“Cleaning up the environment begins at home. For AAFES facilities residing on Army and Air Force installations across the globe, ‘home’ is the military community where our customers live, serve and shop. AAFES is continuously evaluating our operations looking for new ways to protect our environment and reduce our carbon footprint. I’m excited about the steps AAFES is taking to make the ‘homes’ we share better places to live thanks to reduced energy consumption, smarter store design and a better selection of environmentally-friendly products for our customers.” -Major General Keith Thurgood, CEO

I am not sure what drove my green passion, but when AAFES released the Earth Friendly program in the early 90’s, I may have been the youngest advocate. I was in fourth or fifth grade and I organized my buddies into the “Earth Friendly Club.” All of us wore AAFES Earth Friendly Buttons and met in (yes, I did say in) the tree at the end of the road (Lakenheath AFB housing). Years later, I am glad AAFES is still talking and acting upon sustainability efforts.

Green is more than just a checkbox for this company, but becoming an integral part of the AAFES business. Over the next several weeks, we will unveil the details of the AAFES sustainability vision and goals.

As a military command with a retail mission, AAFES has initiated several energy-saving initiatives in an effort to reduce its impact on the environment while strengthening the benefit it provides troops and their families. AAFES facilities are implementing initiatives to reduce energy consumption in new and existing buildings.

With more than 3,100 facilities and some 11.6 million authorized shoppers worldwide, AAFES and its customers’ impact on the environment cannot be overstated. Our military and civilian leadership are dedicated to ensuring AAFES operations are taking the steps necessary to make the communities we serve better places to live, work and shop.

AAFES Six Sustainability Goals

• Reduce Energy Consumption
• Reduce Water Consumption
• Reduce Waste
• Reduce Fleet Dependency on Fossil Fuels
• Increase Sustainable Buildings
• Increase Procurement, Marketing, Sales of Environmentally-Friendly Goods and Services

As Lauren and I both alluded to in previous posts, AAFES employees voluntarily deploy downrange to provide support to the brave Military Service members there. As a result of their patronage, sixteen AAFES employees were honored in Mannheim Main Exchange with the Global War on Terrorism civil service medal (GWOT) on February 4. There are specific guidelines and limitations on eligibility for the award. According to the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army,

The GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM (GWOT) medal is established to recognize the contributions and accomplishments of the civilian workforce of the Department of Defense in direct support of the armed forces, whose members are engaged in operations to combat terrorism in all forms throughout the world.

View the Herald Posts’ photographs and share your comments!

(Photo courtesy jcolman)

The AAFES Hardlines/PowerZone team was at CES, scouting the conference for the best and latest gadgets we could provide our authorized customers. I asked Robert Lopez, divisional merchandise manager (DMM) handling PowerZone II (music, video and computers) in the AAFES Sales Directorate, to fill me and you in on what his team brought back from CES.

• How many buyers on the Hardlines/PowerZone team attended the CES show? What are their positions?

Melissa Kitchen: Computer Accessories and Peripherals; Brandon Crowder; DVD players, Digital Alarm clocks, 2-way radios & TV mounts; Jorge Calandria: Camera, Camcorders & Memory; Mark Moody: Home Audio – to include Ipods; Steve Lushbaugh: TV’s, Front Projectors; and Bob Dunnaway: POSA cards, GPS, Blank Media, Audio Storage & Telephones.

• What sessions and exhibits were you, as a team, most looking forward to attending?

The 3-D televisions exhibits, the newest TV technology, that each of the major manufacturers were including in their 09 roll-outs were a ‘must see’.  Additionally, to determine the potential impact that this new technology has on the Video Accessory category is critical.  Also, the new line of Sony Viao ‘micro’ computers was important to review, as well as, the new line of wi-fi printers targeted for introduction into the market for 09.

• Why are AAFES buyers attending CES?

The most important reason for attending the CES show is the opportunity to review all the newest technologies for all electronic categories targeted for roll-out in 2009. This information is critical for the teams to begin formulating their strategies on how they are going to develop their 09 assortments.

(Photo: Starting from left Mat Dromey, Chief Marketing Officer; Karin Duncan, Vice President of Sales Directorate; Maggie Burgess, Senior Vice President of Sales Directorate; and Michael Howard, Chief Operating Officer.)

Last night, along with the rest of the world, I watched the President and the First Lady hop from one inaugural ball to another. My favorite ball (OK, perhaps I am biased) was the “Commander-In-Chief” Ball. This is one of newest balls honoring military personnel who have served, or are about to serve, in Iraq and Afghanistan

In case you missed it, below are the remarks of President Obama (a compilation of the President’s remarks from all inaugural balls attended can be found here):

OBAMA REMARKS AT COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF INAUGURAL BALL

(21:43:08) OBAMA: Thank you. Thank you all for coming. (applause)

(21:23:17) Thank you. (applause) Thank you so much. Thanks to all of you.

(21:43:26) Tonight I have the very special honor as being known as the guy who accompanied Michelle Obama to the ball.

(21:43:41) I want to start by thanking tonight’s co hosts; the senior enlisted advisors of the five branches of the United States Armed Forces (applause).

(21:43:57) I want to acknowledge the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who are here with us as well. Thank you, gentlemen.

(21:44:09) I also want to recognize some very special guests. Three hundred wounded warriors who are joining us from (inaudible) (applause).

(21:44:26) I want to thank all of you for your service. I wish you quick and healthy recoveries.

(21:44:25) I know that you are more than ready to get home to your families. I know they are more than ready to have you back.

(21:44:43) I also want to take a moment to honor the families of the fallen, who are here with us tonight (applause).

(21:44:53) You have given so much to this country. Know that your loved ones sacrifice has been your sacrifice as well. Please know that you in our thoughts and prayers. Today, everyday, forever.

(21:45:18) And finally, I want to thank all of the enlisted men and women and junior officers here tonight (applause).

(21:45:32) It is wonderful to be surround by some of the very best and bravest Americans. Your courage, grace, and your patriotism inspire us all. To you, and to all those watching around the world, know that as President, I will have no greater honor or responsibility than serving as your commander in chief (applause).

(21:46:07) Right now, as we gather here in Washington, we are sobered by the knowledge that we have troops in all corners of the world, many of them in harms way. We are fighting to wars. We face dangerous threats to our security. We depend on the men and women of our armed services to keep us safe.

(21:46:31) We also know that service and sacrifice aren’t limited to those who wear the uniform. Because every time a serviceman redeploys, there is an empty seat at the table back home, and a family that has to bear an extra burden. That’s why Michelle has spent so much time these last few months working with our military families (applause).

(21:46:57) And that’s why tonight we don’t just salute our troops, we salute the military families who have earned the respect of a grateful nation (applause).

(21:47:10) Understand, tonight isn’t simply about the inauguration of an American President. Its a celebration of our military and our military families, so going forward you will have our support and our respect.

(21:47:24) You will have a great Secretary of Defense in Bob Gates. You will have a great Secretary of Veterans affairs in General Erik Shinseki (applause).

(21:47:37) And every single day that I am in the White house, I will try to serve you as well as you are serving the United States of America.

(21:47:47) As I said earlier today, while the tests we face are new, and the ways in which we meet them may be new, the values on which our success depends are old. Those values like hard work and honesty, courage and tolerance, loyalty and patriotism, those are values that are embodied in our armed forces. What’s required is for all of us to return to those values, what’s required is all of us to embrace a new era of responsibility where we expect and demand not only more of our leaders, but more of ourselves.

(21:48:26) So tonight, we celebrate, but tomorrow the work begins. And I look forward to joining you in that effort. Together I am confident that we will write the next great chapter in Americas story.

(21:48:43) Now, Ive got a little surprise for some of you. As I said before, we have folks who are working right now, in Iraq and Afghanistan, and it appears, if our technology works the way its supposed to, that we should have members of the Illinois Army National Guard 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Unit based in Urbana Illinois. Hey guys.

(21:49:25) (Soldiers start speaking.)

(21:49:49) OBAMA: Before you say anything, else can you please introduce the rest of your crew there?

(21:49:49) (Soldiers speaking. Soldier invites Obama to Afghanistan).

(21:50:21) OBAMA: I will be back.

(21:50:27) (Soldiers speaking).

(21:50:59) OBAMA: Can I ask a question before you pass on the mic — we’ve got three Chicago guys, this is an important test — White Sox or Cubs?

(21:51:11) Soldier: Cubs fan

(21:51:27) OBAMA: Go to the next guy, lets see if we can find a White Sox fan.

(21:51:30) (Soldiers speaking)

(21:52:31) OBAMA: Well Sgt. Major, we may be outnumbered, us White Sox fans, but whether youre a White Sox, Cubs, or Cardinals, we got some folks probably from Scott Air force Base or something down in Metro East. No matter were you are from, we are all grateful to you for your outstanding service, you make us proud, and we are going to do everything we can to make your work go smoother, and you need to know that every single American, regardless of party, regardless of what their politics are, support you, and will always support you. Thank you so much. (applause).

