ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
The Army and Air Force Exchange Service's senior enlisted advisor to the commanding general visited the local AAFES base facilities recently. Marc Floyd, Andrews and Bolling Consolidated Exchange general manager, gave Chief Master Sgt. Jeffry D. Helm a tour of the AAFES facilities here as part of his tour of AAFES installations worldwide.
"We operate fast food restaurants, military clothing sales, main stores, and shoppettes worldwide and even in the most remote locations," said Chief Helm, "We go where our military members go, especially downrange in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation, Air Force Services programs and AAFES facilities are funded and upgraded through revenues and dividends generated through AAFES locations and the online site, www.aafes.com. Thanks to AAFES support by Team Andrews members, the base is scheduled to see three key upgrades to the facilities in the coming months. "The old dining facility on the east side of base will have either a brand-name sandwich shop, like a Subway or Quizno's, put in there and that will help the folks working on the other side of the base," said Chief Helm.
"We saw a need and approached AAFES and base leadership and told them that we were looking to better serve our customers on the east side of the base," said Mr. Floyd. "We're looking for a healthy alternative for our customers -- like what can be found in these sandwich shops -- we're working to meet and exceed their needs and expectations."
"Additionally, other changes Andrews will see in coming months includes a brand new shoppette with another sandwich shop, eating area and an automatic car wash," said Mr. Floyd. "We are also looking at a major car care center, like a Firestone, that will offer a wider-range of car service and the Doner Kabob is going in the old Church's Fried Chicken location; that will start in March.
"Another change our military members will enjoy hearing -- especially on a cold day like today -- is that we're looking for an alternative source for the production of the APECs jackets in order to better supply our MCSS outlets. If there's one thing I can't stand it's when Airmen can't get what they need." said Chief Helm.
Chief Helm said AAFES customers need to know that when they shop at AAFES, they are not just getting the value that they get at the register, but they are helping the base at-large, as well. "Roughly 67 percent goes back to the base in the form of youth centers, car washes, auto hobby shops, child development centers and so on. The other 33 percent goes to capital improvements because Airmen, Soldiers and their Families should have modern facilities they can shop and dine in. No money is leftover; it's all given back to our military communities."
"When you shop here at the BX, all the shopping dollars are returned to the base," said Mr. Floyd. "When you shop here, you can be assured you are helping to improve Andrews and the base community."