on occasion? Can you bake scrumptious cakes and desserts? Then the doors to self-employment are open to you!
2. Standing out: Marketing your services.
A. Use networking in your military community to let people know what you do. Attend events and family meetings. Order cheap business cards and introduce yourself, hand them out, and leave them at conspicuous places such as bulletin boards, the coffee shop, and libraries.
B. Build a website that advertises your business. Many websites cost as little as $5.00 per month and people will be more trusting of you than by seeing an ad in the newspaper or a business card alone. Depending on your business, your website can be an online store, filled with photos of the creations you make. If it is hair and makeup, take some pictures of willing models that you can use to build your credibility. A website is a good tool for promoting your business, as well as social networking sites in which friends and followers have access to your business while using the site.
C. Place ads in the local paper (which will be free on many occasions) or on military community websites. Don’t let these ads go stale; always place new ads or keep yours towards the top of the list. Just because someone didn’t respond to the ad the first time doesn’t mean a new person reading the page won’t see it and inquire.
3. Finding business.
A. If you are a crafter, selling your crafts at military Christmas bazaars, yard sales, and donating items to auction are killer ways to make profits. People attend these events with the intention of buying something unique.
B. If you do hair and make-up, keep up to date on father-daughter dances, high school dances, and military balls in your area to really sell your talents.
C. If you have a skill that is useful, check help-wanted ads for one-time gigs or Craigslist, oftentimes someone will need a photographer, a web designer, or writer for one project.
What are some of your tips for raising your family on a Military Budget?
The opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service.
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Several different “Most Popular” lists of mobile apps were produced at the end of 2011. Several apps dominated all lists, like Angry Birds and its various iterations.
Google’s top 10 Android apps: Apple’s top 10 “free” iPhone apps:
Apple’s top 10 “paid” iPhone apps:
Have you downloaded our Exchange Mobile app? If not, watch the quick video below for a sneak peak on what it has to offer!
What apps do you recommend to our blog community?
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Fall in love with Twilight all over again…
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The world’s most epic romance, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1, arrives just in time for Valentine’s Day.” To celebrate Edward and Bella’s eternal love, the Exchange and Summit have partnered to give twihards their chance to win one of seven different Exchange gift cards. All you have to do is answer all the questions below correctly and you are automatically entered to win. The answers are based on the movie released in theaters. Post your answers to all 10 questions, as a comment to this blog post for your chance to win a $300 Exchange Gift Card, (1) $150 Exchange Gift Card or one of (5) $100 Exchange Gift Cards! Don’t forget that you can get your copy of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 on DVD & Blu-ray on Saturday, February 11th at your local Exchange. Be amongst the first to grab a copy at your Exchange for the Edward or Bella in your life, in time for Valentine’s Day and receive an exclusive, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 Challenge Coin (while supplies last.) View full contest details below.
HOW TO ENTER: Contest opens at 0001 hrs CST on 27 January 2012. Post your answers to all 10 questions, as a comment to our blog post “Breaking Dawn Pt. 1 Contest” on our blog site www.salutetoyourservice.com no later than 2359 hrs on 14 February 2012. Your post must include your full name (including middle initial), mailing address, email address, phone number and nearest Army or Air Force Exchange to be eligible to win. Out of fairness, entries will not be published to this blog site until after the contest has ended; until it is published, it will be in “awaiting moderation mode” which means we have received your entry but it is only visible to you and the Exchange Social Media Team as the admins of this contest. Please note personal contact information in your entry will be kept for our records to contact you if you are a winner and will be removed before your entry is published on this blog for the public to see.
