Uzbekistan among areas serviced by
new AAFES tactical field exchanges
By David Josar,
Stuttgart bureau
AAFES photo
Army and Air Force Exchange Service commander Air Force Maj. Gen. Charles Wax, right,
speaks with assistant store manager Diana Krieger during Wax's week-long tour of the AAFES
stores in Germany. |
The Army and Air Force Exchange Service has opened seven new tactical field exchanges
in Uzbekistan, Oman, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates in support of Operation Enduring
Freedom.
AAFES commander Air Force Maj. Gen. Charles Wax said four more are being planned.
"When the soldiers and airmen go forward, we go with them," he said. "We
are there providing them service."
The tactical field exchanges are much smaller than the exchange on most established
bases, offering the basics such as small toiletry items, shower shoes, some books and
magazines and snack foods.
The facilities vary, said Wax, who has spent the past week visiting AAFES stores at
about a dozen military communities in Germany.
The exchanges vary from being inside a hard-sided building to a tent or a trailer, he
said.
AAFES spokesman Maj. Mitch Edgar said the new facilities are similar to those operated
from trailers used during temporary field exercises.
Wax declined to say where the next ones would open.
AAFES photo
Maj. Gen. Charles Wax inspects Turkish carpet at an AAFES specialty shop at the
Mainz-Kastel Storage Station. |
"It doesn’t matter where they’re located, we’re there to provide
service on the front line," he said.
The U.S-led war on terrorism has had several effects on military exchanges throughout
Europe, Wax said.
One problem is the shipments to and from the United States are being delayed due to
increased security of the U.S. mail, he said.
"We’re aware of it and we’re planning ahead," he said.
For example, the holiday Toylands, which sell toys and other gift items for children,
opened Sept. 15, a few weeks earlier than last year, he said.
Shopper Karen Heinz on Friday said she was glad to see the AAFES facilities at Patch
Barracks in Stuttgart ready for holiday shopping.
"It looks like they’re ready to go sooner this year," said Heinz, a
Department of Defense dependent. "I know I want to get my shopping done early so I
can mail my stuff back to the States sooner."
Another fall-out from the war on terrorism and the Sept. 11 attacks has been a demand
for more and different types of products, Wax said.
"A lot of our customers have asked for things that are more patriotic in
nature," he said.
More customers want to buy American flags, red, white and blue bunting and T-shirts
with U.S. flags, the slogan "United We Stand" and images of the World Trade
Center and the Pentagon, Wax said.
"We are supporting what our community wants," he said.
Wax has been touring AAFES facilities in Germany since last Saturday. AAFES has stores
in 34 countries.
He said some of the facilities he visited need upgrades and that he also saw the need
for more selection.
He noted one product area he’s trying to bolster is furniture.
"We need a little broader selection. We need more apartment-size furniture,"
he said.
Too much of the furniture being sold is geared for American-size homes instead of the
smaller, European-size apartments. "We’ll need to deal with that."
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