It pays to shop at Vandenberg's Base Exchange Published Aug. 6, 2010 By Staff Army & Air Force Exchange Service Public Affairs VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The Exchange benefit at Vandenberg is paying dividends in more ways than one. Airmen shopping at the Base Exchange, dining at Burger King and using other AAFES activities last year generated a dividend of $424,821. These funds are critical to Air Force Service's ability to enhance local programs and facilities including the Marshallia Ranch Championship Golf Course, Fitness Center, and Airman & Family Readiness Center. "AAFES' dual mission is to provide goods and services at competitively low prices and generate earnings to support Services programs," said the Vandenberg BX's GM, Krista Wiester. "As a result, the dollars that troops and their families spend in AAFES facilities generates a healthy return on their investment by directly improving quality of life services." The duel benefit AAFES provides military families goes far beyond the clothes, electronics or consumables available at the Exchange. In fact, purchases made in the past 10 years have provided more than $2.4 billion to military Services programs such as Youth Services, post functions and aquatic centers. Historically, roughly two-thirds of AAFES earnings are paid to MWR programs. In addition to funding quality of life efforts, AAFES earnings are used to build new stores or renovate existing facilities without expense to the Federal government. Funds to contract these new or replacement facilities also come entirely from sales of merchandise and services.