Just one week after opening a Mobile Field Exchange (MFE) in an isolated part of Guatemala, the Exchange opened doors on an MFE in an even more austere location – the jungles of Guyana.
Within 24 hours of arrival onsite in the South American country, the Exchange team of Emma Romero and Soto Banergi from Soto Cano AB in Honduras and IT associates Jason Rhymer from the Waco DC and Brandon Lango out of Eglin AFB had the MFE stocked and open for business, much to the delight of the troops.
“After having MREs (meals-ready-to-eat) for two weeks, it was nice to have the MFE open,” said Master Sgt. Jason Billingsley, who deployed out of Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. “All of the Soldiers and Airmen were glad. This gives them a taste of home.”
MFE only thing within miles
More than 500 National Guard Soldiers and Reservists are in Guyana as part of New Horizons 2019, a training exercise to build community centers, clinics, renovate buildings and conduct medical readiness training.
The 53-foot trailer stocked with toiletries, snacks and drinks will remain until the exercise is completed on Aug. 24.
“This MFE is the only thing within miles for these Soldiers so you can only imagine how much this means to them,” said Army Capt. Conrad Bellard, Exchange Commercial Transportation Manager. “Having the MFE on ground is a real morale booster which, in turn, helps with their readiness and resiliency.”
Read and see more!
Exchange Brings Taste of Home to National Guard, Reservists in Guatemala
Exchange History Flickr album, see and read about how mobile exchanges have served troops since the early days of World War II. Pictured, a mobile post exchange at Camp Croft, S.C., 1941.
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