AAFES celebrates 118 years of service to military with ceremony

Daniel E. Wise, Offutt Air Force Base Exchange general manager, addresses a group of exchange employees and customers as part of a ceremony celebrating the Army and Air Force Exchange Service’s 118th birthday, here, July 25. AAFES is an agency of the U.S. Department of Defense with two missions -- provide quality merchandise and services to 8.7 million active duty, National Guard, reserve members, military retirees and their family members, at uniformly low prices; and generate reasonable earnings for the support of Army morale, welfare and recreation and Air Force services programs. AAFES now operates more than 10,800 activities, including: retail stores, catalog services, bookstores, class six package stores, concessions, food facilities, florists, gas stations and auto repair, laundry and dry cleaners, barber and beauty shops, military clothing sales stores, movie theaters, vending centers and video rental. (U.S. Air Force photo by Charles Haymond/Released)