The Army threw a big bash for its milestone birthday — and the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) was there to help just prior to, and during, the big party.
“HAIL TO THE CHIEF”
• FORT BRAGG, N.C.
“Team Exchange” showcased the vital role it plays with respect to mission readiness and support when President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made a special visit here on June 10 to kick off the Army’s 250th birthday celebration.
With a week’s notice, the Fort Bragg Exchange team scheduled 22 food trucks and vendors, including Exchange-operated Panda Express, Papa John’s and Domino’s, to support an estimated 20,000 Warfighters, family members and civilian visitors, serving about 5,000 meals during the celebration.
Exchange General Manager (GM) Thomas “TK” Kuttamperoor and Service Business Manager Cheryl Chevis didn’t know the president and defense secretary would be visiting until two days before the celebration, but the garrison commander made it clear: people were going to be hungry.
“Team Exchange” sprang into action, but the time constraint provided a challenge. Chevis said an event that size typically takes about a month to plan.
“We were going out into the community daily, seeking food trucks who met the Exchange standard,” Chevis said. “We were making sure those trucks were clean inside and out, have the ServSafe certification and that they understood food safety. It took a lot of coordination.”
The Exchange also provided ice for refreshments, which required coordination between Fort Bragg Expresses to fill hundreds of bags to store in a rented box truck.
“When you ask us to do something, we are going to deliver because we represent the Exchange,” Chevis said.
Food trucks and vendors arrived at Pike Field to prepare for the day’s festivities, where they served food for six-and-a-half hours before the president’s speech began at 4 p.m.
“You could just see everyone was super excited, it was amazing,” Chevis said. “My focus was just taking care of the troops.”
All the coordination reminded Kuttamperoor of his time deployed.
“It was like putting a Tactical Field Exchange (TFE) in Iraq or Afghanistan,” Kuttamperoor said. “How fast can you get something up? I’ve had stores open in 24 hours in contingency locations. This experience really reminded me of my deployment with the Exchange.”
For Kuttamperoor, the most important thing was making the day memorable for everyone.
“We were striving to exceed expectations,” Kuttamperoor said. “And I think that’s what our team and vendors did. When you give the Exchange a mission, we will accomplish it — no matter what.”
REVELRY, RELEVANCY, RELIEF
• WASHINGTON
“Team Exchange” welcomed partygoers with revelry, relevancy and much-needed relief from the sweltering heat.
Thousands of Americans descended here to the National Mall on June 14 for the Army’s 250th Birthday Festival. “Team Exchange” rolled in with its showpiece Mobile Field Exchange (MFE), complete with history of the retailer’s “We Go Where You Go” mission — and air-conditioning, which visitors appreciated on the hot, humid day.
“Being part of the historic birthday celebration demonstrated how the Exchange is fully nested with the Army,” said retired Army Lt. Col. Jose Hernandez, the Exchange’s chief of staff. “Wherever the Army is called to serve, the Exchange stands with Soldiers.”
Hernandez led tours of the MFE for hundreds of visitors, explaining how stores on wheels have supported Soldiers in war zones and after natural disasters for decades.
“Fellow Soldiers’ eyes lit up as they made their way through the MFE,” Hernandez said. “So many of them remembered the feeling of relief after visiting the Exchange — a saving grace during difficult times.”
Outside the MFE, teammates from the Fort Belvoir, Va., Exchange talked with a constant stream of festival goers for hours.
Helen Radenheimer, sales and merchandise manager, Jennifer Van Puymbrouck, operations manager and Robert Graydon, sales area manager, shared relevancy information about expanded shopping benefits for veterans and Common Access Card (CAC) holders, veteran and spouse hiring and Military Star Card benefits along with giving out Exchange 130th anniversary reusable bags, towels and koozies.
Nancy Cintron, whose husband, David, served for 30 years in Army, traveled from Savannah, Ga., to celebrate the Army’s birthday.
She toured the MFE and was thrilled the Exchange was in Washington to remind Americans of its mission.
“The Exchange gives us the capability of knowing that when our Soldiers leave, they are going to get ‘a taste of home,’” Cintron said. “This is what’s familiar to them. And when they’re in the far corners of the world, our Army can get that ‘taste of home’ from the Exchange.
“There’s no comparison in the civilian sector. No one’s going to support us the way the Exchange supports military families.”
Source: AAFES
Edited by Larry Lapka
