Page 1 - March ARB Beacon 1-22-16

Vol. 81, No. 3
NEWS BRIEFS
KEY SUPPORTER
BRIEFING FEB. 6
The 452nd Air Mobility
Wing is offering the First Key
Supporter Briefing on Feb. 6,
2016, from 9-11 a.m. in the
452nd Operations Group main
training room, Bldg. 2240. This
briefing is to inform spouses,
significant others, and parents
of Airmen about the resources
available pre-deployment, dur-
ing deployment, and reinte-
gration post deployment. The
presenters are Elaine Valen-
tine, director of psychological
health; Col. Richard Givens,
wing chaplain; Sara Templeton,
Our Military Kids liaison; 2nd
Lt. Shelley Lawrence, March
Yellow Ribbon Reintegration
Program coordinator; and Mili-
tary OneSource representative.
To R.S.V.P. or if you have ques-
tions, contact Analiza Sell, Key barber shop, optician, beauty shop and optical center.
Spouse mentor 452 AMW at
sellproductions@msn.com.
SEEKING VOLUNTEER
EMERGENCY
SERVICES SUPPORT
TEAM MEMBERS
The March Field Emergency
Management Working Group
is looking for volunteers who
are interested in being part of
the Emergency Services Sup-
port Team (ESST). Following
a disaster, these volunteers are
crucial to successfully recov-
ering our base and assisting
members who need help. Your
efforts can make a big differ-
ence. If you have questions
or want to become an integral
part of the March ESST, con-
tact Emergency Management at
951-655-3024.
ARE YOU A FOODIE?
The Beacon is looking for
individuals who would be inter-
ested in writing a “foodie” col-
umn (food review) on a once-a-
See BRIEFS page 3
March Air Reserve Base, California Friday, January 22, 2016
Team March 101: Army & Air Force
Exchange Service
by Conner Hammett
AAFES public affairs
DALLAS – Located just outside the gate near N and
Third streets, the March Air Reserve Base Exchange
serves more than 47,000 military shoppers in the March
area with a wide assortment of merchandise, competi-
tive prices and tax-free shopping over 64,800 square
feet of retail space.
One of the more than 120 main stores and 2,440 Ex-
change facilities worldwide, the March Exchange in-
cludes a main store, Military Clothing Store and mall
featuring five concessionaires: a laundry dry cleaner,
Constructed in 1974, the facility was last updated in
2014, when it received new carpeting, paint and cus-
tomer restrooms.
“It’s a very unique facility in that we’re located off
the installation,” said Amanda Hartfield, general man- 0DUFK$5%([FKDQJHRIIHUVWD[IUHHVKRSSLQJTXDOLW\RIOLIHEHQH¿WVWR
ager of the March Exchange. “When the base went military families
from active to Reserve, they shrunk down the size of
the base, leaving the Exchange outside the actual gated at the March Exchange.
installation.” Established by the War Department in 1895 under General
The March ARB Exchange’s largest customer demograph- Orders 46, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s mission
ic is retirees, followed by Reservists, who mostly shop at the today remains much the same as when it was first established:
store during Unit Training Assembly weekends, Hartfield said. to go where Soldiers, Airmen and their families go to improve
The store’s customer base comprises more than 13,000 retir- their quality of life through retail goods and services.
ees, 8,350 National Guardsmen and Reservists, and 1,480 ac- Over the past 120 years, the Exchange has followed troops to
tive duty service members in addition to dependents and family
members. war zones across the world, offering a taste of home to men and
women serving to protect American freedoms abroad. At home,
“A lot of people don’t know that we’re there,” Hartfield said. the Exchange provides a comprehensive shopping experience
“We can’t put a sign on a public street that says ‘Exchange this at Army and Air Force installations across the country, includ-
way,’ so we’re always looking for more ways to get Reservists ing Alaska and Hawaii.
and retirees in the door.”
The Exchange also benefits service members and their
One way the March Exchange spreads the word is by par- families by contributing two-thirds of its earnings to military
ticipating in events on base, such as the installation’s annual quality-of-life programs. These include programs that support
Military Appreciation Picnic, where Team March members and troop readiness and resiliency as well as ones that take care of
their families are invited to the installation for a variety of ac- families such as childcare programs. In FY2014, the Exchange
tivities. During the picnic, the Exchange provides a refriger- contributed $224 million to help fund Morale, Welfare, and
ated truck to help cater the event. Recreation programs.
“It’s very important for us to be a part of the community on As part of the Department of Defense, the Exchange is di-
base,” Hartfield said. “We are proud to serve Americans who rected by a Board of Directors and is responsible to the Secre-
work to help make our country a safer place and their families, taries of the Army and Air Force through the Chiefs of Staff.
so it’s always a treat to see their smiling faces.” Visit the Exchange’s online store and find out more about its
history and mission at www.shopmyexchange.com or follow us
In 2014, the March Exchange earned $11.5 in total sales and
contributed $408,108 to military quality-of-life programs on
base, including the Fitness Center; Hap Arnold Club; March on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ExchangePAO.
Inn; Information, Tickets and Tours; and the Aero Club. Like The March Main Exchange’s hours of operation are Monday
all Exchange facilities, the March Main Store provides employ- through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 9:30
ment and career opportunities to veterans and military depen- a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sunday, 10:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. They can be reached
dents. Five veterans and 13 dependents are currently employed by calling 951-653-3111.