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AAFES opens new shoppette near PRTC

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Courtney Witt
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
A "mini shoppette" no more. The Army Air Force Exchange Service's opened a fully stocked shoppette June 26 for service members at the Pacific Air Forces Regional Training Center.

It all started as an idea from Master Sgt. Wesley Willand, 554th RED HORSE Squadron first sergeant, to put a shoppette at the PRTC.

In September 2008, AAFES started a van delivery service to the PRTC. This supported the 554th RHS members by providing them food items for purchase in the morning before construction began.

"Airmen pointed out that aside from driving to a local market for food and beverages and taking at least a half an hour out of the duty day, there was nothing available to them between meals," Sergeant. Willand said.

Initially, Flordeliza Payton, AAFES general manager for Andersen, pulled her team together to create a way to provide the Airmen with a "mini shoppette."

"We came up with the idea to drive a van out to [the PRTC] three days a week and set up a table with snacks and drinks etc," Ms. Payton said.

While this system worked in the beginning, it was not the most ideal situation.

The $125K construction project began in April. The design features three tactical field exchange containers connected to form a mobile field exchange near the PRTC.

"This addition to the [PRTC] has been a positive influence on the morale of military members," said Capt. April Bowman, 554th RHS lead engineer. "To have that resource out there is a convenient, safe and great way to give back to the Airmen."

The shoppette serves around 200 people including Airmen from the 554th RHS, Commando Warrior, 36th SFS and other Team Andersen members who frequent the PRTC as well as Army and Air Force Guard members and the Navy Seabees.

The shoppette operates on the same guidance as any AAFES store. Any ID card holder can use this facility. The shoppette is open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

"AAFES motto 'we go where you go' definitely holds true to its word," said Mrs. Payton.