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Army & Air Force Exchange Service: Difference between revisions
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For more than 100 years before the [[base exchange|post exchange]] system was created, traveling merchants known as [[sutler]]s provided American soldiers with goods and services during times of war. Sutlers served troops at Army camps as far back as the [[French and Indian War|French and Indian]] and [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary]] wars.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Habgood |first1=Carol |last2=Skaer |first2=Marcia |page=1 |date=October 1994 |title=One Hundred Years of Service: A History of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service |url=http://www.aafes.com/Images/History/Exchange100YearHistoryBook.pdf |publisher=Army & Air Force Exchange Service |isbn=9995489228}}</ref> | For more than 100 years before the [[base exchange|post exchange]] system was created, traveling merchants known as [[sutler]]s provided American soldiers with goods and services during times of war. Sutlers served troops at Army camps as far back as the [[French and Indian War|French and Indian]] and [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary]] wars.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Habgood |first1=Carol |last2=Skaer |first2=Marcia |page=1 |date=October 1994 |title=One Hundred Years of Service: A History of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service |url=http://www.aafes.com/Images/History/Exchange100YearHistoryBook.pdf |publisher=Army & Air Force Exchange Service |isbn=9995489228}}</ref> | ||
Complaints of sutlers charging premiums for substandard merchandise were widespread during the | Complaints of sutlers charging premiums for substandard merchandise were widespread during the Civil War, and in 1867, the War Department created the post trader system. While intended to prevent the unscrupulous practices of sutlers, the post trader system still subjected troops to over-inflated prices and was rife with bribery and corruption.<ref>{{cite journal |date=September–October 1966 |title=Post Exchange System |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gWafisFNex8C&q=%22abuses%22&pg=PT254 |journal=JAG Law Review |volume=VIII |issue=5 |page=21 |access-date=5 September 2017 }}</ref> | ||
On 29 November 1880, Col. Henry A. Morrow, seeking to quell disciplinary problems resulting from troops visiting disreputable places of amusement in nearby towns, established the first American military canteen at [[Vancouver Barracks]]. There, troops were provided newspapers and magazines, played billiards and cards, and could obtain light food and drink without leaving post. | On 29 November 1880, Col. Henry A. Morrow, seeking to quell disciplinary problems resulting from troops visiting disreputable places of amusement in nearby towns, established the first American military canteen at [[Vancouver Barracks]]. There, troops were provided newspapers and magazines, played billiards and cards, and could obtain light food and drink without leaving post. | ||
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For the first 45 years of the exchange system, exchanges operated independently under the direction of each post’s [[commanding officer]], meaning there was little uniformity between exchange locations. While the War Department did not centrally control exchange operations, it did hold commanding officers accountable for their financial assets. Exchanges were also subject to annual checks by the Inspector General’s office. | For the first 45 years of the exchange system, exchanges operated independently under the direction of each post’s [[commanding officer]], meaning there was little uniformity between exchange locations. While the War Department did not centrally control exchange operations, it did hold commanding officers accountable for their financial assets. Exchanges were also subject to annual checks by the Inspector General’s office. | ||
With the outbreak of | With the outbreak of World War I and subsequent expansion of the U.S. Army, it became clear that the existing post exchange system was not equipped to accommodate such a large-scale effort. Gen. [[John J. Pershing]] enlisted the help of civilian service organizations to provide canteen service overseas, though they proved to lack the equipment and experience necessary to fully meet the needs of downrange troops.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Habgood |first1=Carol |last2=Skaer |first2=Marcia |pages=19–21 |date=October 1994 |title=One Hundred Years of Service: A History of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service |url=http://www.aafes.com/Images/History/Exchange100YearHistoryBook.pdf |publisher=Army & Air Force Exchange Service |isbn=9995489228}}</ref> | ||
