AAFES SEA visits Edwards

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class William A. O'Brien
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE,Calif. --  The Army and Air Force Exchange Service senior enlisted advisor to the commanding general of AAFES, visited Edwards from Jan. 19 to the 22.

During his time at Edwards AFB, Chief Master Sgt. Jeffry Helm, AAFES met with wing leadership, customers and toured and inspected AAFES facilities.

"Part of my job as the senior enlisted advisor is to visit bases/posts throughout the world and find out what AAFES is doing right, what we can do better and how we're serving the Airmen and customers of an installation," said Chief Helm. "I also get an opportunity to sit down and talk to command on the installation and find out what their plans are for AAFES."

AAFES is an integral part of all Army and Air Force communities. Besides providing the exchange benefit to troops and their Families, AAFES gives 100 percent of its earnings back to the military community.

Roughly 70 percent of earnings go towards Army Morale Welfare and Recreation and Air Force Services programs which are used towards quality of life improvements including youth services, recreation centers, arts and crafts, aquatic centers, installation functions and golf courses. The other 30 percent

is used to upgrade, expand or build brand new AAFES facilities.

"AAFES is the forty-third largest retailer in the world," said Chief Helm. "Last year we did $10 billion in sales. Out of that $10 billion, we returned $263.5 million back to Air Force Services and Army MWR funds which helps improve golf courses, youth centers, teen centers, auto hobby shops, things like that on bases."

Chief Helm also wants all Airmen to remember to use the programs AAFES has to save them money.

"I teach ways our Airmen and Soldiers can put more money back in their pockets," said Chief Helm.

Chief Helm said the four biggest money-savers AAFES offers are the 'We'll Match It' program, AAFES.com, the Military Star Card and the Shuttle program.

"One of the programs I emphasize is the 'We'll Match It' program," said the chief. "That's a really big program. If there's something a customer sees at their exchange (and see the same item being sold at a lower price off-base), if the price difference is less than $10, that Airman can walk right up to the register and say 'you're selling this for $12.50, I can get this item at Wal-Mart for $9.' The cashier will sell for $9, no questions asked. If the price difference is greater than $10, bring in the competition's sales flyer that shows the item and again, AAFES will match it."

Online shopping continues to grow and AAFES is there with aafes.com, the all services online exchange store.

"Visiting the local BX is one way for customers to shop, another is go to AAFES.com. Like the BX, there's no tax and plenty of free shipping and handling options such as paying with a Military Star Card or spending $49 or more," said Chief Helm Edwards is a small base and its' BX reflects that.

However, AAFES.com, the largest exchange period, is always open and has more than 18 million items available to meet any customer's shopping needs."

Besides using the Military Star Card to get free S&H on AAFES.com orders, it also saves customers on a critical need for any military Family: gas.

"Whenever customers buy gas on base, if they use their Star card, they save

$.05 per gallon," said Chief Helm. "Plus, six times a year, customers can get $.20 off a gallon, again, just by using the Military Star Card."

With Edwards having a small BX, customers can still get what they want from larger exchanges via the Shuttle Program.

"Edwards is a small base and has a small BX with limited number of items.

However, if customers knows what items they want, they can request larger exchanges at Travis AFB and Nellis AFB to send them items down to Edwards at no additional charge."

Chief Helm's duty is communicating with customers and helping BXs/PXs run its facilities in the most effective manner by sharing with AAFES associate's things he's seen other exchanges do well.

"My job is to find out what our 12.2 million customers are saying around the world and take that back to headquarters in Dallas," said the chief. "If I see something that's working at a particular exchange, I share that with other exchanges so they can adopt it. If I run across issues, I bring them to senior leadership's attention."

At the end of the day, education is at the root of Chief Helm's AAFES visits.

"Educating our customer base on the in's and out's of the exchange benefit is the most important part of my job. Most people know AAFES runs the BX/PX and the fast food restaurants in the food court but they don't know all that AAFES does to support troops," Chief said. "I try to help spread the word on some of the programs AAFES has and the benefits AAFES provides."

During his stay, Chief Helm met with wing leadership. He provided updates on current and future projects for Edwards. Chief Helm also held a question and answer session that was open to Airmen and their Families and spoke with focus groups of enlisted Airmen, officers and spouses to understand the needs of all Edwards AAFES customers.

"I met with command, 1st Sergeants Group and Chief's Group," said the chief. "I also had several focus groups with spouses, enlisted Airmen and company grade officers, trying to get that full gamut of our customers to find out what we're doing right and what we could be doing better. Our ultimate vision is to be our customer's number one choice in retail. I always like to say, 'at AFFES we can do anything, but we can't do everything.'"

One thing AAFES can do for Edwards Airmen and their Families is enhance their shopping experience. In February, the BX is scheduled for an image upgrade that will bring the current AAFES standard to the outdated main store. New flooring, PowerZone, jewelry counter and gun shop are some of the features the BX will incorporate.

"The BX is going to get a complete facelift, new fixtures, new flooring, new lights," said Chief Helm. "Your PowerZone is going to be revamped with what we call The Ark, which is a display to make shopping for electronics a much nicer experience. Once the renovations are done its going to look brand new on the inside. "

According to the chief, the current Burger King is outdated and is scheduled for an upgrade that will bring new seating and restrooms to the fast food restaurant. Also a brand new Car Care Center that will also house a Shoppette, name brand fast food restaurant and Class Six is awaiting final approval from AAFES Headquarters before moving forward with construction.

While construction is scheduled to be completed by 2012, the chief emphasized that the improvements are to "make it a much nicer, more modern looking facility.

"We're trying to improve all the facilities on base for our customers," he said

Chief Helm said during a meeting with Col. Joseph Torres, 95th Air Base Wing vice commander, they discussed the possibility of getting AAFES facilities closer to the dorms.

"(Colonel Torres and I) were talking about trying to get some facilities closer to the Airmen's dorms because the Airmen here are on separate rations," said Chief Helm.