AAFES chief enlisted advisor visits Homestead

  • Published
  • By Ian Carrier
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  The Senior Enlisted Leader to the Commanding General for Army and Air Force Exchange Service visited Homestead Air Reserve Base, March 31. Chief Master Sgt. Jeffry Helm met with wing leadership and Airmen to discuss future plans and inspected the current AAFES facility.

By 2013, the Homestead BX/PX will move onto the base. It will include an expanded shoppette, gas station and clothing sales. The group discussed the possibility of AAFES combining with Defense Commissary Agency to bring a commissary on base. The bottom line on getting better facilities and better stock: customers.

A variety of causes have resulted the current shoppette to operate at a loss. The recent renovations have brought in more customers, but not enough to bring it out of the red. The main issues seem to be that the facility is off base, and a simple lack of awareness among the communities' retired population that a shoppette even exists.

According to Chief Helm, there are BX/PX's around the world that operate at a loss, but AAFES continues to man them because "It's the right thing to do."

It's simple economics; the more customers that spend money at the shoppette, the more support AAFES can provide with bigger and better facilities. Airmen can help by spreading the word and generating awareness for the BX/PX, and instead of buying your drinks or chips at a local store, swing by the shoppette.

It isn't just Airmen on this base, though. The four major service branches are represented on base here. Representatives from the Army and Coast Guard attended the meeting, and it was discussed how to support them with stocking items such as t-shirts, belts, unit patches, etc.

The following is taken from an official AAFES press release:

AAFES is a joint military command with a retail mission. The command's dual mission is to provide quality products and services to all active duty, Reserve, Guard troops, their Families and retirees and to generate earnings to supplement Army Morale Welfare and Recreation and Air Force Services programs. Carrying out AAFES' day-to-day operation include 72 active duty Army and Air Force personnel and more than 43,000 civilian associates.

"It's important that AAFES educates, listens to and addresses our more than 12.2 million customers," Chief Helm said. "This opportunity to interact with our customers only strengthens AAFES' ties in the military community."

AAFES is an important part of any Army and Air Force community. Besides providing the exchange benefit to troops and their Families, AAFES gives 100 percent of its earnings back to the military community. Roughly 70 percent of earnings go towards Army MWR and Air Force Services programs which are used towards quality of life improvements including youth services, recreation centers, arts and crafts, aquatic centers, post functions and golf courses.

The other 30 percent of AAFES earnings go towards capital improvement programs which build new, renovated or expanded facilities to enhance and support the shopping experience. A brand new shoppette with a Military Clothing Sales Store and gas are in the planning stages of being built while a Vitamin World will debut this year.

To ensure military families living and working near smaller locations enjoy the same selection as those at bigger installations, AAFES instituted a "Shuttle Program" that, upon request, can route items from one exchange to the other. This means anywhere a shopper is, they have access to the largest selection of competitively priced goods possible. Everything from large appliances to DVDs can be transferred through AAFES' "Shuttle Program."

"If you don't see what you're looking for, just ask a manager if they can bring it in from another location," said Chief Helm. "Chances are, thanks to this effort, they'll be able to take care of you."

AAFES' "Shuttle Program" is a complimentary service, available at all BXs, PXs, Troop Stores and Shoppettes around the world.

AAFES also has a policy of price matching. They will match a local competitor's price on an identical item. Go to www.AAFES.com for more details.