AAFES has been in every major conflict since
World War I
by Master Sgt. Orville F. Desjarlais Jr.
Airman magazine
AAFES has been in every major
conflict since World War I
FILE PHOTO -- During its 109-year
history, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service mission has been to
support servicemembers. AAFES was there when the
Air Force became a service, and it's still supporting Airmen today during
operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. (Courtesy photo)
2/2/2005 - SAN ANTONIO (AFPN) -- With the birthday cake in
place and candles lit, Regina Koenig and a few other Army and Air Force Exchange
Service employees sang “Happy Birthday” to a 21-year-old colleague at Bagram Air Base,
Halfway through the
song, a 127 mm rocket exploded on the other side of the main store.
As the service
business manager, Mrs. Koenig knew the rocket had hit near the beauty shop,
which was one of her vendors. She feared for her employees’ safety.
While everybody else
scrambled for cover, unsure if another rocket would hit, Mrs. Koenig raced
toward the ruckus.
When she turned a
corner, she couldn’t see a thing. Dust had blotted out the sun. All she could
hear were the screams of injured Soldiers. Confusion reigned. Shards of glass
littered the site. Blood was everywhere.
After checking on two
employees and a customer, all of whom were OK, her memory went blank. The June
16 attack had killed three Soldiers and injured 23 servicemembers
and civilians. Two months later, the Army recognized Mrs. Koenig, along with
three other AAFES employees, as heroes.
To this day, Mrs.
Koenig said she doesn’t like to make a big deal about her hero status. She is
more proud of having the store open just four hours after the explosion.
“We may not have had
much, but it was enough to make our customers happy,” she said.
During its 109-year
history, AAFES’ mission has been to follow servicemembers
no matter where they go -- even if that means working in harm’s way.
Following the military
The War Department
issued General Order 46 in July 1895 that directed commanders to establish
exchanges at every post as practicable. Old black-and-white photographs depict
some of the first employees selling goods from tents. After the Army Exchange
Service supported World War I and World War II, it was redesignated
the Army and Air Force Exchange Service in July 1948. Since then, it has been
involved in every major conflict, including those in
“The ironic thing is
that, 109 years later, we’re still on a new frontier and sometimes still
working out of tents,” said Army Maj. Gen. Kathryn Frost, Army and Air Force
Exchange Service commander.
Another similarity
with the past is the challenge of getting merchandise to remote areas. AAFES
lost $6 million in the last sixth months, primarily because of convoy ambushes
and hijackings. Getting merchandise in-theater isn’t only challenging, it can
be deadly. Although there hasn’t been a
Despite the danger,
employees continue to occasionally convoy to remote outposts to organize
“rodeos” where employees sell merchandise off truck tailgates and from the back
of aircraft so that troops can at least buy the essentials -- like toiletries,
socks and underwear. They do this only when an outpost has no base or post exchange.
“You won’t find a
workforce more committed to the troops than our volunteers who deploy
in-theater,” the general said. “They are willing to put themselves at risk to
take care of Soldiers and Airmen downrange. It’s a phenomenal story of
commitment and courage, and it’s unprecedented.”
Living large
A large part of AAFES’ mission takes place
during an Airman’s time off.
“We’re doing the best
we can to make an awful environment a little more pleasant for the troops,”
General Frost said.
When the war with
Today, base and post
exchanges in-theater carry everything from DVD players
to laptop computers. Commercial cargo planes fly in magazines, CDs and DVDs so
patrons can buy the same merchandise as their counterparts in the
Soldiers and Airmen
can even get pedicures, manicures and massages at some camps -- amenities many
stateside bases don’t offer.
“We bring them the
services they are accustomed to at home,” said Anthony King, Manas store manager in
Smiles go a mile
When customers are happy, so are store
employees, General Frost said. She said store associates in
“It’s nice to come
here and discover the real reason why AAFES was founded,” Mr. King said.
“Everybody appreciates you out here.”
Mr. King said he
enjoys his job so much he volunteered to serve in-theater longer than the
standard six months. He spent two months in
In stateside shoppettes, base exchanges and gas stations, store
employees don’t get the chance to interact with customers on a personal level.
In
“AAFES associates say
they are truly thanked every day,” said Chief Master Sgt. Dale Myers, enlisted
adviser for General Frost. “They get a sense of accomplishment. They also get
to see what their customers do during times of war, and they gain a better
appreciation for the military.”
The general said many
volunteers extend or return to the harsh conditions endured in war zones. “They
thrive in those environments,” she said. “They learn to lead, and they come
back better people.
Willing to go again
After the rocket attack at Bagram,
Mrs. Koenig eventually returned home to
After spending six
months deployed, she says she would do it again. Employees receive a bonus of
10 to 25 percent of their pay when they volunteer to serve at locations
supporting operations Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom.
“We’re not there just
for the (increase in pay),” Mrs. Koenig said. “We’re there for the Soldiers. We
have no weapons to protect ourselves, but we still go.”