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Honorably discharged veterans who want to shop at the online exchanges could be given access as early as Monday as part of a group of "beta testers" through a new veteran shopper verification system launched Monday morning. This is supposed to be a new benefit for all honorably discharged veterans (not just active duty, reserves, or retired) starting in November but some vets will be selected to have online access early.

I've seen mixed reviews about the online exchange but it's probably worth a look.

See: http://www.military.com/daily-news/2017 ... hange.html

Worth a try to see how it is. Thanks.

I'm retired military and have used the online exchange once. Overall it was a positive experience. I was wanting 2 lap tops and the exchange had the best price but they weren't in stock. Ordered from online exchange and got what I ordered in several days. Also,got the Star card, exchange charge card, and with their promotional got an additional 10% off my first purchase which was several hundred dollars.

If I see anything else they have that I want I would use them again.

I went to the verify site in the article. I inserted said info and immediately got a message saying I could begin using the exchange in November...

No luck for me. After I input required info, they indicated an apology and indicated they could locate no info re me.

stash wrote:No luck for me. After I input required info, they indicated an apology and indicated they could locate no info re me.

Same thing happened to me when I went to sign up for the Lowes veteran discount online. 3d party verifier could not confirm my status. I have 4 different DD214's so that could be the issue, but I don't know.

stash wrote:No luck for me. After I input required info, they indicated an apology and indicated they could locate no info re me.

I had this problem too. The error message said that I was not in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) database and needed to submit an inquiry at
https://iris.custhelp.com/app/ask
In the form at that location:
1. type Not in DEERS in the Question box
2. From the "Select a Topic and the Inquiry Type" section under the "Please Select a Topic" drop down menu, select the "Veteran not in DEERS (Add)" option.
3. From the "Select an inquiry Type?" same section, select "Question" from the drop down menu.
4. Complete the rest of the form with your contact data and military service data (service number, dates of service)
You should receive an email confirmation with a question reference# shortly after you submit but it may take 5 days to get a real response.

It's a weird form but it does seem to work - I'm waiting for a reply. You can also call 800-827-1000 and say "eBenefits" but I didn't try that - probably a long wait. Good luck

I had a credit account with AAFES back in the early nineties, maybe they collate that stuff...

G26ster wrote:

stash wrote:No luck for me. After I input required info, they indicated an apology and indicated they could locate no info re me.

Same thing happened to me when I went to sign up for the Lowes veteran discount online. 3d party verifier could not confirm my status. I have 4 different DD214's so that could be the issue, but I don't know.

I'm just curious...... how does one end up with four DD214s?

RogueUSMC wrote:I went to the verify site in the article. I inserted said info and immediately got a message saying I could begin using the exchange in November...

Same Here.

The Annoyed Man wrote:

G26ster wrote:

stash wrote:No luck for me. After I input required info, they indicated an apology and indicated they could locate no info re me.

Same thing happened to me when I went to sign up for the Lowes veteran discount online. 3d party verifier could not confirm my status. I have 4 different DD214's so that could be the issue, but I don't know.

I'm just curious...... how does one end up with four DD214s?

I have 2 different DD214's, one when I separated which is the one I provide and one when I left the prior base I was in. I was recognized by the system but had to upload my DD214. I gave them my last one which shows I was discharged (honorable). I was not recognized when I tried the verify at Lowes.

The Annoyed Man wrote: I'm just curious...... how does one end up with four DD214s?

One when I was discharged after being drafted (2 year commitment. 2 months later I re-enlisted- only had 90 days to do so to keep my stripes and so-called "bonus.") One when I graduated Officer Candidate school and was discharged as a Staff Sargent so I could be commissioned. One when I left active duty after 5 years commissioned service, and one after I was re-called to active duty and spent 3 years, and was discharged again. Easy!

The Annoyed Man wrote:

G26ster wrote:

stash wrote:No luck for me. After I input required info, they indicated an apology and indicated they could locate no info re me.

Same thing happened to me when I went to sign up for the Lowes veteran discount online. 3d party verifier could not confirm my status. I have 4 different DD214's so that could be the issue, but I don't know.

I'm just curious...... how does one end up with four DD214s?

At least when I was on active duty, a new DD-214 was issued every time you reenlisted. The only one of any real value is the last one.

G26ster wrote:

The Annoyed Man wrote: I'm just curious...... how does one end up with four DD214s?

One when I was discharged after being drafted (2 year commitment. 2 months later I re-enlisted- only had 90 days to do so to keep my stripes and so-called "bonus.") One when I graduated Officer Candidate school and was discharged as a Staff Sargent so I could be commissioned. One when I left active duty after 5 years commissioned service, and one after I was re-called to active duty and spent 3 years, and was discharged again. Easy!

Pawpaw wrote:At least when I was on active duty, a new DD-214 was issued every time you reenlisted. The only one of any real value is the last one.

OK...... THAT explains it! Thanks.

Being ignorant of such things, I assumed that you'd get one if you left a service, and then perhaps another if you later reenlisted and then left again, but I didn't realize that you have to be discharged as an enlisted person before promotion to the officer corps. Isn't that kind of like having to be fired as a clerk, so you can become office manager? I suppose there are a lot of things about the military that wouldn't necessarily make sense to a civilian, but that do make sense in a military context.

The Annoyed Man wrote: I suppose there are a lot of things about the military that wouldn't necessarily make sense to a civilian, but that do make sense in a military context.

Remember TAM the military is the birthplace of:

"Close enough for government work."
"We've met the enemy, and they are us."
And others I'm not permitted by forum rules to quote.