• JFTB LOS ALAMITOS, Calif.
Two Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) associates here have shown great commitment to the next generation, becoming mentors to hundreds of youth learning the importance of leadership, service and military customs.
Now, their commitment to mentorship has earned them special recognition.
Margaret “Maggie” Evans, the base’s PX manager and Mercedes Sheaffer, Military Clothing associate, recently received appreciation awards from the United States Cadet Corps, a non-profit leadership organization that serves youths ages 9 to 18.
The recognition honors years of support provided by Evans and her team to youths participating in training, community service projects and leadership development activities.
“I’ve been working with the program for about 20 years,” Evans said. “It always feels good to mentor kids and see them succeed.
“We get to watch them grow, become more confident and move on to ROTC or even military service.”
EVANS’ CAREER PATH
Evans — a former military spouse whose family includes multiple veterans and service members — began her Exchange career at Fort Drum, N.Y., in 1999 before returning to California and joining the Los Alamitos Exchange, where she has served for more than two decades.
Today, she oversees the PX, Military Clothing and Troop Store.
CADET RELATIONSHIP
The relationship between the Los Alamitos Exchange and the Cadet Corps developed naturally over the years as cadets visited the store.
Evans and her team soon found opportunities to do more than simply provide products; they began teaching cadets how to properly wear and care for uniforms, understand military regulations and present themselves with confidence.
The Exchange’s support extends beyond the sales floor. Cadets regularly assist at store events, participate in community service and help with ceremonies and special programs
hosted on the installation.
Evans coordinates many of those opportunities with Cadet Corps leadership, creating experiences that benefit both the youth participants and the military community.
THE AWARD
Evans says the award recognizes the continued support the Exchange team provides whenever the organization needs assistance.
She credited Sheaffer for sharing in those efforts and helping mentor the young participants.
“We are always happy to help the kids and bring awareness to the program,” Sheaffer said. “Anything we can do to support them and contribute to their success means a great deal to us.
“The program is a great one, and I love helping them as much as I do. Their enthusiasm and progress make this experience incredibly rewarding.”
THE BASE
Located on the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, the Exchange serves a unique military community that includes National Guard units, retirees and other organizations that regularly use the installation.
The base is home to numerous training activities and community programs throughout the year, giving Exchange associates opportunities to connect with and support a wide range of customers.
For Evans, those connections are among the most rewarding aspects of her work.
“The kids show their appreciation, and it’s nice to see them gain confidence and take pride in what they’re doing,” she said. “Anything we can do to encourage them and help them succeed is worth it.”
Source: AAFES
Edited by Larry Lapka
