During the government shutdown,\u00a02,700 Exchange facilities, including department stores, convenience stores, food courts, malls and movie theaters, in all 50 states and more than 30 countries will continue to serve the military community. Overseas, the Exchange goes where the troops go, including remote, austere locations in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and the Pacific, to provide a taste of home to service members.<\/p>\n ShopMyExchange.com<\/a>, which offers the same tax-free savings and military-exclusive pricing found in brick-and-mortar Exchange stores for authorized shoppers and honorably discharged Veterans, remains unaffected as well.<\/p>\n 100 percent of Exchange earnings support Quality-of-Life programs for service members and their families, including combat uniforms at cost; school lunches below cost for Warfighters\u2019 children overseas; child development centers, youth programs and fitness centers on Army garrisons; and Air Force Outdoor Recreation programs. Additionally, the Exchange has hired 1,000 Wounded Warriors, tripling the number employed at organization in 2010.<\/p>\n — 30 —<\/p>\n Since 1895, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange) has gone where Soldiers, Airmen 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 56th-largest retailer in the United States. Its earnings provided $2.4 billion in dividends to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs over the last 10 years. The Exchange is a non-appropriated fund entity of the Department of Defense 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 Web site at http:\/\/www.shopmyexchange.com<\/a> or follow us on Twitter at https:\/\/twitter.com\/ExchangePAO<\/a>.<\/p>\n ###<\/p>\n Media Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Julie Mitchell, 214-312-3327, 214-934-1828 or mitchelljul@aafes.com.<\/p>\n Follow the Exchange:<\/p>\n Facebook:\u00a0 www.facebook.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n Twitter:\u00a0 https:\/\/twitter.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/01\/24100428698_30d12bfbe2_o-300x200.jpg\")
Though the Exchange<\/a> is part of the Department of Defense, the organization is a nonappropriated fund entity, with nearly 100 percent of its operating budget coming from the sale of goods and services.<\/p>\n