AL ASAD, Iraq -- The Marine Corps Exchange and the Army and Air Force Exchange Service joined efforts to open the Camp Ripper Exchange, Dec. 23, at Al Asad, Iraq.
The Camp Ripper Exchange was built by MCX Marines in a continuing effort to better serve the Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and civilian contractors in Iraq.
Staff Sgt. Darin Presley, an exchange assistant manager with Marine Logistics Group 2 (Forward), and Lance Cpl. Jeremy B. Kauffman, an exchange clerk with MLG-2 (Fwd), prepared, stocked and priced the inventory that became the Camp Ripper Exchange.
“Presley and Kauffman put an incredible amount of time and energy into the Camp Ripper Exchange,” said Master Sgt. Scott L. Ferguson, the Al Asad PX manager, and a Northglenn, Colo., native. “All of the merchandise had to be picked from the main store at Al Asad, and packed into 20-foot containers. They then shipped it over to the Camp Ripper Exchange and reorganized the containers as stock for the new exchange.”
Presley, an Antmore, Ala., native, said the exchange’s first five days were extremely busy and everyone who came into the new exchange was happy and appreciative.
“It saves a great deal of time for busy service members,” said Presley. “I personally picked all the products here. I thought about what military members would want and need, and tried to give them as much a selection as possible.”
From hygiene gear, alarm clocks and cold weather gear, to supplements, snacks and energy drinks, Presley said the Camp Ripper Exchange is a continuation of the MCX Marine’s ability to give service members better access to the material things they need for basic everyday living.
“The whole area of responsibility here has expanded almost faster than we can keep up with,” said Ferguson. “From the main store at Al Asad, we supply Al Qaim, Korean Village and Haditha Dam. We run Warrior Express Service Teams, which take goods to numerous locations and battle points all over the Al Anbar province right up to the Syrian border.”
Ferguson said this expansion will aid customers at Al Asad who have felt the pain of waiting in long lines, often for more than an hour. He said it took a joint team effort to get Camp Ripper Exchange operational.
“Between the Marine Corps, with Regimental Combat Team 2 supplying the buildings MCX Marines supplying the labor, the Army Garrison building the shelves, Navy Seabees doing all the electrical and wiring, and Kellogg, Brown and Root employees supplying the gravel for the lot around the building, it was team effort,” said Ferguson. “We knew if we could open a couple of smaller stores in different areas, we would be giving our customers the best possible service they could get, convenience.”
The eight MCX Marines now operate three stores aboard Al Asad.
“This is what we do, as Morale, Welfare and Recreation specialists, we will do everything in our power to get goods to the customer,” said Ferguson. “We do it for all the service members; Marines, Army, Navy and Air Force. How many people do you know willing to risk their lives to bring some Oreo cookies to you on the front, just to keep your morale up?” said Ferguson.
Presley said besides selling the essential goods to service members, the Camp Ripper Exchange will always have free hot coffee and microwave use available.
“Our jobs are a labor of love for all our service members who are out there doing their part in the Global War on Terrorism,” said Ferguson. “We get our largest sense of accomplishment when we get to see the smiling faces of our fellow service members, who have been waiting in forward positions for weeks and sometimes months, get the exchange services they need.”