VetVerify.org

Last updated

VetVerify.org
Type of business Subsidiary
Type of site
Veterans benefits, United States government
Available inEnglish
Headquarters
Key people
Parent Army & Air Force Exchange Service
Navy Exchange Service Command
Marine Corps Exchange
URL vetverify.org
RegistrationRequired
LaunchedJune 5, 2017;4 years ago (2017-06-05)
Current statusActive

VetVerify.org is a shared online service of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, the Navy Exchange Service Command, the Marine Corps Exchange and the Coast Guard Exchange. Its sole purpose is to verify eligibility for the veterans online shopping benefit, a 2017 expansion of online military exchange shopping privileges to honorably discharged Veterans. [1]

Contents

History

Veterans online shopping benefit

On June 14, 2012, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service appointed its first civilian director/CEO, Tom Shull, a West Point graduate who previously served as CEO of Wise Foods, Hanover Direct, Barneys New York and Meridian Ventures. [2] On May 8, 2014, Shull drafted a memorandum to the then-acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Jessica Wright proposing a plan to allow honorably discharged veterans to shop online at military exchanges. [3]

Shull presented a business case for the expanded benefit to the Department of Defense's Executive Resale Board in August 2014, emphasizing the plan's potential to generate more than $100 million for installation quality-of-life programs within three years. [4] The Executive Resale Board voted unanimously to recommend the proposal in August 2016. [5]

On Jan. 13 2017, the Department of Defense announced that all honorably discharged veterans would be eligible to shop tax-free online military exchanges starting Nov. 11, 2017. [6] The expanded benefit is expected to make online exchange privileges available to all honorably discharged veterans from a total of approximately 21 million veterans.

Website launch

The military exchanges announced the launch of VetVerify.org on June 5, 2017, adding that some veterans would be selected to shop ahead of the Nov. 11 launch as beta testers. [7] By July 26, VetVerify.org had received 260,000 applications and verified 120,000 veterans. [8]

Military exchanges annually distribute more than $300 million in earnings back to the military community in the form of dividends to quality-of-life programs such as Morale, Welfare and Recreation. Allowing veterans to shop online could provide tens of millions in additional contributions to such programs. [9]

Verification Process

To register, users must provide their first and last names, the last four digits of their social security number, date of birth, email address and branch of service. [10] VetVerify.org then confirms the user's eligibility using Defense Manpower Data Center data, the most comprehensive collection of data on veterans. If an applicant cannot be immediately verified, they may submit a digital copy of their discharge paperwork to be reviewed for eligibility. [11]

Celebrity Endorsements

In July 2017, former United States Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell appeared in a 30-second Facebook video alongside Mark Wahlberg, who played Luttrell in "Lone Survivor," urging veterans to register at VetVerify.org. The video went viral, causing a spike in traffic to the site and driving a 60 percent increase in number of successful verifications on the weekend of the video's launch. [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

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The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the G.I. Bill, was a law that provided a range of benefits for some of the returning World War II veterans. The original G.I. Bill expired in 1956, but the term "G.I. Bill" is still used to refer to programs created to assist some of the U.S. military veterans.

Military discharge Release from military service

A military discharge is given when a member of the armed forces is released from their obligation to serve. Each country's military has different types of discharge. They are generally based on whether the persons completed their training and then fully and satisfactorily completed their term of service. Other types of discharge are based on factors such as the quality of their service, whether their service had to be ended prematurely due to humanitarian or medical reasons, whether they had been found to have drug or alcohol dependency issues and whether they were complying with treatment and counseling, and whether they had demerits or punishments for infractions or were convicted of any crimes. These factors affect whether they will be asked or allowed to re-enlist and whether they qualify for benefits after their discharge.

Veterans Health Administration Health service for former United States military personnel

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Defense Commissary Agency

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA), headquartered at Fort Lee (Virginia), is an agency of the United States Department of Defense (DoD) that operates nearly 240 commissaries worldwide. American military commissaries sell groceries and household goods to active-duty, Guard, Reserve, and retired members of all eight uniformed services of the United States and eligible members of their families at cost plus surcharge, saving authorized patrons thousands of dollars compared to civilian supermarkets.