===Centralization=== | ===Centralization=== | ||
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== Authorized Shoppers == | == Authorized Shoppers == | ||
Authorized patrons of the Exchange include members of Active Duty, members of the [[Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces|Reserves]] and [[National Guard of the United States|National Guard]], retired members of the U.S. [[Uniformed services of the United States|uniformed services]], recipients of the | Authorized patrons of the Exchange include members of Active Duty, members of the [[Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces|Reserves]] and [[National Guard of the United States|National Guard]], retired members of the U.S. [[Uniformed services of the United States|uniformed services]], recipients of the Medal of Honor and [[Purple Heart]], disabled veterans and certain caregivers, honorably discharged veterans (online only), DoD and Coast Guard civilians and others.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Exchange – Exchange Stores – Authorized Patrons |url=http://www.aafes.com/exchange-stores/patrons-merchandise/patrons.htm}}</ref> | ||
==Employees== | ==Employees== | ||
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==Civilian leadership== | ==Civilian leadership== | ||
[[File:Exchange_Director-CEO_Tom_Shull_2020.jpeg|alt=|thumb|Tom Shull, Director & CEO of AAFES since 2012]] | [[File:Exchange_Director-CEO_Tom_Shull_2020.jpeg|alt=|thumb|Tom Shull, Director & CEO of AAFES since 2012]] | ||
In 2012, [[Tom Shull]] became the Exchange's first civilian director/CEO, having previously served as an executive with [[Wise Foods]], [[Hanover Direct]], [[Barneys New York]] and Meridian Ventures. A [[United States Military Academy|West Point]] graduate, Shull served as an [[Infantry Branch (United States)|infantry]] [[company commander]] and held assignments at the [[White House]] and [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]].<ref>{{cite web|date=27 March 2013|title=Civilian CEO moves to modernize military's retail business|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2013-mar-27-la-fi-military-retail-ceo-20130328-story.html|website= | In 2012, [[Tom Shull]] became the Exchange's first civilian director/CEO, having previously served as an executive with [[Wise Foods]], [[Hanover Direct]], [[Barneys New York]] and Meridian Ventures. A [[United States Military Academy|West Point]] graduate, Shull served as an [[Infantry Branch (United States)|infantry]] [[company commander]] and held assignments at the [[White House]] and [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]].<ref>{{cite web|date=27 March 2013|title=Civilian CEO moves to modernize military's retail business|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2013-mar-27-la-fi-military-retail-ceo-20130328-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=10 October 2020}}</ref> Historically, the Exchange had been run by a two-star general with experience in supply and logistics. <ref>{{cite web|date=20 March 2018|title=Greenwich resident leads military retailer to top industry rankings|url=https://www.greenwichtime.com/business/article/Greenwich-resident-leads-military-retailer-to-top-12767809.php|website=[[Greenwich Time (newspaper)|Greenwich Time]]|access-date=24 May 2023}}</ref> | ||
In his tenure, Shull has emphasized merchandising national brands, expanding Express convenience stores, strengthening the Exchange's online presence and reducing costs to increase earnings and the dividend paid to military quality-of-life programs from those earnings.<ref name="The Army & Air Force Exchange 2022 Mission Report" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Debter |first=Lauren |date=7 July 2023 |title=Why It Took a Civilian to Save the Military's $8.5 Billion Retail Operation |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurendebter/2023/07/07/why-it-took-a-civilian-to-save-the-militarys-85-billion-retail-operation/?sh=6c2948303e2e |website=Forbes.com}}</ref> | In his tenure, Shull has emphasized merchandising national brands, expanding Express convenience stores, strengthening the Exchange's online presence and reducing costs to increase earnings and the dividend paid to military quality-of-life programs from those earnings.<ref name="The Army & Air Force Exchange 2022 Mission Report" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Debter |first=Lauren |date=7 July 2023 |title=Why It Took a Civilian to Save the Military's $8.5 Billion Retail Operation |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurendebter/2023/07/07/why-it-took-a-civilian-to-save-the-militarys-85-billion-retail-operation/?sh=6c2948303e2e |website=Forbes.com}}</ref> | ||