1. When will The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Pt. 1 be released on Blu-Ray and DVD?
2. Where did Bella and Edward spend most of their honeymoon?
3. Who does Bella call to protect her and the baby when she finds out that she is pregnant?
4. True or False; Bella wants to keep the baby.
5. What 3 wolves separate from Sam Uley’s wolf pack?
6. True or False: Towards the end of Bella’s pregnancy, Edward cannot read the baby’s thoughts.
7. What did Bella and Edward name their child?
8. True or False: Bella becomes a vampire.
9. True or False: Seth and Leah Clearwater believe that Bella died.
10. What 3 legendary characters are shown at the end of the movie?
Limit one entry per authorized Exchange customer. The “Breaking Dawn Pt. 1 Contest” winners will be announced on the blog after 21 February 2012. Prize may not be exchanged or traded and will be sent to the winner’s nearest Army or Air Force Exchange for award presentation. Grand prize winner will receive a $300 Exchange gift card. Runner up prize winner will receive one $150 Exchange gift card. Five Third place winners will each receive a $100 Exchange gift card.
Please note, that this blog is moderated and all comments will be reviewed and each entrant’s personal information will be removed prior to approving the comment to be posted publicly on the blog. Content must not include any provocative, crude or foul language. Any comment that contains any of the aforementioned language will be subject to immediate disqualification. Please keep in mind that your post will be published for all to see and our Terms of Service must be adhered to. For a complete list of our Terms of Service please click here.
WINNERS: Winners will be randomly selected from all correct eligible entries.
ELIGIBILITY: All authorized exchange customers are eligible to participate except employees of the Exchange (including military personnel assigned to the Exchange and Exchange retirees), its concessionaires, contractors or representatives providing in-store service or working in an Exchange facility, the firm(s) sponsoring the contest, and the immediate family members of the above. Immediate family includes spouse, children, parents, persons in loco parentis and resident members of the employee’s immediate household. This contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
DISCLAIMER: Each entrant agrees and grants the Exchange permission to make available and display/perform and otherwise distribute entrants’ names and submission in all media in perpetuity without compensation. All entries must be the original creation of the entrants and/or must not infringe upon copyrights, trademarks, rights of privacy, publicity, or other intellectual property or other rights of any person or entity. The Exchange reserves the right to remove any entry for any reason without notice to the entrant. Sponsor is not responsible for entries that are incomplete, lost, late, misdirected, or not received due to transmission defaults, computer server failure and/or delayed, garbled or corrupted data transmissions.
In the event of a dispute over the identity of an online entrant, entry will be deemed submitted by the “Authorized Account Holder” of the e-mail address submitted at time of entry. Authorized Account Holder means the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address. Entry materials/data that have been tampered with or altered, or mass entries or entries generated by a script, macro or use of automated devices are void. The Sponsor is not responsible for: (i) lost, late, misdirected, damaged or illegible entries; or (ii) error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operations or transmission, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alterations of entry materials, or for technical, network, telephone equipment, electronic, computer, hardware or software malfunctions of any kind, or inaccurate transmission of or failure to receive entry information by Sponsor on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any web site or any combination thereof; or (iii) any injury or damage to entrant’s or any other person’s computer related to or resulting from participating in this Contest. By participating in the Contest, you (i) agree to be bound by these official rules, including all eligibility requirements, and (ii) agree to be bound by the decisions of Sponsor and the independent judging organization, which are final and binding in all matters relating to the Contest. Failure to comply with these Official Rules may result in disqualification. Sponsor will not allow spamming or repeated posting of requests for votes on the Exchange page. Contest entrants choosing to post vote requests will be disqualified. Sponsor reserves the right to: (i) permanently disqualify from any Contest it sponsors any person it believes has intentionally violated these Official Rules; and (ii) withdraw the online method of entry if it becomes technically corrupted (including if a computer virus or system malfunction inalterably impairs its ability to conduct the Contest), and to select winners from among all eligible entries received prior to withdrawal.
TAX INFORMATION: All taxes, fees, and surcharges on the prize won are the sole responsibility of the winner(s).
