For the past few months, U.S. Marine and Air Force personnel supporting the mission requirements specific to Venezuela have been assigned to Ceiba, Puerto Rico, near Roosevelt Roads, the site of a former Navy base. Exchange personnel have been fully nested and supplementing services in the area of responsibility for months.
In September, the logistics officer for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, which was going ashore in Puerto Rico, contacted the Exchange Headquarters Contingency Plans team to request support for the operation.
There was already a mobile Field Exchange staged in Puerto Rico, where it had been used as support during Hurricane Maria in 2017. “We’d decided to leave it there,” said Contingency Program Manager Colice Powell said. “It’s still technically part of the main MFE fleet, but it is there for the use of the Puerto Rico team.”
Puerto Rico Exchange General Manager Rochelle Tolentino connected with the 346th Air Expeditionary Wing to work next steps on the ground. “Rochelle coordinated with the Air Force while simultaneously supervising getting the MFE operational,” Powell said. “Once the site was ready, the MFE was moved into position, fully stocked and operational.”
The service members were ready for the additional Exchange support.
“When I first went to Roosevelt Roads for our first site visit, I had my Exchange polo on and so many people approached me to ask if we were going to have an MFE,” Tolentino said. “They were excited to hear we would be opening.”
While the Puerto Rico Facilities Management Office and the Exchange team were getting the MFE ready, they worked with Clarke Shillingford and Mimi Hogan on the Planning, Allocation and Replenishment team at headquarters to bring in merchandise from the mainland.
“They made things happen each week by working requests and orders,” Tolentino said. “They were always very accommodating and responsive.”
The MFE’s assortment is tailored to the Marines and Airmen supporting the mission in Puerto Rico.
“Their tastes are a little different from our typical PX customer,” Tolentino said. “They love anything spicy so Takis are a hot seller and we sell Monster White by the case. The Bon Appetit and Hostess pastries are always in high demand. We also have a few food trucks because there isn’t anything nearby by since the Navy base closed.”
Tolentino said that the MFE is close to the airport to provide convenience to personnel who are working round the clock on flight missions. Although the service members’ numbers fluctuate, Tolentino said that the MFE is seeing 300 to 350 customers a day.
“The food trucks are a hit because they are able to provide a variety of delicious Puerto Rican, Mexican and Italian meals,” Tolentino said. “And they love the Smoothie Van, where they get acai bowls, frappes and milkshakes.”
Fort Buchanan Hardlines Supervisor Carmen Alicea and Self-Checkout Supervisor Antonio Nieves have led the MFE’s operation, with backup from Inventory Control Associate Eric Diaz and Fort Buchanan PXTRA Stockroom Foreman Taisha Quinones.
The Camp Santiago National Guard Base Exchange has also been supporting the additional personnel in Puerto Rico.
“In addition to Marines and Airmen, the Exchange is also supporting the Navy when Sailors come on shore in the port of Ponce,” Tolentino said. “We Go Where You Go! Team Exchange is once again all in and truly honored to do its part to support our Warfighters’ readiness and resiliency.”
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