Redskins Military Appreciation Day This Sunday

The Washington Redskins launched Redskins Salute 5 months ago, and already have over 25,000 current and former military members signed up for the military appreciation club.  Redskins Salute was launched in partnership with the USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore(USO Metro), and allows members to serve, support, thank and connect with members of the military and their families.  It also offers free events, exclusive content and support programs for military service members and their families to address needs in the areas of education, family services, health and wellness and post-service job creation.

The free events and programs will build upon the success of long-standing military-related events with USO-Metro, including free ticket distribution to Redskin home games and other FedExField special events. Other events have included the Salute to Play 60: Military Challenge at Joint Base Andrews (Air Force-Navy) and an appearance by Redskins rookies at USO-Metro's newly constructed Warrior and Family Center in Bethesda, Md., in addition to the team's military initiatives at FedExField during the season.

Eligibility for Redskins Salute includes all active duty troops, members of the National Guard and Reserves, and military veterans, from all branches in the U.S. military, as well as their family members.

Eligible military members and their families can join free of charge by visiting www.redskinssalute.com.

The Redskins will be honoring current and former military this Sunday since they were on their bye last week.  Earlier today Marc Shea told you about the Redskins and USAA's giveaway for the game.

Everyone attending the game will receive a card with stick-on camouflaged eye black.  Fans can get in the action and show their support of our military by wearing the eye black, taking a picture, and sharing it with #SaluteToService.

The Redskins(along with partners OneUp Sports and Radius Technology) are also going to be offering selected veterans the chance to have their seats upgraded during the game through their new Redskins Connect Mobile App.

I spoke with the Redskins Director of Digital Strategy Jennifer Hinkle today to find out exactly how this would work, and how the Redskins would know who was a member of the military.  The Redskins will use your profile information that you used to sign up for Redskins Salute, and match it with the information you provide when you create a profile on the Redskins Connect App.  The team will be sending out an email before the game with instructions on how to activate the "Live Access" feature in the app.  Using iBeacon technology that is installed in FedEx Field, selected veterans will receive an alert that their tickets have been upgraded.  Military members are encouraged to check their mobile phones throughout the first quarter to see if their seats have been upgraded.

In the future, this technology and app will be used to provide chances to win on field experiences, seat upgrades, and other contests on gameday.

Redskins Connect App on iTunes

Redskins Connect App on the Android Play Store

For the Redskins, "Live Access" allows the organization to micro-target fans (who have opted-in) through beacons using iBeacon technology with proximity-based offers, rewards and communications.

OneUp has provided a mobile platform with "Live Access" for the Redskins that will solidify the development of digital sponsorship assets for the organization. For fans, they will have a more social and interactive experience than every before by using the Redskins Connect Mobile App.

"The Redskins faithful are a passionate group who will now have the opportunity to utilize the 'Live Access' mobile platform to socially engage when attending a game at FedExField," said Daren Trousdell, CEO of OneUp Sports. "We are proud to partner with one of football's most storied franchises to give fans the most innovative and valuable experiences in the NFL."