AAFES delivers generous retirement package to those who “Still Serve”

  • Published
  • By AAFES Public Affairs
Eielson AFB, Alaska --  Retirement has its benefits for former Soldiers and Airmen who shop their exchange during the Army, Air Force Exchange Service' s annual "Still Serving" weekend, Sept. 28-30. 

This year, AAFES is inviting more than 1.5 million Army and Air Force retirees to visit BXs and PXs for special savings, prizes and events.

Invitations, in the form of a 24-page mailer, are already hitting military retiree's mailboxes. Overflowing with select offers and coupons, as well as an opportunity to win one of more than a dozen prizes, the 2007 "Still Serving" mailer is twice the size of last year's 12-page edition. Inside, military retirees will find exclusive savings on gas, coffee, jewelry, electronics, footwear, eye wear, flowers, hardware, clothing and even a new set of tires.

"Still Serving" savings aren't limited to local "brick and mortar" exchanges. In fact, Exchange Online Store and catalog offers have been incorporated into nearly half of the 2007 "Still Serving" booklet.

While AAFES offers year-round savings for retirees, PXs and BXs throughout CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Guam as well as participating European and Pacific locations will host special "Still Serving" celebrations for one weekend only as main stores host free refreshments, product samples, health clinics, cooking demonstrations and more.

At 36 percent, retirees represent the largest portion of the exchanges' authorized households.

"Still Serving" is an annual effort to attract and retain loyal shoppers who continue to directly impact active-duty families' day-to-day lives.

"Retiree patronage directly affects AAFES' ability to fulfill it's dual mission to provide quality goods and services at competitively low prices and generate earnings to support Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs," said AAFES' Chief Marketing Officer Richard Sheff. 

"Whether or not authorized patrons choose to shop the exchange goes beyond dollars and cents; it is a quality of life issue for the entire military community. Without retiree support, AAFES wouldn't have been able to return an average FY '06 per capita dividend of $229 for every Soldier and Airman, in addition to the shared earnings paid to the Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps."

Authorized exchange customers can learn more about activities planned for the weekend of Sept. 28 at their specific exchange by calling their local store manager. Contact information can be found online at www.aafes.com by clicking on the "store locator" link.