Army & Air Force Exchange Service

The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is the retailer on U.S. Army and Air Force installations worldwide. The Exchange is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and its director/chief executive officer is Tom Shull. The oldest and the largest of the Department of Defense's exchange services, it is No. 53 on the National Retail Federation's Top 100 Retailers list.

In the U.S. armed forces, separation means that a person is leaving active duty, but not necessarily leaving the service entirely. Separation typically occurs when someone reaches the date of their Expiration of Term of Service (ETS) and are released from active duty, but still must complete their military reserve obligations. Upon separation, they receive form DD214, which verifies their military service.

An exchange is a type of retail store found on United States military installations worldwide. Originally akin to trading posts, they now resemble contemporary department stores or strip malls. Exact terminology varies by armed service; some examples include base exchange (BX), and post exchange (PX), and there are more specific terms for subtypes of exchange.

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Defense Manpower Data Center

The Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) serves under the Office of the Secretary of Defense to collate personnel, manpower, training, financial, and other data for the Department of Defense. This data catalogues the history of personnel in the military and their family for purposes of healthcare, retirement funding and other administrative needs. It has offices in Seaside, California and Alexandria, Virginia.

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Veteran Health Identification Card

The Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) is an identification card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for eligible veterans to receive medical care at VA Medical Facilities. The VHIC protects the privacy of veterans' sensitive information, as it no longer displays the Social Security number or date of birth on the front of the card. The VHIC will only display the veteran's name, picture, and special eligibility indicators—Service Connected, Purple Heart and former POW, if applicable, on the front of the card. Only veterans who are eligible for VA medical benefits will receive the card. Starting on Jan. 1, 2020, the Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act allows Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war and veterans with service-connected disabilities entry onto military installations to use the AAFES Exchange; commissary and Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities.

Navy Exchange US Federal Navy retail stores

Navy Exchange is a retail store chain owned and operated by the United States Navy under the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM). The Navy Exchange offers goods and services to active military, retirees, and certain civilians on Navy installations in the United States, overseas Navy bases, and aboard Navy ships. The Navy Exchange is a type of base exchange, but is separate from the others.

Tom Shull American businessman

Tom Shull is an American businessman and Director/CEO of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange), No. 53 on the National Retail Federation's Top 100 Retailers list. Shull joined the Exchange in 2012 as the first civilian to lead the Department of Defense's largest retailer. He also serves on the Exchange's board of directors.

Veteran identification card

The Veterans Identification Card (VIC) is an identification card issued by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to former military personnel as part of the Veterans Identification Card Act of 2015. The VIC allows veterans to demonstrate proof of service without the need for carrying their DD214, namely for discounts on goods and services offered by private individuals or organizations to veterans.

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References

  1. "Some Veteran 'Beta Testers' Can Get Early Access to Online Exchange". Military.com. July 10, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  2. "AAFES exchanges military commander for civilian CEO". Chain Store Age. June 14, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  3. "AAFES chief: Let 22 million vets shop exchanges online". Stars & Stripes. June 5, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  4. "AAFES makes 'business case' for allowing veterans to shop online". Stars & Stripes. August 21, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  5. "The Pentagon is closer to extending a generous new benefit to millions of veterans". MilitaryTimes.com. August 16, 2016. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  6. "DoD to Open Online Exchange Shopping to Veterans". defense.gov. January 13, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  7. "Veterans can register now for chance at early access to online military exchange shopping". MilitaryTimes.com. June 5, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  8. "Can Veterans Shop Online at Military Exchange Stores?". Snopes.com. July 25, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  9. "Veterans Can Visit VetVerify.org for Exchange Online Shopping Authentication". Army Retirement Services Office. June 21, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  10. "Some Veteran 'Beta Testers' Can Get Early Access to Online Exchange". Military.com. July 10, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  11. "Your questions answered about the new veterans online shopping benefit". MilitaryTimes.com. July 10, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  12. "'Lone Survivor' duo Luttrell, Wahlberg spread word on veterans' online exchange benefit". MilitaryTimes.com. July 10, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2017.