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

American Forces Press Service

DALLAS — Promotions, prizes and popular name brands will anchor the efforts of Army & Air Force Exchange Service officials to invite military families to “rediscover the value” their exchange is offering this holiday season.

Exclusive savings on 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 become practically 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 4 p.m. from Nov. 27 to 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 4 a.m. Friday, 6 a.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday after Thanksgiving” said AAFES’ Commander Maj. Gen. Keith Thurgood. “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 closing.”

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 officials have a variety of special events planned for December including Early Bird specials on the 5th, 19th and 24th.