Exchange enlisted advisor visits Peterson

Published May 13, 2013

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The senior enlisted advisor for the Army & Air Force Exchange Service visited here May 8.

During his visit, Chief Master Sgt. Tony Pearson toured Exchange facilities, met with Airmen and community members and addressed Exchange-related issues.

The Exchange mission is to provide quality products, services and food to service members, their families, Reserve and Guard members, plus military retirees. Exchange sales generate earnings to supplement Air Force Services programs as well as Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation activities.

Pearson is one of 53 active duty service members assigned to Exchange to carry out this mission; the Exchange also employs more than 42,000 civilian associates worldwide.

"For every dollar earned, 67 cents comes back to the military community (through) the Services and MWR dividend. Last year, Peterson activities got back more than $517,000 - so shopping at the Exchange is a win-win," Pearson said. "You get great products at a great price and your spent money comes back to the installation through the dividend."

During his visit, he met with Peterson customers and Exchange associates, answering questions and concerns about the Exchange.

"Part of my job as the senior enlisted advisor is to visit bases throughout the world and find out what the Exchange can do to better to serve its customers and fix existing problems," Pearson said.

"Educating our customers on the Exchange benefit is the most important part of my job. Our goal is to be your number one choice for retail shopping. You can go anywhere to purchase an iPod or a TV, but when you buy from the Exchange, that's money going back to support our military and communities," he said. "More importantly, Military Clothing is the only place our military troops can buy uniform items on base without mail ordering them, making it our goal to have what they need when they need it so they can be outfitted properly."

For more information about the Exchange and Exchange programs, visit www.shopmyexchange.com.

AAFES chief visits Peterson