AAFES Dividends Benefit Little Rock Morale, Welfare and Recreation

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  • By to the Drop Zone
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Shoppers who exercised their exchange benefit at the BX, online at www.aafes.com or over the phone through the Exchange Catalog last year helped make the military community a better place as the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) delivered more than $228 million in support of Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) programs in 2006. 

These contributions to America's military represented an average per capita dividend of $229 for every Soldier and Airman, in addition to the dividends AAFES paid to the Navy and Marine Corps.

"AAFES' dual mission is to provide goods and services at competitively low prices and generate earnings to support MWR programs," said the Little Rock BX's Amy Birmingham, General Manager. "AAFES is a major non-pay benefit to today's military because the dollars troops and their families spend in their exchange generates a healthy return on investment that directly improves critical quality of life services."

Purchases made by Airmen at the BX, Shoppettes and Burger King and other AAFES activities at Little Rock last year generated a dividend of $516,477. These funds are critical to Air Force Service's ability to enhance local MWR programs and facilities including Bowling Alley, Golf Course, and the Youth Center.

Historically, roughly two-thirds of AAFES earnings are paid to MWR programs. In the past 10 years, more than $2.4 billion has been con¬tributed by AAFES to military quality of life improvements.

In addition to funding MWR programs, AAFES earnings are used to build new stores or renovate existing facilities without expense to the Federal government. In fact, funds to contract new or replacement facilities also come entirely from sales of merchandise and services.

"The bottom line is that every time troops shop their exchange, a portion of their purchase goes towards supporting MWR programs, facilities and non-appropriated fund construction projects," said Amy Birmingham. "Seeing the financial benefit this and other military communities reap makes the day-to-day challenges of delivering the exchange benefit very much worth the commitment and sacrifice needed to operate efficiently and maximize the investment military families at Little Rock are making in their BX."