AAFES takes exchange benefit on the road for Guard and Reserve Published May 9, 2008 By Army and Air Force Exchange Service SALT LAKE CITY, UT -- SALT LAKE CITY, UT -- The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is taking the exchange benefit directly to Guard and Reserve families across the continental U.S. and Hawaii, making a stop in Salt Lake City Sept. 1-6 at Camp Williams. With semi trailers packed tight with "tax free" electronics, toys and footwear, the Salt Lake City visit is just one of 40 on-site sales slated for 2008. "These events are primarily targeted towards National Guard members, Reservists and their families, many of whom live great distances from brick-and-mortar exchange facilities," said AAFES' Senior Vice President of Sales Maggie Burgess. "Taking the benefit to communities that don't have day-to-day exchange support is extremely important as 25 percent, or nearly 3 million, of the 11.5 million Armed Forces members eligible to shop the exchange come from Guard and Reserve Families." With future stops scheduled for Fort Pickett, Grissom ARB and even the island of Maui, AAFES has a slew of exclusive deals planned for these events such as "dollar pallet buys," featuring merchandise at $1, $2 and $3 price points, "two for the price of one" DVD and CD sales, and wine tasting promotions. In 2007, AAFES provided nearly $21 million in dividends from to Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs for the National Guard and Reserves. AAFES' Commander Brig. Gen. Keith Thurgood, an Army Reservist, has charged the entire AAFES team with proactively reaching out to "warrior citizens" in an effort to deliver increased dividends to this important demographic. "These on-site sales are just one element of the exchange's increased focus on supporting the Guard and Reserve," said Burgess. "For example, AAFES' Direct Marketing division is customizing special coupons and promotions just for Guard and Reserve shoppers and aggressively communicating the advantages of the world's largest BX/PX, www.aafes.com." The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is a joint command and is directed by a Board of Directors which is responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force through the Service Chiefs of Staff. AAFES has the dual mission of providing authorized patrons with articles of merchandise and services and generating non-appropriated fund earnings as a supplemental source of funding for military Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs.