FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- "Cadre Wednesdays" have arrived at Fort Jackson.

This week, AAFES stores, eateries, malls and shoppettes began offering promotional sales, product demonstrations, drawings and food specials aimed at the Soldiers, family members and retirees who regularly use post facilities.

The AAFES marketing program's main goal is to improve and expand its services and offerings.

"We're trying to appeal to the permanent party," said Jason Rosenberg, general manager of the post's AAFES operation.

"This is a permanent program. Every Wednesday, there will be flyers at the PX about special sales, special vendor demos and food specials," Rosenberg said. "At our branches, shoppettes, there will be specials on 'heat-n-eat' (items) and drawings. The focus is on the people who live here all the time."

Pvt. Timothy Harris said the program is a good idea.

"It gives Soldiers and families the chance to get some decent stuff and save money," Harris said as he stopped in at the Gate 2 shoppette.

That shoppette and others on post were offering two-for-$1 snacks and a drawing for the giveaway of a cappuccino machine on yesterday.

"Cadre Wednesdays" kicks off a list of projects that AAFES has under this year through 2010. The goal of each project is to benefit the community and improve the quality of life on post.

The Main PX's food court's seating will expand to 490 seats from 288 seats. Also, the theater on Jackson Boulevard is scheduled to reopen by year-end. AAFES and Fort Jackson are doing renovations to the theater's building and facilities. AAFES will upgrade the snack counter and projection and sound equipment.
Rosenberg said a common complaint of the Fort Jackson community is that "we

(AAFES) don't have enough food places." So, AAFES plans to also open a national brand, fast-food, chicken restaurant next to the Burger King at Lee Road and Strom Thurmond Boulevard by the third quarter of 2010.

AAFES' Fort Jackson facilities serve about 15,000 customers each day. Purchases made by Soldiers at the PX, Main Street Food Court, Shoppettes and other AAFES activities last year generated a FMWR dividend of more than $2.5 million. Also in 2008, Fort Jackson Exchange Retail and Food Operations generated $135 million in sales.

Here are some other AAFES service initiatives:

-- Renovations of the two Burger King restaurants on post were recently completed. The Burger King at the Main PX has a new black and silver design scheme. The Lee Road and Strom Thurmond Boulevard Burger King's operating hours have been expanded an hour, until 9 p.m., Monday through Friday.

-- The Car Care Center now opens at 7 a.m., allowing more morning-shift customers time to use the facility.

-- A new tactical shop, Brigade Quartermaster, will open this summer at the Mini Mall.

- AAFES is searching for a national brand coffee operation to open a shop/cafe on post.
Delawese.Fulton@us.army.mil.

CAMPAIGN PLAN FOCUS
AAFES services are recognized in the Fort Jackson campaign plan as an important aspect of quality of life, one of the campaign plan's lines of operation.