McChrystal shuts fast-food sellers in Afghanistan

[souljah]

By Karen Jowers

kjowers@militarytimes.com

At least 50 Army and Air Force Exchange Service concessions serv­ing U.S. troops in Afghanistan — including many popular fast-food eateries — will close within 90 days under an order issued Feb. 3 by Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in that war zone.

Troops’ fitness centers and Inter­net access sites are among the facilities that will stay open. But most brand name fast-food outlets, including Burger King, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Popeyes, as well as new-car sales offices, jewelry stores, souvenir shops and other retail outlets, are among conces­sions slated to close.

“This is a war zone, not an amusement park,” Army Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Hall, command sergeant major for the Internation­al Security Assistance Force­Afghanistan, wrote in his official blog. “From the moment Gen. McChrystal and I arrived in Af­ghanistan last summer, we began looking for ways to do things more efficiently across the battlefield.” Logistical concerns were a factor in the decision, Hall said. “Supply­ing nonessential luxuries to big bases like Bagram and Kandahar makes it harder to get essential items to combat outposts and for­ward operating bases, where troops who are in the fight each day need [to be] resupplied with ammuni­tion, food and water,” he wrote.

McChrystal’s order follows a review of morale, welfare and recreation activities in which base and unit commanders gave recom­mendations for closure or reloca­tion of AAFES facilities.

“MWR programs across the the­ater should be limited in scope and tailored for an expeditionary force,” McChrystal said in his order. “MWR should never be the distracter that changes the focus of the mission.” According to McChrystal’s order, priority command support will be limited to fitness centers, MWR Internet services, the Stars and Stripes newspaper, unit-operated AAFES stores, barber and beauty shops, recreation equipment, USO packages and education services.

Other facilities exempt from the closure order include Green Bean Café, AAFES-sponsored vendors run by Afghan nationals, tempo­rary bazaars that open at least one day a week, AT&T Call Cen­ters, AAFES Internet services (until theaterwide wireless is available), cell phone activation services and tailor concessions that do limited alterations.

“We’ve received the order and will follow accordingly. We’re there to do what the command wants us to do,” AAFES spokesman Judd Anstey said.

Officials also will reduce the amount of canned and bottled goods coming into Afghanistan, as well as first-run film showings and non-USO entertainment shows, Hall wrote.

“Closing these facilities will free up much-needed storage facilities at both Bagram and Kandahar, space which is critical as 30,000 additional Americans and up to 7,000 international troops flow into Afghanistan over the next several months,” Hall wrote.

The closures also will reduce flight and ground convoy traffic, reduce both local and military security requirements, free up ramp space on airfields, and dras­tically reduce water and electricity needs, he wrote.

According to McChrystal’s order, the concessions scheduled to close employ 242 people, including 25 local nationals.

The concessions have combined annual sales of $30 million and pay fees of about $5 million to AAFES as part of their contracts to do busi­ness in Afghanistan, according to McChrystal’s order. AAFES will lose that money, which means less money for MWR dividends.

At least nine main exchange ser­vice stores that operate under the auspices of specific deployed U.S. units will remain open. The fate of 14 other main facilities that are not categorized as “unit stores” is unclear.

In addition to its nine unit-run and 14 other main exchange facili­ties in Afghanistan, AAFES operates 27 food outlets, 51 short­term concessions and 77 longer­term concession services in Af­ghanistan, Anstey said. □

[SoldierHawk]

Having never been, I'm completely at a loss as to what to think. One the one hand, the General is right--we aren't in War Zones to play and, while things like fast food no doubt improve the morale of those who have access to them, I would think it also makes it a lot more difficult for those who *are* stuck in far-off outposts away from the main base. And obviously, if providing such luxuries is getting in the way of actual operations and resupply, then of course it needs to stop.

On the other hand, I WOULD think having a small slice of home like a fast food joint would make the ever-extending deployments a bit easier to deal with...I think I'd have a hard time taking that away from our guys and gals over there.

But, like I said, I've never been. I'll be very interested to hear what you Vets have to say about it.

[ssgmike.ivy]

But, like I said, I've never been. I'll be very interested to hear what you Vets have to say about it.

Bring back the damn c-rats and stop all this fast food crap. Are we fighting a war or is this a vacation