AAFES enlisted advisor visits Barksdale Published April 4, 2012 By Lisa J. Neidinger Army & Air Force Exchange Service Public Affairs BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The senior enlisted advisor for the Army & Air Force Exchange Service visited here April 2 and 3. During his visit, Chief Master Sgt. Jeffry Helm toured the Exchange facilities, met with customers and employees, and addressed Exchange-related issues. The Exchange is a joint military command with a retail mission to provide quality products, services and food to service members, retirees and their families. Exchange sales generate earnings to support Air Force Services programs as well as Army Morale Welfare and Recreation activities. Helm is one of 72 active-duty service members assigned to the Exchange to carry out this mission; the Exchange also employs more than 43,000 civilian associates world-wide. "For every dollar earned, 67 cents comes back to the military community from the MWR dividend," Helm said. "Last year, Barksdale got back more than $518,000, so shopping at the Exchange is a win-win. You get great products at a great price, and your spent money comes back to the installation through the dividend." During his visit, Helm met with Barksdale customers and Exchange associates, answering questions and concerns about the Exchange. "Part of my job as the senior enlisted advisor is to visit bases throughout the world and find out what the Exchange can do to better serve its customers and fix existing problems," said Helm. "Educating our customers on the Exchange benefits is the most important part of my job. Our goal is to be your number one choice for retail shopping. You can go anywhere to purchase an iPod or a TV, but when you buy it from the Exchange, that's money going back to support our troops." For more information about the Exchange and AAFES programs, visit www.shopmyexchange.com.