AAFES - ARMY AND AIR FORCE EXCHANGE SERVICE
Newcomers to Europe are often surprised to discover that they have
hardly left home as far as shopping is concerned. Even soldiers deployed
to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom benefit from
the field facilities of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES)
Europe.
The exchange supplies its customers with electronics, cameras,
videos, name brand sporting goods, new cars, car rental, alcoholic
beverages, clothing, household appliances, health and beauty aids,
laundry service and film processing, to name but a few.
AAFES fast food facilities provide a taste of home to families living
in Europe and to the Military and Civilians deployed in support of
OEF/OIF. Customers can enjoy Burger King, Popeye's, Taco Bell,
Charlie's, Pizza Hut, Subway and more, all just around the corner from
where they live and work. Plus AAFES Europe movie theaters provide the
best entertainment value by showing current Hollywood movies at prices
way below commercial theaters.
And that's just the beginning. In 2007 AAFES will open three brand
new stores, in Stuttgart, Grafenwöhr and Kaiserslautern. The Panzer
Kaserne Shopping Center in the Stuttgart community will be a
29.3-million-dollar American style mall with more than 140,000 square
feet of space. The 38.5-million-dollar complex in Grafenwöhr will
have more than 190,000 square feet of space. Both malls will provide
shopping, eating and services in a one stop state-of-the art facility.
They will be places where people can meet to share a quick meal, buy a
gift for a loved one, get a haircut or just relax and spend time with
family and friends.
Also opening in 2007 will be the NEW MEGA Kaiserslautern Military
Community Center, a retail and entertainment center housing
state-of-the-art shopping, dining and entertainment options. Included
will be a homestore, designed to provide all the comforts of home,
indoors and out, with the latest linens, home accents and patio
accessories.
There will also be a mega sports and camping store with a golf shop
and putting green. The new apparel store will provide even more brands
at good prices, and the mall will host a giant PowerZone. A new food
court will offer all your American favorites, such as burgers, pizzas
and tacos, and also some new food fare including Chinese specialties,
seafood, and a 50s diner: Johnny Rockets.
If you want to relax, you'll enjoy the new massage and wellness spa.
Or you can drop in for a cappuccino or browse the largest bookstore and
Internet CafŽ in Europe. You'll find a wide variety of unique gifts and
European souvenirs throughout the mall. The stadium seating in the new 4
PLEX Theater will be just like you find back home, offering movies
throughout the afternoon and evening.
The AAFES-Europe Region, headquarters in Mainz-Kastel, Germany, is
part of the worldwide AAFES exchange system. Its two-fold mission is 1)
to provide customers quality merchandise and services at competitively
low prices, and 2) to generate earnings which provide a dividend to
support morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) programs.
In fiscal year 2005, the AAFES worldwide dividend to MWR was over
$232 million, which supported numerous MWR activities to include child
development, youth centers, gyms, recreation centers and leisure travel
opportunities. AAFES-Europe's contributions for that same year were
$18.8 million. Historically, 65 to 70 percent of the total earnings
AAFES generates go to MWR programs. In 2005 AAFES paid out 71% of
earnings as dividends, while retaining the other 29 percent to renovate
existing facilities or build new structures without expense to the
federal government.
AAFES-Europe completed 66 construction and renovation projects,
totaling more $22 million in fiscal year 2005. As of August 2006 a
total of 33 projects totaling over $5 million had been completed in FY
06. AAFES currently has 131 planned projects in Europe totaling over
$261 million.
LOW PRICES
In addition to generating earnings for MWR, AAFES offers some
substantial savings, especially on those items featured as Price Cut
merchandise. For items in these categories AAFES has applied a portion
of its earnings to offering this selected merchandise at below cost.
This normally applies to household items and goods that are in constant
demand.
AAFES also has a "Best Price" policy, the intent of which is to keep
AAFES-Europe competitive. Normally AAFES buys and prices its merchandise
from its headquarters in Dallas for exchanges worldwide. But as overseas
commercial retailers get better at the discount retail business, AAFES
has given exchange managers the ability to lower shelf prices to ensure
that each exchange is competitive.
