{"id":6854,"date":"2021-07-22T16:05:42","date_gmt":"2021-07-22T16:05:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/?p=6854"},"modified":"2021-07-22T16:46:07","modified_gmt":"2021-07-22T16:46:07","slug":"we-go-where-you-go-army-air-force-exchange-service-marks-126-years-of-serving-military-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2021\/07\/22\/we-go-where-you-go-army-air-force-exchange-service-marks-126-years-of-serving-military-community\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018We Go Where You Go\u2019: Army & Air Force Exchange Service Marks 126 Years of Serving Military Community"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"deployedDALLAS <\/strong>\u2013 At home, abroad, in war zones, through natural disasters\u2014wherever Soldiers, Airmen and Guardians serve, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service has gone with them for the last 126 years<\/a>.<\/p>\n

On July 25, the Department of Defense\u2019s largest retailer is celebrating its 126th<\/sup> anniversary of serving those who serve through more than 4,900 facilities<\/a>, including department stores, convenience stores, Military Clothing stores, restaurants, barbershops and salons, mall vendors and more, as well as ShopMyExchange.com.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is an honor to serve Warfighters and their families,\u201d said Exchange Director\/CEO Tom Shull, an Army Veteran. \u201cWherever our troops go, the Exchange is privileged to serve with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"exchangeThe War Department issued General Orders No. 46 on July 25, 1895, directing commanders to open post exchanges at their installations. In the 126 years since, the Exchange has provided a lifeline to America to give deployed service members a taste of home<\/a>, from snacks and personal necessities to name-brand American restaurants and services.<\/p>\n

While many retailers closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Exchange remained mission-critical, working with local commands to ensure safe, sanitized and secure shopping support, including rapid deployment of expanded contactless shopping options.<\/p>\n

\u201c85% of our associates are connected to the military\u2014they\u2019re passionate about being there for service members, retirees, Veterans and military families,\u201d Shull said. \u201cThe Exchange is truly \u2018family serving family.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\"familySince 2013, the Exchange has hired more than 49,500 Veterans and military spouses<\/a>. More than 1,700 wounded warriors have been hired since 2010.<\/p>\n

Shopping the Exchange strengthens the military community. 100% of Exchange earnings support the military community, including through support of critical military Quality-of-Life programs that promote military readiness and resiliency. In the past 10 years, the Exchange has distributed more than $2.1 billion to these programs, including Child, Youth and School Services; Armed Forces Recreation Centers; and more. All remaining earnings are reinvested into improving the shopping experience.<\/p>\n

The Exchange provides critical Quality-of-Life support<\/a> through military uniforms at cost, school meals to Warfighters\u2019 children overseas and support before, during and after natural disasters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor 126 years, it\u2019s been an honor to go where our heroes go,\u201d Shull said. \u201cTeam Exchange will continue to strengthen the \"exchangebenefit for Soldiers, Airmen and Guardians\u2014past, present and future.\u201d<\/p>\n

To learn more about the Exchange\u2019s history, see the interactive history timeline at https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/Community\/history<\/a><\/p>\n

Facebook-friendly version: <\/strong>At home, abroad, in war zones, through natural disasters\u2014wherever Soldiers, Airmen and Guardians serve, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service has gone with them since 1895. \u201cFor 126 years, it\u2019s been an honor to go where our heroes go,\u201d said Exchange Director\/CEO Tom Shull. \u201cTeam Exchange will continue to strengthen the benefit for Soldiers, Airmen and Guardians\u2014past, present and future.\u201d Read more: https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Q7PG-1My<\/a>.<\/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 53rd<\/sup>-largest retailer in the United States. Its earnings provided $2.1 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. The Exchange is a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Partner, planning and conducting events and activities that recognize the service, valor and sacrifice of Vietnam Veterans and their families in conjunction with the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration. 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<\/a> or follow us on Twitter at https:\/\/twitter.com\/ExchangePAO<\/a>.<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

Media Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Marisa Conner at 214-312-5111 or connermar@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

Instagram: @shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DALLAS \u2013 At home, abroad, in war zones, through natural disasters\u2014wherever Soldiers, Airmen and Guardians serve, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service has gone with them for the last 126 years. On July 25, the Department of Defense\u2019s largest retailer is celebrating its 126th anniversary of serving those who serve through more than 4,900 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":6856,"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":"Wherever troops serve, @shopmyexchange has gone with them since 1895. \u201cFor 126 years, it\u2019s been an honor to go where our heroes go,\u201d said Exchange Director\/CEO Tom Shull.","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":[17,25],"tags":[160,174,107,344,35,45],"class_list":["post-6854","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history","category-press_releases","tag-aafes","tag-army-air-force-exchange-service","tag-exchange","tag-exchange-126th-anniversary","tag-military","tag-veterans"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2021\/07\/22\/we-go-where-you-go-army-air-force-exchange-service-marks-126-years-of-serving-military-community\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"\u2018We Go Where You Go\u2019: Army & Air Force Exchange Service Marks 126 Years of Serving Military Community","url":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2021\/07\/22\/we-go-where-you-go-army-air-force-exchange-service-marks-126-years-of-serving-military-community\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2021\/07\/22\/we-go-where-you-go-army-air-force-exchange-service-marks-126-years-of-serving-military-community\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/07\/27350185604_bab24e713c_c-e1626969726651.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/07\/27350185604_bab24e713c_c-e1626969726651.jpg"},"articleSection":"Exchange History","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Marisa Conner"}],"creator":["Marisa Conner"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Exchange Newsroom","logo":""},"keywords":["aafes","army & air force exchange service","exchange","exchange 126th anniversary","military","veterans"],"dateCreated":"2021-07-22T16:05:42Z","datePublished":"2021-07-22T16:05:42Z","dateModified":"2021-07-22T16:46:07Z"},"rendered":"