Army and Air Force Exchange Service

The Army & Air Force Exchange Service, abbreviated AAFES, is a consumer goods supply chain with its own stores of the U.S. Department of Defense, which is used to supply the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force. The abbreviation AAFES is used in American usage as an independent name. AAFES is usually from a two- star general in command or conducted. The headquarters is located in Dallas.

A special feature is that AAFES can not generate pure profits, because the organization is funded by the Ministry of Defence. AAFES initially operates in the context of cost recovery ( 98%) and only receives support for the transportation of goods overseas and by parked for AAFES military personnel. Excess revenues are the so-called Morale, Welfare and Recreation Program ( MWR, dt: Morale, Welfare and Recreation program ) credited to the Army and Air Force. So basically each purchase supports the end of AAFES furnished for him, recreational and leisure facilities.

Distribution is through the shops on the bases, which are referred to as " PX " for Post Exchange or " BX " for Base Exchange. Basically, the goods available, such as clothing, household goods, cosmetics and electronics, tax-free. For this reason, may only military members of the U.S. armed forces and, under certain conditions, members of various NATO units use this sales facilities.

PX stores are, however, also be operated worldwide in military camps of armies in use. Most private companies are used here, with labor from the local people are recruited. For example, work Bosnians in the PX in the military camps of EUFOR in Bosnia - Herzegovina.

Despite exemption alcohol and cigarettes only a maximum of ten percent cheaper than either the U.S. continental rates or local prices sold to offer no particular incentive to buy. Also the price of the gasoline sold at the AAFES gas stations based always on the local market, in order not to dominate or to weaken.

AAFES also offers an internet shop, on the - will be delivered to all U.S. military postal addresses and military bases - similar to a catalog company. Occasionally AAFES organized under the various MWR programs and special promotions, as a Burger King restaurant opened, for example, at the military base "Camp Liberty" in Iraq in 2003. For the U.S. Navy there with Navy Exchange a similar facility, while the Marine Corps is powered by the Marine Corps Exchange.

The Central Hessian U.S. custody casting was the central goods distribution stationed in Europe U.S. Armed Forces. From here, the troops in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Balkans were also supplied because of the shorter compared to the U.S. transport routes.