The Exchange’s Military Clothing store at the Pentagon had a special visitor Feb. 24—Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne Bass, a member of the Board of Directors.
As the highest-ranking enlisted member of the U.S. Air Force, Bass serves alongside Board Chair Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly, deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services; Board Vice Chair Lt. Gen. Duane Gamble, deputy chief of staff, G-4; Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston and nine other Army and Air Force senior leaders. Per Army Regulation 215-8/Air Force Instruction 24-211 (I), the Exchange’s BOD “directs AAFES and is responsible to the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of the Air Force through their respective Chiefs of Staff.”
Bass, who served as an Exchange associate prior to beginning her military career, stopped by the Military Clothing store to pick up a few items and took the time to take photos with Exchange Pentagon Military Clothing store manager Karen Anderson and her team. The Exchange Pentagon Military Clothing store, which serves shoppers from all five military branches, often earns rave reviews from high-ranking service members such as Bass.
“Our approach is we treat everyone—whether they’re a general or they just graduated from basic training—with the respect and dignity they have earned,” said Anderson, who personally helped Bass with her uniform when she was named the 19th CMSAF in 2020. “We try to make a lifetime connection. The leadership here at the Pentagon live on other bases, but we want to be their first choice.”
Anderson’s team is dedicated to going above and beyond for their shoppers.
“If we don’t carry what a customer is looking for, we take their name and number and get back to them within 24 hours. Usually, we can find what they need,” said Anderson, who has worked for the Exchange for 31 years, the last six at the Pentagon Military Clothing store. “If one of our other Exchange stores in the D.C. Beltway has it, we’ll drive over and pick up the item.”
The Pentagon Exchange was not the only store that recently served an Exchange BoD member. The Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Main Store had a surprise visit from Kim Toney, board member and executive director for the JBSA-based Air Force personnel center. Toney gave the local team a shout-out for its positive attitude.
“Randolph Exchange associates take pride in serving the best customers in the world, including our wonderful board members,” said Randolph AFB Exchange General Manager Carrie Cammel. “Ms. Toney is a fantastic supporter of our service members and families, and it’s always a pleasure to welcome her to our store.”
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