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Camp Patriot Opens Local AAFES Outlet

Navy NewStand

Story Number: NNS030304-23
Release Date: 3/4/2003 7:30:00 PM

By Journalist 1st Class Joseph Krypel, Commander, Maritime Prepositioning Force Public Affairs

CAMP PATRIOT, Kuwait (NNS) -- A joint-service, multinational force of thousands waited in anticipation for the grand opening celebration of a local Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES).

While hundreds of servicemen and women from both the United States and Kuwait looked on, an official party consisting of Rear Adm. W. Clyde Marsh, commander Task Force 51, Maj. Gen. Ahmad Y. Al Mulla, Kuwaiti chief of naval forces, Dale Bryan, AAFES area manager, and primary construction and host-nation coordinator, Chief Construction Electrician Keith Rousseve, cut the celebratory cake and ribbon marking the official opening.

"It is with the greatest honor that once again, our nations have come together to bring this wonderful facility to our troops," commented Al Mulla. "We truly are the example of teamwork."

According to Rousseve, teamwork was the primary focus in bringing the facilities to Camp Patriot. With total coordination between the Kuwaiti Naval Forces and the U.S. military, a five-restaurant food court and 3,000-square-foot shopping complex was put into place in just six weeks.

"We've had a lot of help, and it's obvious that the impact here is phenomenal," said Rousseve. "The folks that voluntarily returned on a daily basis to turn this place into what it is today are to be commended with higher respect then any of them expect."

Rousseve went on to say that more than 900-man-hours were placed into the complex by members and units from every branch of the armed forces. The rags to riches complex contains the needs and most wants for the quickly populating camp.

"We've got a lot of folks in just a short amount of time," reflected Rousseve. "These people are here day and night, doing their duties with very little apparent reward. We just hope that the AAFES provides a nice "liberty" location for our folks."

The mix of military services here brings an extraordinary flavor to Camp Patriot. Totaling nearly 3,000 active and recalled Reservists, Camp Patriot is more like a small hospitable town than a forward deployed base camp, and now that the local facility has arrived, there is an immense, upbeat attitude that just continues to grow.

"I've heard no complaints here at all," Sonar Technician 1st Class Richard Hulland, a recalled Reservist from Muskogee, Okla., "... and now that folks have what they consider the comforts of home in our food court and exchange, I can't imagine there ever will be."

With a staff of five, the Department of Defense (DoD) civilian contractors who operate the Camp Patriot AAFES live the motto "We go where you go."

"We volunteer to come here," stated Susan Bonsalle, a DoD civilian employee who helps run and maintain the newly opened store. "All of us at AAFES are in this with you guys. We support you, and we try to make your very difficult jobs a little easier to deal with."