Family Serving Family During COVID-19: Wiesbaden Exchange Comes Through for Military Student
“Being a military brat, then an Army spouse, I have always seen the Exchange from the outside looking in. Now as an associate, I see that the Exchange will go even further to help Soldiers and family members during these trying times.”
Kerri Sittenauer worried about losing her job at the Exchange’s Burger King with the Wiesbaden Exchange’s food court closing amid the COVID-19 pandemic and physical distancing. The junior at Wiesbaden High School was working to build up a nest egg for college.
The Exchange transferred Kerri, the daughter of a Soldier, to the main store. Kerri’s mother, Carolyn, also works at the Wiesbaden Exchange. Both are providing mission-essential services to Warfighters during the crisis.
Transferring associates is part of how the Exchange is taking care of associates worldwide.
“Being a military brat, then an Army spouse, I have always seen the Exchange from the outside looking in,” said Carolyn, a customer experience associate. “Now as an associate, I see that the Exchange will go even further to help Soldiers and family members during these trying times.”
When Kerri’s father, Peter, who has served in the Army for 23 years, was first assigned to Wiesbaden in 2019 and the family was still living in a hotel, she and Carolyn applied for jobs at the Exchange and were hired that August.
Carolyn was so grateful the Exchange took care of Kerri after the food court closed that she told the world via the Wiesbaden Exchange Facebook page.
“During this uncertain time,” she wrote, “AAFES has been a wonderful company to work for. [Kerri] is rocking in her blue shirt. Thank you, AAFES.”
Kerri is relieved that she can continue to earn money for college while expanding her resume.
“Now being at the main Exchange, I can see the retail side of the business,” Kerri said.
Carolyn appreciates the Exchange’s family serving family spirit.
“Living in another country, you don’t have family close to help,” Carolyn said. “But being a military spouse and Exchange associate, you always have family, even if they are not blood.”
