Camp As Sayliyah Exchange Rapidly Reopens to Serve Troops Supporting Afghan Guests
Resuming operations at the newly reopened Camp As Sayliyah Exchange just months after its closure has been like moving mountains for General Manager Desiree Miller—or at least like moving a 40-foot container from Kuwait to Qatar via a Boeing C-17.
“We needed fixtures as quickly as possible, so our team and Logistics worked with the Army and Air Force to put them all in a container and airlift it from Ali Al Salem,” Miller said. “The container was so big it nearly took up the entire centerline cargo deck of the aircraft.”
From left, Shift Manager Rai Suk Bahadur, Shift Manager Mary Ann Rosita, General Manager Desiree Miller and Store Manager Emmanuel De Castro reopened the Camp As Sayliyah Exchange in Qatar on Sept. 4.
The unprecedented step was necessary to support the reactivated installation’s new mission: hosting at-risk Afghan civilians who had supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan within the past 20 years and their families.
For Miller, the effort was worth it. On Sept. 4, a little over four months after its initial closure, the Camp As Sayliyah Exchange reopened to serve those supporting Operation Allies Refuge.
“It’s not every day that you can be a part of something so important and historic,” Miller said. “You’re here on the ground while the news is talking about what’s happening. There’s a sense of awe and amazement, because we know that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It was an honor and a privilege to have been in a position to support this mission.”
With help from partners inside and outside the Exchange, Miller’s team reopened the store in about two and a half weeks, a rapid restart compared to the six-month wind-down period before closing. The amount of work required was substantial, with the building having been completely stripped of merchandise, fixtures, registers, and even electrical and network wiring when it closed.
From left, Camp As Sayliyah Exchange Shift Manager Rai Suk Bahadur, General Manager Desiree Miller and Store Manager Emmanuel De Castro stand near the entrance to the Camp As Sayliyah Exchange in Qatar.
“It went from this maybe happening in the next couple of weeks to having it right here in your lap overnight,” she said. “We had to be on our toes at all times. ‘Semper Gumby’ is one of our mottos, because you have to stay flexible and do your best to stay ahead of any problems before they arise.”
The effort was an all-hands-on-deck affair, with the Merchandising; Planning, Allocation and Replenishment; and Kuwait Exchange teams pitching in to provide extra merchandise to the camp. Additionally, Southwest Asia Region Vice President Ed Hicks, Europe/Africa Southwest Asia Region computer technicians Tulay McBride and Charity Jordan, and Kuwait-based Region Operations Squad members Lesa Preston and Ayodyha Hakim came to Camp As Sayliyah to help set up the store. The barber and Green Beans Coffee concessionaires also did their part, resuming operations as quickly as possible.
“I couldn’t even give you the names of all the people who helped, because the list goes on for miles,” Miller said. “There’s a lot of good out here and a significant number of people who sacrificed a lot on the ground to make this happen. ‘Amazing’ doesn’t even begin to cover it.”
Despite the challenges of reopening, Miller said that the quality-of-life improvements the Exchange brings to those helping with this critical mission makes it all worth it.
“These new troops come in with not much provided beyond a space on the floor in the gym to sleep on,” she said. “But the way everyone’s face lights up when they look at my shirt and see the Exchange logo, you’d think I was a celebrity. They’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re getting a PX?’
“We don’t know how long our services will be needed, but we do know that as long as our service members are here, we will be ready to provide for them.”