The AAFES-Europe buying staff shops European markets and offers
special "Europe Exclusive" merchandise only available to overseas
customers. Special buys from Eastern European countries as well as
Russia provide a unique selection at great prices. AAFES shoppers in
Europe will find reminders of their time in Europe, such as giftware and
souvenir items, Polish pottery, Italian ceramics and Belgian tapestries
in stores to name but a few. The European buyers also concentrate on
items that overseas customers need such as 220-volt appliances and
ready-to-assemble furniture at affordable prices.
EXCHANGE CATALOG
The Exchange Catalog is a great shopping alternative overseas,
especially for those at the remote duty stations. It's available to all
personnel and their family members in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine
Corps, Coast Guard, Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Embassies and
Consulates, and any other authorized customers as approved by the
Department of Defense.
Two editions of the Exchange Catalog are published annually. They
sell for $5 and contain a coupon good for $10 off the first order of $50
or more. In addition to the big books there are annual free supplements
featuring seasonal clothing, home dŽcor, holiday gift merchandise,
sports and fitness, baby merchandise, military clothing and a host of
other things. Catalog customers can make inquiries by using worldwide
toll-free phone numbers or the AAFES website.
ONLINE WITH AAFES.COM
The AAFES award winning website, www.aafes.com, provides an online
forum for authorized customers to gather information on their military
communities, view AAFES sales fliers, print coupons, complete Military
Star Card applications and payments plus much more. Online shopping is
another convenient way for the military customer to shop for quality
merchandise.
Simply log onto the site and begin shopping. The merchandise
selection includes everything in the exchange catalog and also items
that are available exclusively online. The web page also lists weekly
specials and closeouts at extraordinary prices. And, as with the
catalog, shipping and handling is free to customers using their Military
Star Card.
On the AAFES website is a link to The Exchange MALL.com; a virtual
offering similar to the concession mall located outside the main store
at your local exchange. These concessionaires must meet special
requirements if they are to be included in The Exchange MALL; special
discounts for the military not available outside the site, acceptance of
the Star Card, no collection of customer data for outside use, and
others.
SERVICES
AAFES provides just about every service a person in Europe needs,
from hair care and laundry services to auto repair, car washes, car
rental, electronic repair, film processing and optical services.
Customers can come to AAFES for cell phones, residential internet, phone
service, and cable TV. There are spas where you can get a massage,
facial or manicure and Exchange New Car Sales where you are guaranteed a
great price on a new car.
GASOLINE
AAFES-Europe has a contract with ESSO to provide gasoline through
coupon redemption for authorized customers. The coupons can be used at
all ESSO stations, and ARAL Autobahn stations in Germany. In The
Netherlands, ESSO has identified certain stations that participate in
the coupon program. They can be found on the internet at www.aafes.com.
Locations in the Netherlands area are very limited, so ask before you
fill up when traveling. The ESSO coupons are sold at exchange
facilities, based on an authorized ration. Gasoline is also offered at
numerous AAFES-operated gas stations on military installations in
Germany, The Netherlands, Azores, Turkey, and the UK. Managers at AAFES
gas stations give customers the convenience of using cash, check and
debit or credit cards for their purchases.
FOOD OPERATIONS
In addition to the many name-brand fast food franchises, AAFES
operates the USDA School Lunch Program. It provides more than 16,000
nutritious lunches daily at DoDDS schools throughout Europe. AAFES was
appointed by the Army and Air Force as the school feeding authority
overseas. It operates the program on a break-even basis. Coupons for the
new prepaid lunch program are sold at AAFES facilities, and free or
reduced-price lunches are available to qualifying families. School
breakfast programs are offered at several locations.
