Two Days After Rocket Attack, Warrior Exchange in Afghanistan Reopens
Workmen repair the roof of the Warrior Exchange after the building took a direct hit from a rocket.
The Warrior Exchange at Afghanistan’s Bagram AB reopened Aug. 23 after taking a direct rocket hit during the early morning hours two days before.
The store was closed and no one was inside when the rocket struck the store about 2:21 a.m. Aug 21. Four concession employees from Subway and Green Beans restaurants were in the building next to the store but were not injured.
Associates are ‘heroes’
Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull praised the team at Bagram for such quick action. He said he was thankful there were no injuries.
“Our team of associates at Bagram and Warrior are our heroes,” Shull said. “There is no greater honor than serving those who serve, especially at the tip of the spear. No retailer in the world could come close to doing what we do for our Warfighters and their families.”
Europe/Southwest Asia Region Senior Vice President Jason Rosenberg thanked the Exchange team as well.
“I applaud the tremendous effort by General Manager Robin Chetri and his team, who worked closely with command and installation partners to get the store back to serving the best customers in the world,” said Jason Rosenberg, senior vice president of the Europe/Southwest Asia Region. “Like our VP John Burk said, ‘A rocket is not going to slow this team down!’ He was very right!
“I thank God that this incident did not occur during the day. Had it been during the day while the store was open, this would have been a catastrophic event. This is a very busy store, so you can imagine the amount of folks who come through the store daily.”
Plenty of help
Rosenberg issued special thanks to teammates from Logistics, Loss Prevention, Information Technology and Facilities Management who jumped in to help repair the store. Area Support Group-Afghanistan Commander COL Jacob Peterson and his team of experts also won praise from Exchange managers.
“I thank God that this incident did not occur during the day. Had it been during the day while the store was open, this would have been a catastrophic event.”
-Jason Rosenberg, senior vice president, Europe/SW Asia
Besides structural damage, the rocket destroyed all cash registers, coolers and other equipment. Associates, managers and installation workers made the necessary repairs to get the store ready for opening at 8 a.m. Aug. 23. Fifteen Airmen from the 1st Expeditionary Civil Engineer Group showed up with brooms and dustpans to help clean the mess left by the rocket.
Shrapnel from the rocket blast is stuck in an American flag hanging inside the Warrior Exchange.
“I had the honor of serving them just three weeks ago in Qatar,” Chetri said. “We had to turn away volunteers because we had so many.”
‘Steadfast loyalty’
Exchange Senior Enlisted Advisor CMSgt Luis Reyes expressed his appreciation for the support team.
“As military members, our jobs require us to put ourselves in harm’s way to support of our nation,” Reyes said. “The same can be said of Exchange associates deployed to support our warfighters in the combat zone. Our mission, ‘We go where you go,’ is not just a motto, but a true testament of our associates’ steadfast loyalty to continue serving the best customers in the world.”
Reminds me of my days at Fallujah in 2004…great job Bagram Exchange team, your efforts are truly noteworthy!
Mr. Claudio:
Thank you for writing to your Exchange Post. Aren’t we proud of the Bagram team!
Is there anybody else out there who would like to share their experiences of being deployed over in that part of the world amid the bombs and the bullets and the rockets? Let us know by leaving your comments!
Steve Smith
Editor, The Exchange Post
Team Bagram, I am so glad that no one was injured in this incident. You are in my heart and in my prayers every day along with all of the Soldiers and Airmen that you so proudly serve beside. You’ll always be my family! Keep your heads down and stay focused.
Debra:
Thanks for writing to your Exchange Post. Thank you for your comments. I will pass them along to the folks over there.
Steve Smith
Editor, The Exchange Post
The Exchange has the BEST trained and dedicated Warfighter Support Staff of any DoD agency. I’ve seen it and experienced it downrange in OIF and Kuwait. Great support and Go Forward attitude Warrior Exchange Staff…Proud of you all…
Mr. Kawata:
Thank you so much for writing to your Exchange Post and thank you for the compliments!
Steve Smith
Editor, The Exchange Post
It is great to see the Warrior team pull together from this! I was there from 2015 – 2017, and I have never met such a dedicated, hard-working group of people! Great job!! 🙂
Mr. McIntyre:
Thank you for writing to your Exchange Post. Yes, this Bagram team and its installation partners did indeed pull together.
Any more comments out there from readers about the Warrior Exchange team and the situation it faced?
We want to hear! Write your comment in the comment box!
Steve Smith
Editor, The Exchange Post
Thanks for the lord who never sleep nor slumbers who watches over usI worked in that store in 2011 to early 2012 but I really enjoyed working with Aafes family and serving the troops!
Winnie:
Thank you for writing to your Exchange Post. Yes, thank the Lord all were safe.
Steve Smith
Editor, The Exchange Post
Shocking news. Team BGRAM have to be more careful about their safety. I remember all the folks who worked with me in BAGRAM. Some of them are still there.
Stay safe guys
Firuj Eftekhar
Firuj:
Thank you for writing to your Exchange Post. Yes, it was shocking news, but thank God nobody was injured.
Steve Smith
Editor, The Exchange Post
Thanks God no one was injured in this incident. And team Bagram, I’m glad that you guys are safe.
I was there 2012 – 2015; proudly served with aafes in camp Phoenix, and Bagram main store.
Mr. Rozario:
Thank you so much for writing to your Exchange Post. Yes, you’re right: thank God no one was injured.
Steve Smith
Editor, The Exchange Post
Ms. Burrows:
Thank you for writing to your Exchange Post. I’m forwarding your comments along to Jason Rosenberg, Robin Chetri and the others at Bagram.
Steve Smith
Editor, The Exchange Post
Ms. Burrows:
Thank you for writing to your Exchange Post. We all are glad nobody was injured . . . or worse.
Steve Smith
Editor, The Exchange Post
Team Bagram,
You are truly protected. My prayers are always with you. Many times I visited that store and no one really knows the danger we face serving the “BEST” customers in the world, but us. Be safe and I will always remember the times.
I use to work with John Burk years ago when he was at Edwards. I thought anyone I knew would all be retired by now. Thankful there was no one hurt in the attack.
Mr. Clark:
Thank you for writing to your Exchange Post. I will pass along your comments to John and his SVP, Jason Rosenberg.
Steve Smith
Editor, The Exchange Post
Keep good working at Bagram store’s brave employees . Robin Chetri he is the best person I have ever seen but not Rosenberg.
Ali:
Thank you for writing to your Exchange Post. I’ll make sure to pass along the comments to Robin and his crew!
Steve Smith
Editor, The Exchange Post