(21:53:28) Thank you everybody, and I will see you either back home or out where you guys are. Thank you. And we salute you.

(21:53:45) Now. Give them a big round of applause please.

(21:54:00) With that, we have one more person that I need to introduce, that would be the first lady of the United States of America, Michelle Obama (applause).

(21:54:21) I may have been stood up.

(21:54:26) (Michelle Obama comes out)

(21:54:38) (The Obamas Dance)

Distinguished Readers:

Our common vision at the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) is to be our customers first choice. As we look into the future, the strategic challenges this command faces are really business opportunities to better serve stakeholders and accomplish a dual mission 113 years in the making; provide quality goods and services at competitively low prices and generate earnings to support morale, welfare and recreation programs. Moving forward, the goals and supporting strategies presented in this long-term strategic plan are developed to shape and win the future. We will continue to deliver value that is unassailable and the highest quality support to active duty, National Guard, Reserves, retired customers, commanders, associates and suppliers.

AAFES operates in an extremely competitive and ever-evolving global marketplace. In order to compete, the organization is refining its value proposition to be so clear and convincing that every potential customer understands AAFES is their best and first choice for quality merchandise and services. To Win the Future, AAFES is committed to a mantra that captures the essence of our strategies: Think BIG and act small. Thinking BIG allows AAFES to build on past successes and at the same time continue AAFES’ pursuit of customer loyalty, ownership and improvement. Thinking BIG is about changing the productivity performance curve in a way that drives earnings and dividends to historic levels. It is also about imagining the possibilities of a new future, setting BIG goals, and holding personnel accountable for delivering results.

Even as I have challenged the entire AAFES team to Think BIG, military and civilian leadership understand that strategies must be turned into executable tactics to produce desired results. Acting small means immediate, proactive action at the lowest levels of the organization that can turn strategic plans and concepts into actionable tactics at the store level. It also means flawless, simultaneous execution of ideas across multiple fronts and venues. We understand all retail is local – and AAFES must create life-long emotional connections with customers one person at a time. These ideas are built around an operating model with five strategic goals that support this military command’s stated mission and vision. This plan lays out the goals and the supporting strategies that will help us Win the Future.

Sincerely,

KEITH L. THURGOOD
MG, U.S. Army
Commander

^{“AAFES is truly an organization that looks at abilities versus disabilities,” said 18-year associate Candace Owens, ABLE Employment Manager and key resource in leading employment initiatives of ABLE associates worldwide. ABLE supports the employment efforts of disABLEd associates by ensuring equal opportunity in the areas of recruiting, hiring, promoting and training.}

^{AAFES has implemented a strategic plan to aggressively pursue the diversity of applicant pools and talent selection for people with targeted disabilities. This includes utilizing proactive recruitment initiatives and establishing new relationships with partner agencies like the Texas Governor’s Committee and Easter Seals North Texas’ Business Advisory Council.}

^{“People with disabilities constitute the nation’s largest minority group and is a huge pool of talent which AAFES recognizes as largely untapped,” said AAFES Director of Diversity Jeanne McDonald. “AAFES values people with disabilities and this recognition supports the fact that they offer opportunities to a wide variety of candidates.”}

It is the dual enduring mission of AAFES to provide quality merchandise and services to its customers at competitively low prices and to generate earnings which provide a dividend to support morale, welfare, and recreation (MWR) programs.

AAFES is a non-appropriated fund instrumentality and operates almost exclusively with funds generated from sales to authorized customers. AAFES works hard to generate a profit, which is then given back to the  stockholders, the AAFES customers, in the form of Morale, Welfare and Recreation/Services payments and new and improved facilities. APF for exchange operations is authorized for Second Destination Transportation from AAFES Distribution Centers to OCONUS ports and by the Combatant Command in contingency or combat areas.

By Department of Defense policy, AAFES is designated the primary source of non-subsistence resale on Army and Air Force installations. This policy extends to forward deployments and contingency operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and all the countries where US troops are deployed.

AAFES generates earnings to support Army and Air Force MWR/Services programs. AAFES earns over 4 cents on each sales dollar. These earnings are returned to the Army and the Air Force in two ways:

• Nearly 70 percent of earnings are paid as dividends to the MWR fund.
• The remainder of funds goes into the AAFES Capital Program to build new facilities and renovate others.

Construction work on exchange facilities today is done almost exclusively with AAFES earnings. Every purchase in an exchange facility enhances AAFES dividends, and a portion of all dividends is provided to the installation where the purchase was made.

AAFES is privileged to be part of the military community. Thank you!

(Photo courtesy mysavingstips.)