Imprest-Fund Stores are a Lifeline for Troops
For American troops serving in the African country of Niger, where the deeply rooted terror groups ISIS, Al Qaida and Boko Haram operate, their little store at this tip of the spear represents their lifeline to America.
In this closet-sized room, the Soldiers can buy basic necessities, snacks and drinks they otherwise wouldn’t see because of their isolated and dangerous location.
Their little “exchange,” so to speak, is an “imprest-fund” site, named after the account from which the Exchange draws money to provide Soldiers resources to get the facilities running and stocked.
“With imprest-fund sites, we can be in partnership with the forces in the field to bring them the American goods and services they want,” said Roger Neumann, vice president of contingency plans.
Classic examples of ‘We go where you go’
Classic examples of the Exchange serving troops wherever they go, imprest-fund sites are military-operated stores, usually in small or remote locations where regular Exchanges cannot be provided, for various reasons.
“With imprest-fund sites, we can be in partnership with the forces in the field to bring them the American goods and services they want.”
– Roger Neumann, vice president of contingency plans.
The number of troops either is too small or the situation is too dangerous for deployed Exchange associates. In addition, the military mission may be of such a short duration that a full-fledged Exchange wouldn’t be economically feasible.
But the Exchange still fulfills its mission of looking after Warfighters, said Lt. Col. Michael Yerkic, chief of plans and operations for the Europe/Southwest Asia Region.
“Imprest-fund sites are feasible and sustainable retail services that can be operated for an indefinite period of time, bringing the Exchange and a taste of home to service members anywhere on the battlefield,” Yerkic said.
From Cyprus to Cameroon
In 2017, the Exchange provided start-up funds and merchandise to four troop-run stores in Turkey, Tunisia and Niger. The Exchange continued to provide merchandise for four other imprest-fund sites in Cyprus, Ukraine, Turkey and Cameroon.
U.S. military leaders recently asked the Exchange to support an imprest-fund site in the African country of Kenya.
The Exchange’s Pacific Region also supports two imprest-fund sites on mainland Japan. Both are remote sites with little to no access to American products, the local economy or easy access to an American military installation and a regular Exchange.
The imprest-fund stores are in addition to mobile field exchanges that Exchange associates operate for thousands of troops at tips of the spears throughout Europe and South Korea for larger military operations.
Imprest-fund sites contain inventory that starts at $15,000, but can range up to $50,000. Money generated from the sales of the merchandise is used to replenish the stocks and doesn’t go to military units.
When the units have finished their missions, the leftover money and merchandise are returned to the Exchange.
From Vietnam to Afghanistan
The imprest-fund sites in Niger and Cameroon, and possibly Kenya, are particularly crucial because the U.S. government doesn’t have agreements with African countries to allow the Exchange to operate tax-free facilities, Yerkic said.
Additionally, “logistics to sub-Saharan Africa’s land-locked countries like Niger also is cost-prohibitive, making imprest-fund sites the best ways to ensure American troops get the merchandise they need,” he said.
Imprest-fund sites date back to the Vietnam War. During Operation Desert Shield/Storm in 1990-91, the Exchange supported more than 150 such stores throughout the Middle East. Imprest-fund stores also were widely used in forward operating areas in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
In 2016, U.S. troops operated an imprest-fund site from March to September for military exercises in the former Soviet republic of Latvia.
‘Rewarding’
Another imprest-fund site opened for the Joint Multinational Training Group in early April 2017 in Ukraine, another former Soviet republic. The store was initially allotted a $10,000 line of credit to purchase products, but got $25,000 due to demand from the Soldiers.
“Being deployed and being away from everything you love, it’s hard to find some relief because you are constantly going,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Ford, one of two Soldiers who operate the store. “It’s rewarding to see them (Soldiers) come through the door after they have been in the field all day and pick some items up to boost their morale.”
