126 Years of Family Serving Family – Anthony Mancha Jr., Waco Distribution Center
One in a series honoring the Exchange’s 126 years of family serving family
Army Veteran and second-generation Exchange associate Anthony Mancha Jr. ended his 20-year military career as a retired staff sergeant looking for his next opportunity.
“When I first got out of the military, my dad suggested I apply for a position at the Exchange,” Mancha said.
His connection to the Exchange dates to his childhood. His mother, Brenda, worked at the Kaiserslautern Exchange as an office secretary while their family was stationed in Germany. When the family relocated to Fort Hood, Brenda worked in Human Resources at the Fort Hood Exchange.
His father, retired SSgt. Anthony Mancha Sr., retired from the Army in 1995 and drove for the Exchange from 2001 to 2006.
“I’ve always had a connection with the company,” the younger Mancha said. “It’s one of the things I like most about working here.”
Mancha started with the Exchange in 2019 as a mule driver, moving and organizing trailers across the distribution center lot. He quickly advanced to secondary distribution as a driver.
“When I first started, everyone was very welcoming,” Mancha said. “I started getting to know everyone and about four months into my role as a mule driver I put my commercial driver’s license to use and became a truck driver.”
He currently transports goods from the distribution center in Waco to Army and Air Force installations across the Central Region.
“My first stop on the job was Fort Rucker,” Mancha said. “Most of my runs have been memorable. I’ve really enjoyed meeting people at different installations and becoming a familiar face to them.”
He says the family atmosphere and growth opportunities are what he appreciates most about the job.
“The Exchange is one big family. I like that we’re all connected to the military in some way,” Mancha said. “The relationships I’ve built at the Exchange have helped me grow in my career, and I enjoy the benefit of the job—serving my family.”
