LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Several Army and Air Force Exchange Service projects de-signed to enhance morale and welfare for customers at Lackland are set to begin soon, said AAFES' top enlisted member during a visit here April 29.
Chief Master Sgt. Jeffry Helm, AAFES senior enlisted advisor, made the comments while meeting with wing leadership and touring AAFES facilities on base.
"Lackland has amazing facilities with amazing people doing a very important mission for our basic trainees and for all of our customers," said Chief Helm. "I got a great chance to meet with our associates and thank them for their innovative, creative ways and what they do to support the customers in the world."
AAFES is a joint military command with a retail mission. The command's dual mission is to provide quality products and services at competitively low prices to all servicemembers, their families and retirees and to generate earnings to supplement Army Morale Welfare and Recreation and Air Force Services programs.
Chief Helm said renovations to the Burger King restaurant would begin in May, calling it "a complete facelift to make it look like a 21st century restaurant."
The chief also added that the military clothing sales store would be moving to a larger location in the next several months to offer customers a bigger shopping area with more items.
Other plans by AAFES include new or improved barbershop, dry cleaners and shoppette facilities at the Lackland Training Annex. No timetable was given for those projects.
"We're constantly looking at how we can improve our facilities and how we can enhance our customers shopping experience," said Chief Helm.
During his meeting with wing leadership, Chief Master Sgt. David Groff, 37th Mission Support Group superintendent, addressed a need for having the Security Hill shoppette open seven days a week. Chief Helm said AAFES would immediately address the issue for the convenience of those Airmen.
AAFES is the 41st largest retailer in the world with sales of $9.9 billion in fiscal year 2008. After expenses, 63 cents of every dollar goes into the Air Force Services and Army MWR funds, which are used for quality of life improvements like youth services, recreation centers, arts and crafts, and golf courses. The other 37 cents per dollar goes back into a capital improvement fund for renovations.