AAFES senior enlisted advisor visits Dyess

  • Published
  • By Marisa Wolfe
  • Army and Air Force Exchange Service

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service’s senior enlisted advisor is making it his mission to ensure Airmen and families at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, have the products they need, whether shopping in-store or online.

During his visit to Dyess AFB on June 13, 2018, Chief Master Sgt. Luis Reyes toured Exchange facilities. He also met with Col. Brandon Parker, 7th Bomb Wing commander, and Col. Kevin Johnson, 7th Mission Support Group commander, to address how the 122-year-old Department of Defense retailer can better serve Airmen.

“The exchange is all in when it comes to readiness and resiliency,” said Reyes, who is one of approximately 30 active-duty service members assigned to the exchange. “We are committed to providing exceptional service to the Dyess community.”

The exchange’s online shopping site, ShopMyExchange.com, features 2 million items tax-free and with military-exclusive pricing. The site focuses on name brands – everything from clothing to fitness trackers to big-screen TVs. The exchange was recently named electronics retailer of the year by New Age Electronics, and ShopMyExchange.com was ranked number two for electronics by Consumer Reports.

“Competitive pricing and tax-free shopping make the exchange a tremendous value for those who have earned the right to shop their exchange,” said Reyes. “If shoppers can’t find what they need in-store, ShopMyExchange.com puts an expanded product assortment at their fingertips.”

In November, all honorably discharged veterans were welcomed home to their military family with a lifelong online military exchange shopping benefit. All who served honorably can now shop online, tax-free, for life. Allowing honorably discharged veterans to shop online strengthens the online experience to better serve the entire military community.

Authorized ShopMyExchange.com shoppers receive free shipping on orders of $49 or more, but shipping is always free when paying with a MILITARY STAR card. The MILITARY STAR card also rewards Airmen and their families each time they use the card online and in-store.

“Cardholders earn two points for every $1 spent,” said Reyes, noting that all commissaries also accept the MILITARY STAR card.

Shoppers receive a $20 exchange rewards card for every 2,000 points earned, and the rewards card can be redeemed anywhere the exchange gift cards are accepted.

Every time Airmen shop their exchange, whether on base or online, they generate funds to make Dyess a great place to live and work.

This visit helped to give Airmen the opportunity to provide the AAFES senior enlisted advisor some feedback on things that can be improved or are doing great, noted Teresita Williams, Dyess exchange general manager.

A 100 percent of exchange earnings support quality-of-life programs including military uniforms at cost; school lunches below cost for warfighters’ children overseas; child development centers; youth programs; fitness centers; and career opportunities for spouses, veterans and wounded warriors. The exchange has hired 1,000 wounded warriors since 2010, second only to the Army.

“Last year, the Dyess AFB Exchange generated more than $381,000 on behalf of quality-of-life programs,” said Reyes. “Every time Airmen shop at their Exchange, including ShopMyExchange.com, they make Dyess a better place to live and work.”

During his visit, Reyes also thanked the exchange associates for their dedicated service.

“Since 1895, the exchange has provided a lifeline to America’s service members and their families,” said Reyes, noting that 85 percent of the exchange’s 35,000-strong workforce has a military connection. “The exchange is family serving family. Whether supporting troops downrange or here at Dyess AFB, the exchange is there to serve them.”

(Dyess Air Force Base Public Affairs contributed to this article with permission from the author.)