Air Force retiree wins big in Exchange credit sweepstakes

  • Published

Retired Air Force Master Sgt. Leroy Porter of San Antonio couldn’t believe it when he got the news that his $3,900 Exchange Credit Program bill would be paid in full. 

Porter is among five grand-prize winners of the fifth annual “MILITARY STAR Your Holiday Bill Is On Us” sweepstakes worth nearly $40,000 in prizes.

The grand-prize winners had their MILITARY STAR card balances paid in full. Winners with balances below the minimum prize of $2,500 were given statement credits in the amount of the difference.  Additionally, 10 second-place winners received $1,000 statement credits and 25 third-place winners were given $500 statement credits.

 “It was one of those magic moments,” said Porter, who received his prize in a ceremony at Randolph Air Force Base. 

Four other grand-prize winners were selected from more than 6 million entries:

• Sgt. 1st Class James Williams, a platoon sergeant with the 112th Signal Battalion at Fort Bragg in North Carolina received a $2,500 statement credit.

• Retired Air Force Capt. Doris Jackson was presented with her $2,500 prize at the Nellis Air Force Base Exchange in Nevada.

• Anita Armstrong, whose husband served in the Air Force for 20 years, had her $5,700 balance paid in full at Oklahoma’s Tinker Air Force Base Exchange.

• Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Edwin Maldonado received his $2,500 prize at a celebration at the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Exchange in California.

“Our service members and their families make so many sacrifices for our nation, especially around the holidays,” said Exchange Credit Program Senior Vice President Jami Richardson. “MILITARY STAR is honored to have this chance to express our gratitude by giving back to these heroes.”

The MILITARY STAR card is an exclusive line of credit for service members and their families to use at exchanges and commissaries – no matter where they serve. 

During November and December, shoppers automatically earned an entry in the sweepstakes every time they used their MILITARY STAR card at any military exchange, ShopMyExchange.com, myNavyExchange.com or at the commissary.  (Courtesy of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service)