Army, Navy Exchanges Increase Offerings

NEW YORK -- Retail channels serving the nation's armed forces have upped their offerings to make it more convenient for service members to pay for meals and fuel their vehicles. Authorized customers to Army-Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) locations will be able to buy Subway Cards, which works like a gift card, while the Navy Exchange in Annapolis, Md., has installed a biodiesel pump for customers.

Across the U.S., AAFES stores will supply the Subway Cards through a distribution agreement with InComm, a provider of third-party gift cards and prepaid products, according to Subway. The agreement was developed with Subway franchises through its Independent Purchasing Cooperative, the company stated.

The cards can be activated in-store by selecting a dollar amount between $5 and $100, and can be reloaded, according to the company.

Meanwhile, the Navy Exchange store near Annapolis, Md., is offering biodiesel fuel for citizens and service members alike, The Capital Online reported.

When the station was renovated this fall, the station was given the option to add the alternative fuel. The general manager of the store, Wyatt Hill, told the paper it was an easy decision to make. "It's the right thing to do," Hill said. "We should be leading the way."

Since the alternative fuel blend went on sale in mid-October, the station has sold 900 gallons, the report stated.

The offering also helps local officials comply with a strategy to fuel more vehicles with biodiesel, the report stated. And thanks to military regulations, citizens and people affiliated with the Navy alike can use the pump, according to the report.

The Navy Exchange is the sole source of biodiesel in the greater Annapolis area, with the next closest biodiesel pumps located in Baltimore and Centreville, Md., the report stated.

"At the Navy Exchange, we try to be on the forefront of new stuff," said Hill. "We're trying to get people to go green."
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