Exchange senior enlisted advisor visits JB MDL

Published July 30, 2014
By Army and Air Force Exchange Service Public Affairs
Army and Air Force Exchange Service Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- The Senior Enlisted Advisor for the Army & Air Force Exchange Service visited Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst July 22-25, 2014.

During his visit, Chief Master Sgt. Tony Pearson toured Exchange facilities, met with Airmen, Soldiers and community members and addressed how the Exchange can serve them better, including growing the selection of name-brand services offered on the installation.

"I'm always excited to meet with Airmen and Soldiers," Chief Master Sgt. Pearson said. "Hearing their concerns and learning how the Exchange can serve them better is one of the best parts of my job."

Chief Master Sgt. Pearson is one of 54 active-duty service members assigned to Exchange to carry out this mission; the Exchange also employs more than 38,000 civilian associates worldwide.

During his visit, Chief Master Sgt. Pearson met with JB MDL shoppers and Exchange associates, answering questions about the Exchange. He said the Exchange is pleased to bring national name-brand services to military shoppers.

"We're doing more to bring top names like the UPS Store, GNC and Game Stop to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst," Chief Master Sgt. Pearson said. "These well-known brands transform our mall, making it a first-class place to shop."

When Airmen, Soldiers and their families buy from the Exchange, money goes back to supporting quality-of-life programs at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

"For every dollar earned, historically 67 cents comes back to the military community from the Air Force Services and Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation dividend," Chief Master Sgt. Pearson said. "Last year, sales at the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Exchange generated more than $622,000 on behalf of MWR and Service programs."

The Exchange is a joint nonappropriated fund instrumentality of the Department of Defense with a retail mission to provide quality products, services and food to service members, their families, Reserve and Guard members, plus military retirees. Exchange sales generate earnings to supplement Air Force Services programs and Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation activities.