Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

NOTICE

The Exchange FOIA and Privacy is a telework office. We encourage all requesters to make and receive FOIA or Privacy responses through electronic means by either email or fax. Mailed copies or responses may result in delays and possibly additional processing fees. Thank you for understanding.

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WELCOME

Thank you for visiting the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange) Office of General Counsel, Compliance Division. This office manages the policy and procedural guidance for the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA) programs in accordance with applicable laws.

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The Exchange maintains records dealing with carrying out the mission of supporting men and women of the armed forces during military operations, humanitarian missions and other endeavors around the world. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified in Title 5 U.S.C. §552 is a law that provides an individual the right to access information from a federal government entity.

Anyone can request information, including U.S. citizens, State and Local agencies, foreign nationals, organizations, associates and universities. Upon receipt of a written request, the Exchange is required to review and release information unless it falls under one of the nine exemptions listed in the FOIA. Prior to requesting information, we suggest you view the Army FOIA Electronic Reading Page to determine if information is already available.

PRIVACY ACT OF 1974

The Privacy Act of 1974 was enacted December 31, 1974 and is codified in Title 5 U.S.C. §552A. The Privacy Act is a United States federal law establishing a Code of Fair Information Practice that governs the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of personally identifiable information about individuals that is maintained in a system of records by a federal entity.

The Privacy Act protects individual records which are retrieved by personal identifiers such as name, social security number, or any other identifiable number or symbol. The Privacy Act provides an individual the right to seek access to and request correction (if applicable) of any such records maintained about him or her maintained in an Exchange System of Records. The Privacy Act prohibits the disclosure of records without a written consent from the individual(s) for whom the record pertains, unless one of twelve disclosure exemptions applies.