Paid In Full! Retired Naval Officer Receives Surprise of a Lifetime at the JBLE Exchange

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS – Retired Naval Chief Petty Officer Patricia Brooks received a once-in-a-lifetime surprise when she was told her entire MILITARY STAR_® card balance would be paid off with the 10^th annual Your Holiday Bill Is on Us Sweepstakes.

Brooks, who was randomly selected as a grand-prize winner in the Exchange Credit Program’s sweepstakes, received a mock check representing her balance of $6,938 being paid in full during a March 20 presentation at the Joint Base Langley-Eustis Langley BX. Col. Matthew Altman, 633rd Air Base Wing commander, joined JBLE Exchange General Manager Katy Litterer in honoring Brooks.

“It was a total surprise,” said Brooks, who served for 24 years. “Having the bill paid was like having a gift given to me just for shopping. It’s a great privilege.”

Brooks said she has been a MILITARY STAR cardmember since the late 1980s, around the time she enlisted in the Army before transferring into the Navy. She said she continues to use her card because of the perks, including fuel and food discounts.

“I love all the discounts you can get for being a loyal shopper,” Brooks said.

Brooks is a regular shopper at the Langley BX. She said she enjoys the variety and quality provided by the Exchange—tax-free.

During November and December, shoppers worldwide automatically earned an entry in the Your Holiday Bill Is on Us Sweepstakes every time they used their MILITARY STAR card—totaling nearly 5 million entries this year. Five grand-prize winners had their entire MILITARY STAR balances paid off (or received a statement credit if their balance was below $2,500) in the sweepstakes. Ten second-place winners received $1,000 statement credits and 25 third-place winners received $500 statement credits. Since the annual sweepstakes began 10 years ago, MILITARY STAR has paid off nearly $400,000 in balances for members of the military community.

The MILITARY STAR card is administered by the Army & Air Force Exchange Service and is an exclusive line of credit for service members and their families to use at exchanges and commissaries – no matter where they serve. Cardmembers earn unlimited 2% rewards on purchases, including at the commissary, and enjoy exclusive discounts and savings. For more information or to apply for a card, visit https://aafes.media/milstarpa.

Your Holiday Bill is On Us Sweepstakes winner Retired Naval Chief Petty Officer Patricia Brooks, center, with (from left) 633rd Air Base Wing Commander Col. Matthew Altman, Exchange Central East Vice President Chris Holifield, Langley Main Store Manager Edward James III and Joint Base Langley-Eustis Exchange General Manager Katy Litterer.