The Best of What We Do: Taking Care of Warfighters Far From Home
A large part of what makes the Exchange unique is our capability and dedication to care for service members far from home. We provide our heroes in far-flung corners of the world familiar products, dining experiences, fresh-baked goods made with American ingredients, nutritious and affordable school lunches for Warfighters’ children, combat uniforms below cost and gasoline prices significantly lower than those found on the European economy.
Our incredible support and delivery of a taste of home at the tip of the spear cannot be matched by any retailer.
Last month, Senior Enlisted Advisor CMSgt. Luis Reyes and I traveled to the United Kingdom and Germany to visit our main stores, Expresses, concession malls, Military Clothing stores and restaurants. During our trip, we also saw the new Germersheim Distribution Center. We bid farewell to our outgoing Europe/Southwest Asia Region Commander COL Geoff De Tingo and welcomed COL Scott McFarland as the Exchange’s 29th Europe/Southwest Asia Region commander. We met with military leaders to discuss how the Exchange can do even more to support the expanding mission in Europe.
Equally rewarding was spending time with teammates who do such amazing jobs of serving the best customers in the world. This particular trip offered a chance to honor associates who make it their life’s work to take care of those we love—Soldiers, Airmen and their families—+at 20 Exchange facilities.
The U.K. Consolidated Exchange was especially impressive. Since I visited a few years ago, there has been dramatic progress in customer service, financial performance and community involvement. By thinking outside the box, General Manager Ed Hicks and his team will further save millions of dollars at RAF Alconbury and RAF Menwith Hill.
At Alconbury last year, the Express was consolidated with the troop store, creating a one-stop shop for our troops. From 2015 to 2016, sales were up 33 percent—an amazing improvement! At Menwith Hill, we gained efficiencies by consolidating and focusing on the community’s core needs—in the form of an Express facility. We negotiated with command to return 75 percent of the building, which had housed the main store, back to the installation. The installation has turned that space into a community center. This initiative not only drives foot traffic to the Express store, which is attached, but it will also save the store a $260,000 in depreciation costs in fiscal 2017. Sales are 94 percent above plan and earnings are nearly 90 percent above plan YTD.
Our service at the tip of the spear represents the very best of what we do. Remote locations in Poland, Romania and Bulgaria, and the Middle East, are where Exchange support means the most. A taste of home—a warm smile, a cup of coffee—makes troops feel closer to home. Our Warfighters remember when the Exchange is there for them.
In Germany, meetings with 86th Airlift Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Richard Moore and 86th Mission Support Group Commander Col. Curtis Juell at Ramstein Air Base were among the best I’ve ever had. I am proud to report that Brig. Gen. Moore and Col. Juell praised the Ramstein Exchange team, calling our associates true partners in the community who are all in for readiness and resiliency. Our Ramstein associates’ genuine affection for the heroes they are honored to serve was an unmistakable reminder of our commitment to “family serving family.”
Seeing our operations at Grafenwoehr was extremely special—my brother served there while on active-duty. The Grafenwoehr Exchange plays a major role in the Exchange’s support of troops training in Poland as Grafenwoehr associates traveled hundreds of miles to live in austere conditions and operate mobile field exchanges. Our team members’ dedication to those who serve are at the forefront of our efforts to communicate the unique expeditionary support that only the Exchange can provide. Like all associates who deploy in support of training missions and contingency operations around the world, we owe our incredible teammates in Germany our thanks and appreciation for leaning forward to deliver on our promise to go where they go.
Our service at the tip of the spear represents the very best of what we do. Remote locations in Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and the Middle East are where Exchange support means the most. A taste of home—a warm smile, a cup of coffee—makes troops feel closer to home. Our Warfighters remember when the Exchange is there for them.
It is always an honor to spend time with the Exchange team in any corner of the world. Many thanks to all who made this a memorable trip to Europe. Until we meet again, keep fighting the good fight.
Director/CEO Tom Shull records messages for customers in the AFN Kaiserslautern studio.
While visiting facilities in Europe, Director/CEO Tom Shull recorded Exchange informational messages for broadcast over American Forces Network (AFN). Shull recorded three messages for Soldiers, Airmen and their families stationed overseas. The topics ranged from the Veterans online shopping benefit and support at the “tip of the spear” to school feeding and BE FIT.
Hear all three AFN broadcast messages.
Poland MFEs at the Tip of the Spear
Giving back to the Military Community and BE FIT
School lunch program
