View source for VetVerify.org

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox website
| name           = VetVerify.org
| website_type   = [[Veterans benefits]], [[United States government]]
| company_type   = [[Subsidiary]]
| location       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Dallas, Texas]]
* United States
}}
| key_people     = {{Plainlist|
* [[Tom Shull]]
}}
| url            = {{URL|http://vetverify.org}}
| registration   = Required
| language       = English
| launched       = {{Start date and age|2017|6|5}}
| parent         = [[Army and Air Force Exchange Service|Army & Air Force Exchange Service]] <br> [[Navy Exchange|Navy Exchange Service Command]] <br> Marine Corps Exchange
| current_status = Active
}}

'''VetVerify.org''' is a shared online service of the [[Army and Air Force Exchange Service|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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/06/05/some-veteran-beta-testers-early-access-online-exchange.html|title=Some Veteran 'Beta Testers' Can Get Early Access to Online Exchange|publisher=Military.com|date=July 10, 2017|accessdate=August 15, 2017}}</ref>

==History==

===Veterans online shopping benefit===

On June 14, 2012, the [[Army and Air Force Exchange Service|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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chainstoreage.com/article/aafes-exchanges-military-commander-civilian-ceo|title=AAFES exchanges military commander for civilian CEO|publisher=Chain Store Age|date=June 14, 2012|accessdate=August 15, 2017}}</ref> On May 8, 2014, Shull drafted a memorandum to the then-acting [[Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness]] [[Jessica L. Wright|Jessica Wright]] proposing a plan to allow honorably discharged [[veterans]] to shop online at military exchanges.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.stripes.com/news/us/aafes-chief-let-22-million-vets-shop-exchanges-online-1.287142|title=AAFES chief: Let 22 million vets shop exchanges online|publisher=Stars & Stripes|date=June 5, 2014|accessdate=August 15, 2017}}</ref>

Shull presented a business case for the expanded benefit to the [[United States Department of Defense|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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.stripes.com/news/us/aafes-makes-business-case-for-allowing-veterans-to-shop-online-1.299294|title=AAFES makes 'business case' for allowing veterans to shop online|publisher=Stars & Stripes|date=August 21, 2014|accessdate=August 15, 2017}}</ref> The Executive Resale Board voted unanimously to recommend the proposal in August 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.militarytimes.com/pay-benefits/military-benefits/2016/08/16/the-pentagon-is-closer-to-extending-a-generous-new-benefit-to-millions-of-veterans/|title=The Pentagon is closer to extending a generous new benefit to millions of veterans|publisher=MilitaryTimes.com|date=August 16, 2016|accessdate=August 15, 2017}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/1049558/dod-ope%20ns-online-exchange-shopping-%20to-veterans/|title=DoD to Open Online Exchange Shopping to Veterans|publisher=defense.gov|date=January 13, 2017|accessdate=August 15, 2017}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.militarytimes.com/pay-benefits/military-benefits/2017/06/05/veterans-can-register-now-for-chance-at-early-access-to-online-military-exchange-shopping/|title=Veterans can register now for chance at early access to online military exchange shopping|publisher=MilitaryTimes.com|date=June 5, 2017|accessdate=August 15, 2017}}</ref> By July 26, VetVerify.org had received 260,000 applications and verified 120,000 veterans.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.snopes.com/veterans-shop-exchange-online/|title=Can Veterans Shop Online at Military Exchange Stores?|publisher=Snopes.com|date=July 25, 2017|accessdate=August 15, 2017}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://soldierforlife.army.mil/retirement/blog/504|title=Veterans Can Visit VetVerify.org for Exchange Online Shopping Authentication|publisher=Army Retirement Services Office|date=June 21, 2017|accessdate=August 15, 2017}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/06/05/some-veteran-beta-testers-early-access-online-exchange.html|title=Some Veteran 'Beta Testers' Can Get Early Access to Online Exchange|publisher=Military.com|date=July 10, 2017|accessdate=August 15, 2017}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.militarytimes.com/pay-benefits/mil-money/2017/07/10/your-questions-answered-about-the-new-veterans-online-shopping-benefit/|title=Your questions answered about the new veterans online shopping benefit|publisher=MilitaryTimes.com|date=July 10, 2017|accessdate=August 15, 2017}}</ref>

==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 video|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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.militarytimes.com/2017/07/18/lone-survivor-duo-luttrell-wahlberg-spread-word-on-veterans-online-exchange-benefit/|title='Lone Survivor' duo Luttrell, Wahlberg spread word on veterans' online exchange benefit |publisher=MilitaryTimes.com|date=July 10, 2017|accessdate=August 15, 2017}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Base exchange]]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.vetverify.org/ Official site]
* [http://www.shopmyexchange.com/ Army & Air Force Exchange Service official site]
* [http://www.mynavyexchage.com/ Navy Exchange official site]
* [http://www.mymcx.com/ Marine Corps Exchange official site]
* [http://shopcgx.com/ Coast Guard Exchange Exchange official site]

{{DOD agencies}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:United States Army organization]]
[[Category:United States Navy]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps]]
[[Category:United States Air Force]]
[[Category:United States Coast Guard]]
[[Category:United States Department of Defense agencies]]