Exchange enlisted advisor visits Cavalier

Published April 30, 2012
By Capt. Jesse Diaz and Lisa Heidinger
10th Space Warning Squadron

CAVALIER AIR FORCE STATION, N. D. -- The senior enlisted advisor for the Army & Air Force Exchange Service visited Cavalier AFS April 18.

"Cavalier Air Force Station is the smallest installation I've ever visited" said Chief Master Sgt. Jeffry Helm. During his visit, he toured the exchange and met with Cavalier personnel and family members to address exchange challenges that are faced in a remote location. Helm's message was simple: AAFES is committed to having a presence in Cavalier AFS.

"We came away with a better understanding of AAFES' capabilities and renewed confidence in their support to those who dominate the high ground, instant to watchful instant" said Lt. Col. Lorinda Frederick, Cavalier AFS commander.

Accompanying Chief Helm was Nancy Copada, Exchange general manager at Minot AFB and Grand Forks AFB, and Grand Forks AFB store manager Patricia Fields.

"For every dollar earned, 67 cents comes back to the military community from the MWR dividend. Shopping at the exchange is a win-win," Helm said. "You get great products at a great price and your spent money comes back to the installation through the dividend."

"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 serve its customers and fix existing problems," he said.

"Also, 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 troops," Helm 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," he added.

Helm is one of 72 active duty servicemembers assigned to The Exchange to carry out this mission; AAFES also employs more than 43,000 civilian associates world-wide.

The Exchange is a DOD agency with a retail mission to provide quality products services and food to active duty servicemembers, their families, Reserve and Guard members, and military retirees, and the command rotates between the Army and Air Force. Exchange sales generate earnings to supplement Air Force Services programs as well as morale, welfare and recreation activities.

For information about The Exchange and its programs, go to www.shopmyexchange.com.

AAFES visit to 10th SWS