• FORT BRAGG, N.C.
The South Post Main Store came alive on July 24, as the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) celebrated 130 years of service with a high-energy anniversary celebration that brought the entire community together.
The Fort Bragg celebration was part of a worldwide campaign honoring the organization’s legacy of support.
From BMX stunt shows and live music by the 82nd Airborne Division Band to vendor giveaways, food trucks and a balloon drop finale, the event honored more than a century of service to Soldiers and their families.
“Community engagement is essential to our mission,” said Sandra Lute, Exchange senior vice president (SVP) of Brand Marketing.
“It allows us to celebrate the Exchange’s support for the mission readiness of our fighters to ensure their families are taken care of while they’re gone,” she explained. “Most of our community engagement events center around the Exchange benefit, informing warfighters and veterans on their life-long benefits.
“They get tax free shopping and exclusive military pricing, and one-hundred percent of the earnings go back to the military community.”
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
The Exchange, founded in 1895, has evolved from simple military suppliers to a global resource supporting military readiness, quality of life and long-term savings.
“Our mission has always been about more than retail,” said Exchange Chief Operating Officer (COO) Marla Randolph. “We play a vital role in readiness, resiliency and morale.
“What many people don’t realize is we operate 17 lines of business, from bakeries and theaters to school meals and water plants,” she explained. “It’s an entire ecosystem focused on service.”
GROWTH AND INNOVATION
For AAFES General Manager (GM) Thomas Kuttamperoor, the celebration was also a moment to highlight local growth and innovation.
“We’re expanding healthier food options, adding national brands like Buffalo Wild Wings, The Halal Guys and Jimmy John’s, and we’re constantly upgrading our facilities and finding new opportunities to find solutions for our customers,” Kuttamperoor said.
“There’s not many retailers that have been around for 130 years, so as the Exchange continues to evolve, we are looking for ways to ensure we are providing value and relevance to your household and family needs,” he added.
WORKFORCE = FAMILY
But for many Exchange employees, the celebration went deeper than facility upgrades and new milestones.
“Our workforce is family; nearly 80 percent of our employees are military-connected,” Randolph said. “When you walk into the Exchange, you’re being served by someone who understands this life. It’s personal for us.”
She recalled one emotional moment during her own career, standing on a road in Misawa, Japan, watching fighter jets fly overhead.
“I just broke down in tears,” she said. “Those people in the sky didn’t know me, but they were willing to give their lives for me. That’s what this job is about. It’s serving those who serve.”
BRINGING THE MISSION TO LIFE
In correlation with the Exchange’s “Family Serving Family” motto, the event also recognized the partners, vendors and volunteers who help bring the mission to life.
“Our partners didn’t have to be here giving things away today, but they believe in what we do and are doing it out of the kindness of their hearts,” Randolph said. “That sense of shared purpose and understanding is the heart of this organization.”
LEGACY
As confetti and balloons showered the crowd during the event finale, guests both young and old were reminded that the Exchange is not just a place to shop, but it is a legacy built on loyalty, sacrifice and community.
“We’re proud of our past,” Kuttamperoor said. “But we’re even more excited about what’s next. I can’t wait for another 130 more years.”
Source: Fort Bragg, N.C., Public Affairs via army.mil
Edited by Larry Lapka
