At the tip of the spear, where Soldiers operate from small, dispersed sites far from large installations, even limited resources can make a meaningful difference. Across Poland, many forward operating sites host fewer than 300 Soldiers and lack the population or infrastructure to support a full Army & Air Force Exchange Service operated store.<\/p>\n
At Forward Operating Site Karliki, the unit-run Authorized Imprest Fund Activity (AIFA) PX has become a vital Quality-of-Life resource, delivering everyday necessities and a boost to morale in an austere environment where mission requirements come first.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a forward operating site, it\u2019s not as built up as a base,\u201d said Capt. Alissa Mendez, Headquarters and Headquarters company commander and AIFA officer in charge. \u201cA lot of Soldiers here don\u2019t really have access to town unless they\u2019re walking or taking a taxi, and that\u2019s not always realistic, especially in the cold or when it gets dark early.\u201d<\/p>\n
Imprest fund activity sites are operated by military personnel, typically in remote or austere locations where a full-service Exchange is not feasible. These small, unit-run stores carry a limited inventory, generally valued at less than $15,000, with approved exceptions up to $50,000 and can operate indefinitely in coordination with a supporting Exchange general manager. Proceeds from sales are used to replenish merchandise, while the unit assumes responsibility for ordering and transporting products, ensuring Soldiers continue to have access to essential items despite their distance from larger installations.<\/p>\n
\u201cRequests for AIFA sites are submitted by the unit through their higher headquarters and outline projected personnel strength, location and sustainment capabilities,\u201d said Lt. Col. Mitchell Brooks, the Exchange\u2019s Europe Region chief of Contingency Operations and Plans \u201cThat information allows\u00a0 the Exchange to plan and execute support in a timely manner, ensuring Soldiers have access to essential Exchange services even in the most austere environments.\u201d<\/p>\n
At Karliki, PX means immediate access to hygiene items, snacks, drinks and small comforts that would otherwise take weeks to arrive by mail. The Exchange has 10 imprest fund sites in the Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe PX is such a big contributor to morale,\u201d Mendez said. \u201cIt\u2019s your comfort food, your comfort items. You\u2019re away from home, sometimes for the first time, and this is one of the ways we can make this feel like home now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since the store opened in January 2024, leaders have focused on keeping it responsive to Soldiers\u2019 needs, a priority Mendez reinforced when she arrived on ground in July 2025. \u201cWe really came in with the mindset of, \u2018What is going to sell best for troops? What do Soldiers actually want?\u201d Mendez said. \u201cWe put up a board and asked them directly.\u201d<\/p>\n
That feedback-driven approach shapes everything from what is stocked to how often products rotate. \u201cWe\u2019ll test new items weekly,\u201d she said. \u201cSometimes we\u2019ll take a product off the shelf for a month and bring it back later. Soldiers notice that. They\u2019ll say, \u2018Oh my gosh, my thing\u2019s back.\u2019 It keeps interest up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Executing that vision on the ground is Staff Sgt. Jacob Whited, the noncommissioned officer-in-charge. A vehicle mechanic by trade, Whited manages the store, alongside a few other Soldiers, with the same discipline he brings to maintenance operations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a convenience for Soldiers on our FOS,\u201d Whited said. \u201cIt keeps them from having to go into town, pay for a taxi and try to get basic necessities. That alone increases morale.\u201d<\/p>\n
Organization and accountability are central to how the store operates. \u201cWe don\u2019t put food on the floor, only sealed drinks if we have excess,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to keep it clean and safe. Little things like that matter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Inside the small store, shelves are arranged to create flow. \u201cWe wanted it to be functional,\u201d Whited said. \u201cHome and health here, food here, drinks here, so Soldiers know exactly where to go instead of searching around.\u201d<\/p>\n
That attention to detail builds trust, and Soldiers respond. \u201cYou see it in the group chats,\u201d Whited said. \u201cPeople talk about how it\u2019s nice that the PX actually has stock.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Soldiers living in tents or rotating through the site, that reliability is essential. \u201cIf a Soldier is running out of soap or toothpaste, they know they can come here instead of waiting four weeks for a package from home,\u201d Whited said.<\/p>\n
The store also serves as a leadership and development platform.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe use this for volunteer hours,\u201d Whited said. \u201cWeekends and non-duty hours are all volunteer time. Soldiers get promotion points, ribbons and experience running something that actually matters.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mendez sees ownership as a force multiplier.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlmost everybody on this FOS goes through the PX at least once a day,\u201d she said. \u201cSo, if we\u2019re making it a warm environment, music playing, decorations up, it gives Soldiers something to look forward to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those small touches resonate. \u201cIf someone\u2019s having a bad day, they\u2019ll say, \u2018Let me just go grab my energy drink,\u2019\u201d Mendez said. \u201cThat matters more than people realize.\u201d<\/p>\n
As both a commander and the FOS mayor for the Army side of the installation, Mendez views the store as inseparable from mission readiness.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the end of the day, it\u2019s what you can provide for Soldiers that makes them feel taken care of,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s how you keep them focused and resilient.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked whether the AIFA store should continue after her unit redeploys, Mendez was unequivocal. \u201cOh, 100%,\u201d she said. \u201cIn an austere environment like this, there\u2019s only so much you can provide. This fills a critical gap.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whited echoed that sentiment for other units considering a similar capability.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbsolutely go for it,\u201d he said. \u201cIt builds morale, gives Soldiers ownership and makes the camp better for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Facebook-friendly version: At Forward Operating Site Karliki, a unit-run Exchange store is making a difference for Soldiers operating in the austere environment. From hygiene items and snacks to comfort favorites from home, this small PX boosts morale, saves Soldiers trips into town and supports readiness daily. Read more:<\/p>\n
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Since 1895, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service has gone where Soldiers, Airmen, Guardians and their families go to improve the quality of their lives by providing valued goods and services at exclusive military pricing. The Exchange is the 51st-largest retailer in the United States. 100% of Exchange earnings support military communities. In the last 10 years, your Exchange benefit has provided $15 billion in earnings that support the military community, including through contributions to critical military Quality-of-Life programs. The Exchange is a nonappropriated fund entity of the Department of War and is directed by a Board of Directors. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our website at http:\/\/www.shopmyexchange.com or follow us on X at https:\/\/x.com\/shopmyexchange.<\/p>\n
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At the tip of the spear, where Soldiers operate from small, dispersed sites far from large installations, even limited resources can make a meaningful difference. Across Poland, many forward operating sites host fewer than 300 Soldiers and lack the population or infrastructure to support a full Army & Air Force Exchange Service operated store. At […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":12149,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[311,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12148","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-europe-region","category-press_releases"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2026\/02\/09\/small-store-big-impact-exchange-support-at-the-tip-of-the-spear\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Small Store, Big Impact: Exchange Support at the Tip of the Spear","url":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2026\/02\/09\/small-store-big-impact-exchange-support-at-the-tip-of-the-spear\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2026\/02\/09\/small-store-big-impact-exchange-support-at-the-tip-of-the-spear\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/02\/9509694.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/02\/9509694.jpg"},"articleSection":"Europe Region","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"MSG Caleb Barrieau"}],"creator":["MSG Caleb Barrieau"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Exchange Newsroom","logo":""},"keywords":[],"dateCreated":"2026-02-09T19:52:26Z","datePublished":"2026-02-09T19:52:26Z","dateModified":"2026-02-09T19:52:26Z"},"rendered":"