AAFES aims to be military shoppers’ first choice for the holidays

DALLAS -- Promotions, prizes and popular name brands will anchor the Army & Air Force Exchange Service's efforts to invite military families, to include 446th Airlift Wing Reservists, to "rediscover the value" their exchange is offering this holiday season.

Exclusive savings on tax-free holiday decorations, care package items and electronics will be cycling in and out of BXs and PXs every week throughout November. All of it building towards Thanksgiving weekend and what has practically become a national holiday, "Black Friday."

At the forefront of the post-Thanksgiving blitz will be thousands of scratch-off cards given out to early birds and customers who shop the exchange after 4p.m. Nov. 27-29. With prizes ranging from free soft drinks to $100 gift cards, every scratch-off will be a winner.

"BX and PXs will open at 0400 Friday, 0600 Saturday and 0900 Sunday after Thanksgiving" said Maj. Gen. Keith Thurgood, AAFES' commander. "Depending on the size of the store, we will pass out anywhere from 60 to 200 scratch off cards in the morning with the remainder being distributed between 4 p.m., and close."

Beyond giveaways and prizes, the exchanges will have all of the latest "must have" gifts including the newly introduced line of Ed Hardy jewelry, XBOX military appreciation bundles and specially-priced notebooks and mini "netbooks."

The opportunities to shop and save won't end in November as AAFES has a variety of special events planned for December, including Early Bird specials Dec. 5, Dec. 19 and Dec. 24.

Authorized exchange shoppers can view specific details regarding special promotions, updated weekly, throughout the holiday season by visiting AAFES' "Sale Flyers" page at http://h3.aafes.com//tabloid/default.asp.