AAFES top enlisted advisor visits Eglin

  • Published
  • By Kevin Gaddie
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The senior enlisted advisor for the Army & Air Force Exchange Service visited here Feb. 25-26.

During his visit, Chief Master Sgt. Tony Pearson toured Exchange facilities, met with Airmen and community members and addressed Exchange-related issues.

"Part of my job as the senior enlisted advisor is to visit bases throughout the world and find out what Exchange can do to better to serve its customers and fix existing problems," said Pearson, one of 53 active-duty service members assigned to AAFES.

The Exchange is a joint non-appropriated fund instrumentality of the Department of Defense with a retail mission to provide quality products, services and food to servicemembers, their families, Reserve and Guard members, plus military retirees. Exchange sales generate earnings to supplement Air Force Services programs as well as Army Morale Welfare and
Recreation activities.

"Educating our customers on the Exchange benefit is the most important part of my job," said Pearson. "Our goal is to be your number one choice for retail shopping. You can go anywhere to purchase an iPod or a TV, but when you buy from the Exchange, that's money going back to support our military and communities."

Among the topics discussed at his lunch with Airmen were the use of Military Star Cards, gas prices and uniform availability.

Military clothing is the only place the military can buy uniform items on base without mail-ordering them, making it the Exchange's goal to have what they need when they need it, so they can be outfitted properly, Pearson said.

Pearson announced the Air Force will no longer carry the initial ABU uniform, once its inventory is depleted.

"If you need more, go to the BX's clothing sales section and get another set," he said. "The only uniform we will continue to carry is the light weight uniform."

Pearson urged anyone with BX privileges to take advantage of its price-matching policy. He said anyone who provides the BX with a flyer or photo and price of an item found off-base, can buy the item at the BX for the same or lower price, tax-free.

For every dollar earned, 67 cents comes back to the military community from the Services and MWR dividend, Pearson said.

"Last year Eglin activities got back more than $546,000, so shopping at the Exchange is a win-win," said Pearson. "You get great products at a great price and your spent money comes back to the installation through the dividend."

Many on-base facilities, such as child development centers, youth centers and libraries are supported by revenue generated by sales at AAFES facilities, Pearson said. He encouraged the Airmen to support those facilities by shopping on base, or they will see those facilities reduce their hours or disappear entirely.

"If we don't shop at our exchanges, we're not going to have all the conveniences we have now," he said.