FORWARD OPERATING BASE GARRY OWEN, Iraq - "We go where you go" is the Army and Air Force Exchange's motto, and AAFES lived up to every word when it opened a new Post Exchange shoppette here Oct. 26.
The new facility brought a smile to the face of Spc. John Hail, a native of Clovis, N.M, as he purchased a case of energy drinks, marking the shoppette's first transaction.
The process to get those energy drinks to Hail began approximately three months ago when Joel Kelso, the AAFES retail business manager for southern Iraq, conducted a site visit to begin the process of establishing the store on the remote Forward Operating Base, which is occupied by Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.
"AAFES is working hard to improve the quality of life for every Soldier here in Iraq," Kelso said.
The new store has toiletries, drinks and snack food items that troops can readily purchase. Before the new PX opened, Soldiers stationed at Garry Owen could only obtain these items via mail or from the AAFES store at Contingency Operating Base Adder, located more than 120 miles away.
"This shoppette is boosting the morale of every Soldier here by giving them a little taste of home," Hail added.
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