By
Julie Anderson
But,
unlike most, she wasn’t required to go.
Garrigan, a
“This
is my way of serving my country and the soldiers love it when we’re over here,”
she said.
The AAFES
offers food services, gift shops and other amenities to the soldiers stationed
overseas.
“It
makes the soldier’s day to have a little piece of home,” she said, “so I’m just
trying to do my part.”
She
described the AAFES as the mall to the soldiers. They include such
things as a Burger King, videos, other name brand fast food restaurants, movie
theaters and phone centers. Some even have a spa.
It is
a demanding job.
“We
work from the time we get up to almost the time we go to bed because this is
where the soldiers hang out,” she said. “It keeps us busy.”
Garrigan also is an OSHA inspector. She covers four bases.
There
are different conditions on different bases.
Some
have better living conditions, while others have better food.
Garrigan’s home base is a “decent place to live,” she said.
“The
people are well taken care of,” she said. “Quality of life is pretty decent.”
Of
course, it’s always dangerous over there.
But
that doesn’t deter her.
“I’m
really enjoying this job,” she said. “I feel like I’m making a difference. Most
of us do here.
“We
see how we can make their day and help them out. A lot of us stay as long as we
can.”
Of
course there are hard times too.
“It’s
hard to be without your friends and family, but it’s a great job,” Garrigan said.
This
is her first time in
She
is originally from
Her
husband is active duty Air Force. She met him at Tinker Air Force Base in
She
still has a lot of family in the
To
prepare for the trip, Garrigan completed two weeks of
intensive training and preparation at AAFES’ headquarters in
She
is only there for six months this time, returning around August, but she can go
back.
“I
can sign up for another tour,” she said, “which I am
probably going to do.”
Garrigan has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
“So
this was just in my field,” she said. “I like working for the military.”
AAFES
has been in
“We’re
going to be there supporting them (troops),” Lt. David Tomiyama, HQ AAFES
Corporate Communication, said. “Our presence is at every installation.
“These
(AAFES) are right there in the middle of
The
facilities, which Tomiyama describes as kind of a Wal-Mart, are run by all
civilian volunteers.
Currently,
there are more than 400 volunteer AAFES associates deployed in support
of Operation Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.
“I am
really proud of the associates who are doing a magnificent job in deployed
locations around the world,” AAFES Commander Maj. Gen. Bill Essex said.
“Some of them are working in very austere conditions, but they are doing
tremendous work. Every associate who deploys is a true hero in my eyes.”
Garrigan also gets to travel a lot in her position, putting
her in more danger.
“She’s
putting herself in the line of fire like the soldiers are,” Tomiyama said.
To
date, nearly 2,000 AAFES civilians have deployed to provide comfort
items and necessities in combat and contingency locations. Service members
depend on the facilities these associates’ support for day-to-day health and
comfort items such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, snacks, beverages and
entertainment items.
The AAFES
is a joint command of the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force and is directed by a
board of directors responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force
through the Service Chiefs of Staff.