COVID19: Fort Hood Exchange Uses Micromarket To Serve Quarantined Guard Members, Reservists

A vendor finishes up filling the micromarket for quarantined Soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas.

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Fort Hood’s Exchange is turning to its micromarket format to serve about 500 Reserve and National Guard member quarantined in a northern part of the installation after returning from overseas.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, their quarantine is part of the Department of Defense’s precautionary measure for troops returning from Southwest Asia, the Middle East and Korea.

As COVID-19 continues to create uncertainty, the Exchange is mission essential and committed to supporting Soldiers, Airmen and military families, just has it has for nearly 125 years by serving troops on the home front, at the front lines—and now in quarantine.

The Exchange’s 40 micromarkets on 34 installations around the world fit into the organization’s holistic vision of providing BE FIT options that encourage better-for-you choices for troops. They offer convenience to troops serving in small or secure facilities, where no dining options exist, or late into the night, after other restaurants and stores have closed.

Fort Hood’s unmanned micromarket, which, is located in the area where the quarantined Soldiers are staying,  includes three coolers packed with food and drinks, while snacks share a rack with health-and hygiene items. Associates will add microwaves and more products next week.

The micromarket accepts MILITARY STAR and other credit cards. Soldiers can download an app to their smartphones and pay for the items that way, too.

“Our micromarket partner stood it up within 48 hours of us asking,” Wise said.

Services Business Manager Jeanne Young said troops have told her they are very happy about the micromarket’s availability. The micromarket is so popular, she added, that the vendor must restock it daily when none of the Soldiers are in there.

“This is the only avenue to get some of the hygiene products that they need and some of the snacks they want,” Young said. “The reactions of the customers and commanders have all been positive. Our micromarket is just more proof of the Exchange’s undying mission: we go where you go.

“These Guard members and Reservists are going through a very stressful time right now and the Exchange is there to relieve as much of that stress as possible.”