The Salute to Service Award presented by USAA acknowledges the exceptional efforts by members of the NFL community to honor and support U.S. service members, veterans and their families.

The Vikings have selected Aaron Jones, Sr., as their nominee for this year's Salute to Service Award. Finalists are determined by the consensus votes of fans, an NFL internal committee and USAA; individuals can vote here through Nov. 30.

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It wasn't the Vikings win over Miami that most impacted Ret. SFC Ben Derek last month.

It wasn't the U.S. Bank Stadium experience, the free tickets, the sideline passes or even getting to meet an NFL player.

What meant the most to Derek was being looked in the eyes and truly seen by Aaron Jones, Sr., the Vikings nominee for the 2026 Salute to Service Award.

Before the game in which he racked up 20 carries for 94 yards, Jones connected with Derek and his wife; he shook Derek's hand and thanked the United States Army veteran and Green Beret for two decades of service.

"With his family's military background, he gets it. He does," Derek emphasized. "It was so nice to be able to talk to him and feel like he understands my perspective and understands where I'm coming from.

"To have somebody like that recognize me, it touched me … It's almost a little unbelievable sometimes," Derek continued. "I'm like, 'I'm just Ben. Why me? What is that happening for me?' … I don't necessarily feel like I deserve it. I was a guy who went out and did a job."

Derek and his older brother enlisted in the military shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America, a time he recognizes as chaotic and high-pressure.

"Anybody who signs up to go and put themselves through that situation, especially in a wartime situation like that, some people might call that crazy, right? … And it's to helpfully help other people in the world in positive ways," he reflected. "So for Aaron to recognize that, it just means so much. Somebody at his level sees me."

While Jones hasn't personally served in the military, he is deeply connected through the service of his late father, Alvin Jones, Sr., who served 29 years in the U.S. Army and mother, Vurgess, who served 27 years, both of whom retired as sergeant majors; as well as his older brother, Xavier, currently in the Air Force.

Jones' childhood was significantly shaped by regularly relocating for his parents' jobs (the family lived in five different places, including Germany) and by navigating multiple deployments by his mom and dad.

"At a young age, I had to learn to adapt to change quickly," Jones said. "I had to learn how to cope with my parents both being deployed to Iraq at the same time. I'm in second grade, not knowing if they're coming back or when's the next time I'll talk to them. Technology wasn't what it is today."

When the Jones family settled in El Paso, Texas, which he now considers his hometown, Jones recalled daily showing his military I.D. when returning to the base from high school or practice. He has bittersweet memories of his freshman year at UTEP, during which his mom often served Temporary Duty in Kuwait. He and his twin brother, Alvin Jr., roomed together and used a landline to call and speak with her overseas.

Despite the emotional toll of his parents' deployments, Jones is thankful for his experience growing up on military bases.

"I wouldn't trade it for the world," he said. "I got to see special men and women put their differences aside and come together to protect us and serve our country … so I can play a game, a child's game, over here and we can just live a normal life.

"I feel like military servicemembers, men and women, they don't get their flowers," Jones added. "They're oftentimes forgotten. That's one of the reasons I continue to shine [a light on them]."

Jones' closeness to his family and deep-seeded respect for the servicemen and women guides his motivations for giving back to the community and especially military families. In 2020, he and Alvin Jr. established the A&A All the Way Foundation to help amplify their impact.

Jones hosted and met with active and retired U.S. military members before each Vikings home game last year. For the 2026 season, he is doing the same — and also has added guests for each road game.

"It's very important that I get to meet with the soldiers," he said. "I like to look them in the eyes and shake their hands personally and tell them, 'Thank you for your service,' along with their family or whoever's with them.

"I want to let them know, 'Hey, if you're done serving or are currently serving, there are people out here who care about you," Jones added.

He carried those sentiments overseas in 2024, when Jones embarked on a USO Tour to visit military bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

During his time on tour, Jones reunited with a former high school basketball teammate of his who currently is serving. He also was able to FaceTime his mom from Camp Arifjan (Kuwait), where she previously had been stationed.

"She told me, 'That building was there; that one is new,' [those types of things]," said Jones, who earlier this year was announced as an official USO Ambassador. "They really haven't built up that much, though. She was like, 'This is how we lived.' And I told her, 'Mom, thank you. I can do this for a week, but not longer than that.' You truly see the sacrifices these men and women make."

The USO Tour provided Jones an opportunity to spend quality time with soldiers, including eating meals in the mess halls or just hanging out together in the barracks late at night.

"They act in awe that I'm so down to earth, but I'm like, 'I'm in awe that you guys are out here doing this [for months at a time], being away from your families,' " Jones said. "I'm just a regular person. I'm like the next person … and I just wanted to share how thankful I was for them."

The immense gratitude is mutual. Following Derek's experience at the Vikings Week 4 game, he sat down and wrote a lengthy and personal letter to Jones as a further expression of such.

Derek shared in the note he has deployed to Iraq, Mali, Afghanistan and other places around the world. He reflected on the pride he has in serving his country, as well as the difficult effects that often accompany military service and returning to civilian life. Derek has dealt with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder since retiring, having witnessed distressing events that include combat deaths and the loss of a close friend in a military training exercise.

Below is an excerpt from Derek:

Toward the end of my military career, it felt like a switch suddenly flipped. One minute I was operating with complete confidence, and the next, I knew my time in uniform was done. It felt like my own mind was fighting me. Part of me was immensely proud of what I accomplished, while another part questioned the decisions made and whether I had done the right things. Honestly, it left me confused, uncomfortable and searching for peace. Transitioning and finding what feels right in your heart after that kind of life hasn't been easy. Your heart and generosity have made me feel truly seen and genuinely appreciated for the time and effort I put into my military career.

Derek enclosed with the letter one of his challenge coins from 3^rd Battalion, 10^th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and a Special Forces patch and long tab.

"Honestly, I wanted to do more. It's what I had available, and I just wanted him to have something," Derek said.

Moved by the personal letter and gift from Derek, Jones invited him to TCO Performance Center for Minnesota's October 24 walk-through session ahead of its game against the Colts. Jones and Derek reunited following the practice, sharing an embrace and heartfelt words for one another.

Jones surprised Derek with a Salute to Service-themed Vikings helmet and delved deeper into conversation with the veteran — including the fact that Derek once was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, a unique touchpoint that's only increased the connection Derek feels with Jones.

Relationships formed through A&A All the Way mean the world to Jones, who is always seeking new ways to give back and make a difference. He's excited for an enduring partnership with United Heroes League, a Minnesota-based nonprofit that supports youth from military families, and plans to embark on future USO Tours similar to the 2024 trip.

And in the meantime, he'll continue welcoming soldiers and veterans like Derek to each Vikings game — appreciating the opportunities to say "thank you" face to face.

"It's amazing to be able to use my platform in the right way, to impact people where they know, 'Hey, this guy cares about us, our children, the military in general,' " Jones said. "It's not always sunshine and rainbows with the military. It's not. They deal with a lot, especially when they go to war and have to come back and adjust to normal life. It's not easy.

"It takes special people who serve," he added. "It's a very special thing in their heart."

Fans can help Jones become a Salute to Service Award finalist by voting here through Nov. 30.

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