LEGAL WARNING: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN INDIVIDUAL, WHETHER OR NOT AN ENTRANT, TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE, DESTROY, TAMPER OR VANDALIZE THIS WEB SITE OR INTERFERE WITH THE OPERATION OF THIS CONTEST, IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES AND DILIGENTLY PURSUE ALL REMEDIES AGAINST ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
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Having trouble getting your kiddos to eat their fruit and vegetables? Have you tried negotiating with them or telling them that they need them to grow up healthy, only to realize they are just a little more stubborn about it then you realized? Have you tried making it fun? Making it fun for them may just be the trick you have been searching for all along. Here are a few of suggestions to include your kiddos in that may make it fun and easier to ensure they receive the nutritional value that fruits and vegetable provide.
We have given you a few of our tips to get your kiddos to eat their fruits and vegetables. What are some of your tips?
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Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton partner together to bring this comical, yet inspirational, story of two choir leaders who disagree on seemingly everything, but share the same dream of seeing their small town choir win a national competition.
Queen Latifah plays Vi Rose Hill in the film; her daughter Olivia’s beautiful voice is a prized asset of the church choir. Dolly Parton plays G.G. Sparrow; her grandson Randy doesn’t fit into the small town “type”, but has amazing vocals that can help bring the group to victory at the competition in L.A. Although Vi Rose and G.G. don’t exactly get along, Olivia and Randy begin to find a lot in common despite their differences…and sparks soon fly.
With plenty of music, a sprinkle of romance, and whole lot of inspiration, this movie is about battling the odds to achieve your biggest dreams.
Check to see when it’ll be playing in your Reel Time Theater here, and watch our interview with some of the cast below!
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Think you’ve got talent worth taking the stage for?
We’re sure you do!
You can now apply to audition for the 2012 Soldier Show. A show “For the Soldier, by the Soldier”, this is a night with a live performance 
featuring music, dancing and tons of fun. These Soldiers tour various installations throughout the year, so be on the lookout for the tour schedule to see when they’re coming to an installation near you.
Both performers and technicians are needed, and applying is open to all Soldiers (Active Duty, U.S. Army Reserve, U.S. Army National Guard). Applications must be received by 18 January, 2012.
Please note you must have sufficient time in Service remaining to be eligible; for more information on applying, please visit army.mwr.com.
The Exchange pays roughly two-thirds of yearly earnings to IMCOM G-9 Family and MWR Programs. In the past ten years, the Exchange has contributed more than $2.4 billion to quality-of-life programs such as youth services, Armed Forces Recreation Centers, arts and crafts, aquatic centers, golf courses and more. We’re honored to do so!
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Now that the holidays over; it’s time to keep those New Year’s resolutions. Who needs butter-flavored popcorn when you can make your very own “spicy popcorn?” If your New Year’s resolution was to eat healthier we’ve got a quick and simply popcorn recipe that will help keep you on the right track to a better you in 2012. By making your own spicy popcorn you can keep it healthy and satisfy those pesky snack attacks. Making your own popcorn is a quick and simple treat that is low in fat, calories, sodium and cholesterol! Happy snacking!
*Start with a bowl of plain popcorn
* Add your favorite spices
* Mix thoroughly
* Enjoy!
For more Operation Be Fit ideas click on the following links:
Visit our Exchange OpBeFit Facebook Tab
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Vending machines have been traditionally known for selling the goodies our taste buds love–chips, candies, and carbonated drinks are among some of the favorites. With the growing trends to become healthier, however, even vending machines have come under the watchful eye of health experts.
Cue Fit Pick.
A series of stickers and small signs designed to call out the healthier options inside a vending machine, Fit Pick’s intent is to inform the consumer of which items are well, more “fit”. Lower fat and calorie levels, for example, would make food products candidates for meeting the Fit Pick health criteria and thus be labeled with a Fit Pick sticker inside the vending machine.
The Exchange currently requires all new snack vending contracts to carry a percentage of its products in each vending machine to meet the Fit Pick criteria as a means of offering healthier options to its customers. You can look for the Fit Pick stickers in the vending machines of your installation as they become implemented through Exchanges worldwide.
For more information, please visit fitpick.org.
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