• AL ASAD AB, Iraq
Three Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) ex-retirees are each marking the beginning of a new chapter in a life-long commitment in serving those who serve by coming back to the mission … and serving downrange.
Decades ago, Ken Limtiaco, Rob Baker and Mike Lowry each began their Exchange journey, managing stores, leading teams, supporting troops on U.S. soil.
Today, after retiring, they’ve stepped back into leadership roles in the heart of a deployed environment.
Limtiaco now serves as vice president (VP) of Southwest Asia, Baker is general manager (GM) for Iraq, and Lowry, bringing years of field-tested experience, supports operations in Iraq as a store manager.
Together, they embody the truth that service does not stop when the uniform comes off or the ID badge is turned in.
TANGIBLE IMPACT
“My first deployment was in 2003,” Baker said. “We’d pack merchandise late into the night, then head into the Kuwaiti desert in 120-degree heat.
“Troops would line up under the blazing sun just for a cold drink or a melted candy bar and still say thank you. That moment never left me.”
What brings them back is not nostalgia — it is a purpose and the visible, tangible impact that comes from meeting troops where they are.
“I’ve been in meetings across six countries,” Limtiaco said. “Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. In each place, the reaction is the same.
“When service members realize we’re there with them, it changes the atmosphere. We’re not just delivering goods. We’re delivering comfort, connection, and a reminder they’re not forgotten.”
Life in a deployed environment is demanding, with long hours, harsh conditions, and constant change. But it offers something few other jobs can: meaning.
In places like Iraq, even the smallest comforts — a familiar snack, shampoo, a hot meal — can transform a day.
“You see service members out here who are thousands of miles from home,” Baker said. “Then you watch their faces light up when they walk into the Exchange.
“You’re giving them apiece of normality. A piece of home. That matters.”
BROADER PERSPECTIVE
Beyond the support for warfighters, deployment also brings personal growth, sharpened leadership, deeper empathy, and broader perspective.
“I’ve worked with people from all over the world, some who’ve been doing this for over 20 years,” Baker said. “It’s a global team with a shared mission. I’m proud to be part of it.”
For these ex-retirees, deployment is a second chance to lead, with hard-earned wisdom and renewed purpose.
“This experience matures you,” Limtiaco said. “It sharpens your leadership and deepens your empathy. I’ve walked away from this more reflective, more grateful, and more committed to the mission than ever before.”
FOLLOWING IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS
These leaders chose to come back, because in places like Iraq, the mission is real, and the impact is immediate.
Now, they are calling on others to follow in their footsteps.
“There’s no greater way to live our motto, ‘We go where you go,’ than by stepping forward when the mission needs you most,” Limtiaco said. “If you’ve still got the heart to serve, we’ve got a place for you.”
If you’ve ever wanted to be part of something bigger than yourself, this is the opportunity. If you feel the pull of service, miss the energy of a high-impact team, or want to put your skills to work where they matter most, step forward.
Deployment is not for everyone. But for those ready to serve at the tip of the spear, it can change your life.
Because when the mission calls, the Exchange answers, and you can too.
For more information, visit https://www.applymyexchange.com/deployment/
Source: AAFES
Edited by Larry Lapka
