RED CLOUD GARRISON - Family Readiness Support Assistant members and military spouses came together to address issues Families are having with Red Cloud Garrison and Camp Stanley March 9 in Red Cloud Pear Blossom Cottage. The meeting was held to allow military spouses to voice their opinion about improvements needed in the Post Exchange and Commissary on Red Cloud and Stanley. Ken Limtiaco, Northern Region Army and Air Force Exchange Service manager, Robert Vagasky, manager of Red Cloud's commissary and Yong Baez, manager of Stanley's commissary came to represent their organizations and listen to concerns regarding improvements.
"I coordinated this meeting so that the Family Readiness Support Assistant leaders could give AAFES and DECA feedback from the voices of the community," Limtiaco said. "These meetings help because if we know the issues we can attack them and resolve them."
Some Family Members felt this meeting answered questions and was a great way for the community to contribute to improvements.
"This meeting was a release of stress," said Claudia Figueroa, FRSA leader. "I feel as if we made our voices heard. We made our points on the issues we have with the Post Exchange and the commissary, and hopefully the managers will move forward to improve them."
The most important issues are with the commissary, Figueroa said. The commissary is important not only for the families, but for the morale of Soldiers as well.
"The commissary is a big issue because that is where we shop for food," Figueroa said. "If we purchase produce and meat that is going bad, that effects the Soldiers because they have to come home to a frustrated wife who can't cook a proper meal worthy of a Soldier."
Families are concerned about the pricing on items and the hours of operation becoming a major issue. Some Families explained it is hard to get to the commissary if your husband works until 6 p.m., and also complained commissaries in other areas often have cheaper prices on certain items.
"I feel the issues these families have can be resolved in the near future," Vagasky said. "These problems are due to transforming from a single Soldier environment to a Family environment, and in time; knowing what issues we have in our stores, we can solve these concerns and adapt to the needs of our Families and the community."
"This was an excellent meeting with a lot of feedback," Limtiaco said. "And that's what it's all about, hearing the voices of our Family members so we can improve our services."
"If you have an informed public; you have a happier public," Figueroa said. "If you are informed about certain things, you can't be upset about them. These meetings ensure we are taking steps in making positive changes in our communities."
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