Fairchild Main Exchange — Local services in Airway Heights

Love shopping at the Fairchild BX and any military installation around the US and abroad! So how is this possible since I am no longer in the military nor am I a retiree? If you are a veteran with a service connected disability and a VA ID card with your service connected status on it, then you are eligible to receive base access to shop at the commissary, AAFES, and moral, welfare, and recreation (MWR/Services) type venues like the gym, military recreation services, lodging, and other benefits. You must register your VA ID Card with the installation visitors center and then you have access. Additionally you can shop at exchange.com and apply for a Military Star Card if you have disabled veteran status. Also, if your a DoD CAC holder, government employee you can use your CAC to shop at the BX/PX, or other exchange services now. Make sure you follow all installation policies and procedure or you risk being expelled from the installation and then you have no access to the...

I've been going to this exchange since 1991. The selection of goods is poor compared to 30 years ago, and overall it is a small BX. Strange that Fairchild offers so little; quite possibly the worst food court in the USAF.

I stop by here occasionally on the weekends when I go to the commissary. It seems there are more employees than customers.

The whole base seems dead. The club was great 25 years ago, now it's the RED Morgan center. The funspot with its bowling alley, mini golf, arcade, batting cages, rink, skate park, and snack bar is GONE. Replaced by an empty field. The gym used to be open 24hours. The BX reflects the state of the base... they provide the bare minimum. The staff are exceptionally courteous, though. Don't expect low prices or...

Thus BX is ok for the base. When I was in the Air Force, I got spoiled when I went to Ramstein AB, Germany where they had a huge BX mall over there. It had 4 theaters on the second floor, its own Harley-Davidson dealer, a huge food court, three restaurants, and the BX part was almost like going to Northtown Mall....almost...A huge electronics dept., and clothing dept as well. Also a lawn & garden and toy dept that would make Walmart jealous.

But I understand that there are a lot of other places someone here can go besides the BX on base. But like I said, it's ok for those who live on base who can't get away to shop somewhere else, and for those of us retired vets. It is good to give back to the...