Army & Air Force Exchange turns 111 July 25

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DALLAS (AFPN) --  The Army & Air Force Exchange Service marks its 111th birthday July 25, celebrating its mission to provide quality goods and services at competitively low prices and generate earnings to support morale, welfare and recreation programs.

On July 25, 1895, the War Department issued General Order No. 46 directing commanders to establish an exchange at every post where practicable. Today, AAFES relies on more than 3,100 facilities in 49 states and more than 35 countries to extend the exchange benefit to servicemembers serving in almost every corner of the globe.

"As the ‘new urbanism' vision of military community development becomes reality, we want to act as the integrator of all types of retail shops to serve the community," said Maj. Gen. Paul W. "Bill" Essex, AAFES commander.

More than 450 AAFES associates are deployed to operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, actively delivering a slice of Americana to troops through 52 retail stores, 69 phone centers and more than 170 fast food restaurants scattered throughout the region. Just like the merchants who supplied provisions to America's troops in the late 1800s, these associates live and work alongside the troops they serve.

Since its establishment in 1895, AAFES has been involved in 14 major contingencies and several dozen humanitarian and disaster relief contingencies.

"The scope and intensity of AAFES global operations demonstrates that wherever our troops serve, AAFES is dedicated to providing them uniformly low prices on the services and merchandise they need," General Essex said.