AFN SATELLITE DECODER
If you live off base and want to get the full range of television and
radio programming from AFN, visit your AAFES PowerZone to lease or
purchase an AFN decoder and satellite dish. The decoder system receives
the AFN signal via satellite. Don't forget to check with your landlord
for permission to mount the satellite dish.
| WE GO WHERE YOU GO |
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For military personnel in today's downsized force involved in
fighting the Global War on Terror, life has been a series of
back-to-back, short notice deployments to countries they would
be hard pressed to point out and find on a map. Such deployments
are just as common for AAFES-Europe personnel. These volunteers
are proud of the support they provide to troops deployed in
contingency operations throughout the European, Central Asian
and Southwest Asian theaters.
Troops serving in Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom have
access to communication tools that most veterans only 10 years
ago could have only dreamed about. In fact, today's deployed
service members not only have communication capabilities, but
they have choices regarding how they choose to communicate. A
limited number of tax-subsidized minutes are made available to
troops for "official" morale (free) phone calls each month, the
internet offers instant chat and email and the Army & Air Force
Exchange Service (AAFES) has phone centers where troops can make
as many "unofficial" (paid) calls as they desire.
Shortly after September 11th, AAFES responded to the call to
support our Armed Forces engaged in the war against terror.
AAFES-Europe set up its first OEF/OIF field exchange in October
of 2001. Currently AAFES has more than 300 direct Exchange
operations, including PX/BX's, Phone Centers, and Fast Food
outlets, plus more than 600 concessions stretched across Central
and Southwest Asia. Each bring troops there a touch of home and
a much-needed boost to their morale.
"AAFES is totally committed to providing the deployed service
member with outstanding exchange support," said AAFES-Europe
Commander Col. Forrest C. Wentworth. To date, he continued, more
than 1,700 AAFES associates have deployed to dangerous places
around the world. Those are true heroes, dedicated to proudly
serving those who serve. ÒI am proud of what they are doing,Ó
said the colonel. ÒThey are volunteers and their dedication and
commitment to serving soldiers and airmen makes the 'we go where
you go' motto of AAFES a reality."
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| GRUENSTADT
BAKERY AND ICE CREAM PLANT |
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AAFES Gruenstadt has been in operation for 53 years. It is
spread across 12 acres of land with 15 major buildings.
Gruenstadt's mission is to provide wholesome food products to
Army and Air Force members and their dependents throughout
Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. It has five major
production plants producing baked goods, ice cream, Culligan
water and ice. It also houses AAFES Europe's Cold Storage and
the Culligan Water Home Delivery Program.
The Bakery, AAFES's largest production plant worldwide,
produces over 985 million pounds of baked goods monthly. Its
product line features 50 name brand line items including
Milton's, Wonder Bread, Northwest Grain, Country Hearth,
Pillsbury and Natures Recipe.
AAFES's only ice cream plant produces over 20,000 gallons
monthly for the brands: Baskin-Robbins and Sealtest.
The Culligan Water plant uses the latest technology to
process some 494,000 gallons of water monthly. It features
reprocessed water in package sizes ranging from the convenient
0.5 liters to the five gallons used in home delivery. It also
offers fluoride water in one and five gallon containers to help
customers meet the recommended ADA requirement for healthy
teeth.
The Culligan Ice Plant produces the some 26,000 pounds of ice
a month that can be found in all commissaries and most AAFES
Shoppettes.
Gruenstadt supports some 614 activities in 17 countries and
plays an important role in meeting the AAFES mission of serving
military members and dependents wherever they go, not only with
fresh products, but also with the brands the customers expect
from AAFES.
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| WHO GET'S AN ID CARD? |
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It is possible for close family members, other than your spouse
and minor children, to be declared dependents in Europe and eligible
to shop at the PX or commissary.
But the rules are strict. They must be close family members
(usually adult children, parents or siblings) and heavily dependent
on you for support. This means that their monetary income from all
sources is less than 50 percent of their monthly expenses, and
that they live in your household.
You must contribute the remainder of what they need, either as
a monetary contribution or such other valuable services as room
and board.
In order to get them declared dependents you must submit a
notarized statement that the above conditions exist. Documentation
for this includes a statement as to whether the family member was
claimed as an exemption on your last income tax return, or a statement
explaining why he or she was not included.
There must also be a documented statement as to the family
member's total income and your contribution to his or her support.
See your personnel officer for procedures.
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