Exchange Logisticians Get the Job Done by Ground and Air

“With each member of the team being in a different country, we had to combine our knowledge of the systems and ever-changing conditions due to the pandemic,” said Carlos Rios, the Southwest Asia regional logistics manager.

SEMBACH, Germany— Logisticians with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service are working tirelessly to support service members across Southwest Asia.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, getting merchandise to service members proved to be logistically difficult because of border restrictions. The Exchange logistics team had to use different routes, switch from day shifts to night shifts, and even use an air bridge when borders were completely closed.

“With each member of the team being in a different country, we had to combine our knowledge of the systems and ever-changing conditions due to the pandemic,” said Carlos Rios, the Southwest Asia regional logistics manager. “Implementing different go-to market strategies for logistics to support the troops with merchandise, allowed us to be responsive and proactive during this pandemic.”

While the Exchange has stores at Prince Sultan AB and Eskan Village in Saudi Arabia, during the pandemic, the team also supported two rodeo sites. These sites provide service members with limited merchandise at more remote locations. Drivers racked up more than 600 miles each week, ensuring troops received merchandise at the remote towns of Khurias and Jubail.

“That is what the team is made up of,” Rios said. “People willing and able to do what needs to be done to support our troops.”

Rios said the team is motivated and going forward with the Exchange’s core value of ‘family serving family.’

“We cannot deliver the support at the tip of the spear without the outstanding dedication and hard work the logisticians provide day after day,” said Col. Scott McFarland, Exchange Europe/Southwest Asia Region commander. “The entire Southwest Asia team fought through the past few months to ensure merchandise kept rolling and our customers were served.”

For Rios, the Exchange mission is at the forefront of all he does.

“‘We Go Where You Go’ is the driving force of the supply chain within the Southwest Asia area of operation,” he said.