CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE Q-WEST, Iraq - The expanded Post Exchange celebrated its grand opening with cake and speeches here Aug. 25.
The Q-West PX doubled in size from 3,000 to 6,000 square feet and increased its shelf stock, especially in electronics and entertainment systems.
"We tripled the size of the DVD and CD section and added a whole line of merchandized, including 40-inch big screen TVs, more electronics and games," said Leo Bitner, Jr., general manager for AAFES-Northern Iraq, and native of Conowingo, Md.
Soldiers perusing the newly renovated exchange noticed the increase of the amount of electronics.
"This is the most video games I've seen in my 8 months deployed here, and I've never seen gaming systems," said Beaumont, Texas, native Spc. Christopher T. Miller, a battalion supply clerk with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment.
"The electronics section is really improved. You can get a PlayStation 3, a Wii, an Xbox 360 -- these were not available before," said Staff Sgt. Martin E. Motes, a Plainville, Conn., native and also a member of the battalion supply section of Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment.
"This occasion marks the fruition of a long-awaited project and highlights the commitment of AAFES to the residents of Q-West," said Lt. Col. William B. Smith, Jr., COB mayor, 2-198th Combined Arms Battalion, and native of Hattiesburg, Miss.