AAFES chief visits Altus AFB Published Jan. 14, 2011 By Air Force Exchange Service Public Affairs ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The senior enlisted advisor to the commanding general of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service visited here Jan. 12-13. During his visit, Chief Master Sgt. Jeffry Helm met with base leadership, toured Exchange facilities, met with employees and addressed Exchange related issues on Altus Air Force Base. The Exchange is a joint military command with a retail mission that is two-fold, providing quality products and services to all servicemembers, their families, Reserve and Guard members, plus military retirees, all while generating earnings to supplement Army Morale Welfare and Recreation and Air Force Services programs. Chief Helm is one of 72 active-duty servicemembers assigned to Exchange headquarters in Dallas to carry out this mission, and employing more than 43,000 civilian associates world-wide. "For every dollar earned, 67 cents comes back to Air Force services from the Morale Welfare Recreation dividend. Last year Altus got more than $244,000, so shopping at the exchange is a win-win," said Chief Helm. "You get great products at a great price and your spent money comes back to the base through the dividend." On the first day of his visit, Chief Helm met with Airmen at the First Term Airman Center, Airman Leadership School, Loadmaster and Boom Operator Training sites, plus Exchange facilities. On the second day of his trip the chief met with the Chief's Group, the first sergeants, and spouses, giving Airmen and community members a chance to ask questions and air their concerns. "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 Chief Helm. "Also educating our customers on the Exchange benefit 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 from the exchange, that's money going back to support our troops," Chief Helm said. "More importantly, clothing sales is the only place Airmen can buy uniform items on base without mail ordering them, making it our goal to have what they need when they need it so they can be outfitted properly," he added.