• DALLAS
On July 25, the Exchange will celebrate 131 years of service to warfighters and their families. From Pituffik SB in Greenland to American Samoa in the South Pacific, from Camp Casey in Korea to Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, the Exchange lives up to its “We Go Where You Go” promise, providing the best comforts and tastes of home wherever Soldiers, Airmen and Guardians serve.
“The Exchange has been an integral part of military life for 131 years,” said Exchange Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Brad Bingham. “We will uphold that legacy of support by accelerating modernization efforts that are strengthening the tremendous value the Exchange benefit provides service members, families and the services’ recruiting and retention initiatives.
“Serving those who serve remains the ultimate responsibility and honor.”
AAFES HISTORY
The Army & Air Force Exchange Service was established on July 25, 1895, when the War Department issued General Orders No. 46, directing all Army commanders to establish “post exchanges” on their installations.
“Post exchanges” was a new term for “canteens,” which began about 15 years earlier at Vancouver Barracks, Wash., where Col. Henry Morrow, commander of the 21st Infantry Regiment, noticed that members of his garrison who visited disreputable places in a nearby town often returned to the guardhouse with disciplinary problems.
Morrow decided to offer them an on-post place where they could socialize. On Nov. 29,1880, the first canteen opened at Vancouver Barracks. Soldiers could play cards and shoot pool while enjoying food and drink.
The canteen was a success, and the idea grew in popularity throughout the West, leading to the establishment of the post exchange system.
Those exchanges grew into the Army Exchange Service, which became the Army & Air Force Exchange Service on July 26, 1948.
AAFES TODAY
The Department of War’s (DoW) largest retailer, the Exchange delivers tax-free goods and services to more than 5,500 facilities on military installations worldwide, including department stores; convenience stores; Military Clothing stores; name-brand restaurants; barber shops and salons; mall vendors; bakeries; water plants; school meal program support and many other services, as well as online at ShopMyExchange.com.
The Exchange’s authorized customer base has never been larger, as the DoW extended a life-long online military exchange shopping benefit to all honorably discharged veterans on Veterans Day 2017.
Additionally, all veterans with service-connected disabilities were authorized for in-store shopping privileges on Jan. 1, 2020, and DoW and Coast Guard civilians received access to online and in-store Exchange benefits on May 1, 2021.
Today, the tax-free Exchange benefit is accessible to more than 30 million Americans who serve or have served.
Throughout its history, the Exchange has supported deployed service members at the tip of the spear. Exchange associates have served troops on the front lines, during natural disasters and throughout a global pandemic.
Since 2013, the Exchange has hired more than 68,000 veterans and military spouses, demonstrating its commitment to extend career opportunities to our nation’s military community.
Shopping the Exchange strengthens military recruiting, readiness, retention and lethality, as 100 percent of Exchange earnings support military communities.
In 2025, the Exchange delivered $307 million for quality-of-life programs, with $2.4 billion generated in the last10 years.
CELEBRATION
Exchange teams worldwide are celebrating the Exchange’s 131st anniversary, including at headquarters, where for the first time since the pre-COVID era, associates marked the occasion in a ceremony led by Bingham.
“It’s terrific to be together in person,” he said. “It’s been several years since we’ve gathered at headquarters to celebrate the Exchange’s anniversary — the last time was in 2019.
“We missed being together for our big 125th and 130th milestones, so it’s especially meaningful to be here ahead of our 131st as we bring this tradition back.”
Bingham spoke about the Exchange’s humble beginnings and how it traces its roots to sutlers who sold goods from tents on the American frontier years before the Exchange formally began, when the War Department ordered Army commanders to open PXs so Soldiers had a safe, reliable place to shop on post and avoid going to town and getting in trouble.
“From that first small PX at Vancouver Barracks in Washington — we’re still there — our 131-year legacy of service and support was born,” Bingham said. “While the modern-day Exchange benefit has evolved, our mission has not: we remain a source of comfort, value and support for warfighters and military families.”
Bingham thanked associates for carrying the mission forward—and encouraged them to keep looking forward.
“Your hard work, resilience and passion for the mission keep us strong,” he said. “As we celebrate our history, we’re also looking to the future.
“The needs of warfighters and military families are evolving, and as always, the Exchange is ready. We are accelerating our mission, modernizing our business, leveraging technology and finding new ways to deliver greater value for those we serve.”
Bingham concluded his remarks by saying that the Exchange’s “We Go Where You Go” promise will never waver.
“Our commitment to warfighters and families has never been stronger,” he said. “Keeping the benefit strong is the top priority. When we put the mission first, honor our core values and take care of each other, we honor our legacy and ensure it endures.
“We may be 131 years old … but we’ve never looked better. We aren’t slowing down. We’re just getting started.”
FURTHER INFORMATION
To learn more about the Exchange’s history, visit The Exchange History Album on Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/exchangeassoc/albums/72157669272401562/).
Source: AAFES
Edited by Larry Lapka
