AAFES, DeCA stand up agency advisory council

  • Published
  • By Debi Smith
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The first Army Air Force Exchange Service and Defense Commissary Agency Advisory Council since 1994 stood up this quarter to increase communication and find ways to support customers who shop at the facilities.

Jim Gillespie, Airmen & Family Readiness Center flight chief, said he believes the council will give organizations and individuals the opportunity to provide input to unit representatives with the goal of improving services and processes through a cross-flow of communication between the Exchange, commissary and representatives.

"The council will meet quarterly, explore suggestions and comments provided by customers and advise senior leadership on any issues requiring attention," Mr. Gillespie said. "We see this as a valuable tool to communicate upward, downward and laterally between AAFES/DeCA and other base organizations. That's why we decided to regenerate the council at Sheppard."

Sheppard's Exchange is one of 3,100 stores worldwide providing military communities with convenience, specialty stores and movie theaters generating an estimated eight billion dollars annually.

More than 70 percent of those earnings are paid to Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs for military quality of life improvements, youth services, recreation centers, arts and crafts, aquatic centers and golf courses. Sheppard's Exchange contributed more than $516,000 to the MWR fund.

Planned project improvements include a main store image update scheduled to start in the spring at an estimated cost of $3.5 million. Scheduled for completion by next Christmas, sections of the store will be closed off as the building is extended out with new flooring and fixtures added. As the store shifts month to month, customers will be given a monthly map layout to assist in shopping.

The South Shoppette upgrade will begin in early 2011 at a cost of $450,000. New gas pumps and a higher ceiling are scheduled improvements.

Other Exchange news includes a Green Beans coffee store, Genghis Grill, Charlie's Breakfast, an ATI cell phone kiosk located near the Power Zone and a Wing Stop in the Troop Store food court. Temporary vendors who were located in the store foyer will be provided long-term status in the facility.

Debra Melton, acting Exchange manager, said that as the largest employer of military spouses, it's important for the Exchange to get the word out about employment opportunities.

"We have lifestyle hiring to match your life," she said. "If you need to work around school schedules or duty shifts, we can identify and work with you to make employment easier in one of our stores."

In 2010, DeCA accounted for more than $5 billion in sales worldwide at 250 commissaries accounting for 94 million shopping trips. The average family of four could realize an annual savings of $4,400, more than 30 percent of their grocery bill, if they shopped consistently at the commissary.

Manuel Othon, commissary store director, said that surveys consistently rate the commissary as one of the military's top non-pay benefits.

"Our store stocks over 17,000 items and we currently have the Value Center open adjacent to the dairy products with holiday and international items," Mr. Othon said. "If customers are interested in adding an item to the stock, bring in the package or bar code to customer service to help us research and we'll see if we can add it."

There are no facility projects or expansion plans for the commissary this year.

The AAFES/DeCA Council includes representatives from the Exchange, Commissary, A&FRC, First Sergeant Council, Chiefs Group, each of the training groups, the 80th Flying Training Wing, Legal, Public Affairs, Retiree Affairs and spouses ' clubs.

Representatives from each unit will canvass their organization for input and submit it a month prior to each quarterly council meeting, giving consumers on Sheppard a chance to identify gaps in services and recommend improvements. The next scheduled meeting will be at the end of January.