Army & Air Force Exchange Service
The Army & Air Force Exchange Service , abbreviated AAFES , is a consumer goods supply chain with its own stores of the US Department of Defense , which serves the supply of the US Army and the US Air Force . The abbreviation AAFES is used as an independent name in American parlance. AAFES is usually commanded or directed by a two-star general. The head office is in Dallas .
A special feature is that AAFES is not allowed to generate profits because the organization is financially supported by the Ministry of Defense. AAFES initially works within the framework of cost recovery (98%) and only receives support for the transport of goods overseas and from military personnel assigned to AAFES. Excess income is credited to the so-called Morale, Welfare and Recreation Program (MWR, German: Morale, Welfare and Recreation Program ) of the Army and Air Force. In principle, every AAFES shopper supports the recreation and leisure facilities set up for him.
Distribution takes place through the stores on the bases , which are referred to as "PX" for Post Exchange or "BX" for Base Exchange . In principle, the goods available, such as clothing, household goods, cosmetics and electronics, are tax-free. For this reason, only members of the US armed forces and, under certain conditions, members of various NATO units may use these sales facilities.
However, PX stores are also operated in military camps around the world by deployed armies. Mostly private companies are used here, with local staff being recruited. For example, Bosnians work in the PX in the EUFOR military camps in Bosnia-Herzegovina .
Despite the tax exemption, alcohol and tobacco products are only sold a maximum of ten percent cheaper than either the US continental prices or the local prices in order not to offer any special buying incentive. The price of the petrol sold at the AAFES filling stations is also always based on the local market in order not to dominate or weaken it.
AAFES also offers an online shop that - similar to a mail order company - delivers to all US military postal addresses and bases. Occasionally, AAFES also organizes special campaigns as part of the various MWR programs. For example, a Burger King restaurant opened in 2003 on the “Camp Liberty” military base in Iraq . For the US Navy there is a comparable facility with the Navy Exchange , while the Marine Corps is supplied by the Marine Corps Exchange .
The Central Hessian US depot in Gießen was the central goods distribution center for the US armed forces stationed in Europe. The troops in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Balkans were supplied from here due to the shorter transport routes compared to the USA. The civil part of AAFES operations was completely discontinued on March 31, 2017 in Gießen and relocated to the new location in Germersheim .
Web links
- on shopmyexchange.com (English)
- AAFES fuel prices in $ per gallon (English)