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AAFES, MWR settles in Egypt

Photo By Sgt. Maj. Alejandro Licea | Sgt. Jerry White, assigned to Third Army's Staff Judge Advocate based in Fort...... read more read more

09.11.2005

Courtesy Story

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Story and photos by Sgt. Alex Licea
Coalition Forces Land Component Command/Third U.S. Army Public Affairs

Mubarak Military Compound, Egypt (September 10, 2005) --Sodas, chips, t-shirts and health products at a tax-free, affordable price? For most service members, these items would normally be accessible with ease at their installation's Post Exchange. However, for deployed troops in Egypt these items were not available; that was until now.

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service opened its doors to service members serving in the Bright Star exercise during a grand opening celebration at the Agami compound, Sept. 8 and at Mubarak Military Compound, Sept.11.

"These AAFES stores during the Bright Star exercise will provide service members a basic quantity of supplies such as soap and other health and beauty products as well as refreshments and snacks," said Lew Hood, general manager of Egypt's AFFES stores. "We will also have souvenirs such as t-shirts and other local items."

Along with a PX, AAFES will also have a phone center, barber shop, laundry service and film processing center.

Both the laundry service and film-processing center will provide service members with a 48-hour turnaround, said Hood.

Maj. Karen Johnson, tactical field environment officer-in-charge at MMC, advises personnel participating in Bright Star to expect some differences from their local AFFES back home.

"Only cash and personnel checks will be accepted by all vendors," she said. "Checks must be for the same amount and must include the correct date, name, rank and duty unit. Military identification and home address must also be included on each check."

Johnson warns military and Department of Defense personnel not to be fooled by local food retailers in each compound area and associate them with AAFES.

Don't link local food vendors are with AAFES, she said.

"These places have not been approved by preventive medicine, and we have had some service members fall sick to these foods."

Sgt. 1st Class Ronald Clay and Spc. Crystal McEntree will be manning the Agami PX. The store should give a much-needed boost to service members during the high-paced exercise, they said.

"This will help the morale of all service members," said Clay. "It will bring a touch of home to these guys."

"We are expecting long lines throughout the exercise," added McEntree.

Morale, Welfare and Recreation will also be on site providing a weight room and movie room for service members to use, said Lewis Ingol, Coalition Land Forces Component Command MWR director. It will help boost morale throughout the exercise.

Sgt. Jerry White, a Soldier assigned to Third U.S. Army based out of Fort McPherson, Ga., was one of the Soldiers at the grand opening

"It's great to have this here," he said. "These activities will really help us relax after a hard day's work."

AAFES at MMC is located on the compound's multi-purpose center. The Agami compound is located near the headquarters building.

AAFES plans to stay in theater until the end of the exercise.

"We are here as long as the service members are here," said Hood. "Until they say 'AAFES, tear down' we will provide everyone with quality products."

Operational hours during Bright Star will be from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and will reopen from 4 p.m. umtil 9 p.m. daily at both locations.