All In, Always: AAFES is all in for you, even after service

May 2026

After 14 years as the Director/CEO of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), my family and I decided that June is the right time to begin our next journey into retirement.

My father served 30 years in the Army, including 42 months in the Pacific in combat. He often said, “As long as my family is taken care, I’m all in for the Army.” Memories of the sacrifices my mom and dad made in service to our nation, as well as those of my older brother, fuel my passion to be all in for the best customers in the world.

One of our most tremendous accomplishments in the last 14 years has been welcoming 22 million authorized shoppers to their Exchange benefit. Since Veterans Day 2017, all honorably discharged veterans can use their hard-earned benefit at ShopMyExchange.com—tax-free for life.

Since 2020, service-disabled veterans; Purple Heart recipients, and caregivers have been able to shop in-store.

The important work we do sustains and strengthens Soldiers, their families and their quality of life. Since 2012, Team Exchange has:

  • Provided $15 billion in value through tax-free saving; an enhanced MILITARY STAR® card program; U.S. payroll, and benefits for military spouses, veterans and family members; dividends to the Services and customer experience improvements.
  • Hired more than 65,000 veterans and military spouses.
  • Nourished military children by serving more than 45 million meals at Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA)schools overseas.
  • Supported more than 350 military exercises in Southwest Asia, Europe, and the Pacific, serving more than 1.2 million troops.
  • Contributed more than $9 million in shopper donations to Army Emergency Relief (AER) at PXs and online at ShopMyExchange.com.
  • Held an industry-low APR rate for the MILITARY STAR card at 13.74% that all cardmembers enjoy, regardless of credit score.

Returning to the military community as a member of Team Exchange has been the greatest honor of my life. I am confident incoming Director/CEO Brad Bingham will take the benefit to even greater heights.

It matters where you shop. One hundred percent of Exchange earnings support military communities. Thank you for all you do to protect, preserve, and strengthen critical military quality-of-life support. We look forward to seeing you at your Exchange.

Soldier for Life!

Tom

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