AAFES deputy commander tours Vance exchange

  • Published
  • By Joe B. Wiles
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Brig. Gen. Francis Hendricks is second in charge of the 37th largest retailer in the world, with $10 billion in annual sales. The most interesting part of his job, said the general, is meeting the customers and sales associates that make it all possible.

Last week, General Hendricks, the Army Air Force Exchange Service deputy commander, came to Vance AFB to meet with senior leadership and to visit the base exchange and the gas station. He met with Jami Gregory, the BX store manager, and her team of sales associates.

During his tour of the store, the general asked Ms. Gregory about the buying habits of Vance patrons and gave several suggestions that have worked at other AAFES locations, such as offering fresh fruit in the Snack Avenue food area in the Shoppette.

After the tour, General Hendricks awarded an AAFES coin to Terry Lewis, a department manager. The general said Mr. Lewis certainly deserved a coin, based on his leadership, dedication to customer service and his design concept for the new furniture department.

Before leaving the exchange, General Hendricks took a few moments to talk about AAFES operations around the world.

"Next to those in uniform, the 45,000 AAFES associates are the most patriotic group of people I have ever met," he said. "They are motivated by the chance to serve America's Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines. In fact, we have 400 associates currently deployed, and another 1,700 volunteers on the waiting list," he said.

"I met two store associates, who were grandmothers, at the Fort Sam Houston (Texas) exchange. One had deployed to Baghdad for four years, the other for two," said General Hendricks. "And they both were ready to go back."

AAFES has been around for 115 years in one form or another. There are currently 92 stores in Iraq and Afghanistan. "We put in a Burger King, and despite free food in the dining facility, troops lined up for hours to get a Whopper," said the general. It was a little piece of home away from home, he said.

"The AAFES motto -- We go where you go - are the five most important words to those of us in uniform," said General Hendricks. Whether it is shampoo, snacks, drinks, water or laptop computers, iPods and generators, AAFES brings what the military members want wherever they are serving, he said.

Historically, roughly two-thirds of AAFES earnings are paid to Services programs with the other third used to build new stores or renovate existing facilities. Purchases made by Airmen at the base exchange and other AAFES activities at Vance AFB last year generated a dividend of $132,398. These funds are critical to Air Force Service's ability to enhance local programs and facilities including the Youth Center, golf driving range and bowling center.