NEX Supports Its Customers No Matter Where They May Be Forward Deployed

Photo By Kristine Sturkie | The NEX Downrange Program gives service members stationed in remote locations the opportunity to order items which are not readily accessible, and have them delivered. The Navy Exchange Service Command is comprised of 14,000 personnel worldwide facilitating six business lines, NEX retail stores, the Navy Lodge Program, Telecommunications Program, Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility, Ships Store Program and the Uniform Program Management Office. (U.S. Navy photo by NEXCOM Public Affairs/Released)  

VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES

02.11.2020

Story by Kristine Sturkie 

Navy Exchange Service Command

The mission of the NEX is to provide quality goods and services at a savings and to support Navy quality of life programs. This is even more important for those military members forward deployed overseas.

“The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) was contacted by leadership from commands based at Camp Lemonnier requesting merchandise support for military troops downrange,” said Dan Cougevan, General Manager, NEX Bahrain. “These forward deployed service members have no access to a NEX and their needs weren’t being met from ordering online from other retailers. We were excited to be able to extend our NEX benefit to these military members and provide them with great products and our PREMIER customer service.”

NEX Djibouti, working with NEX Bahrain, created the Downrange Program for those active duty military stationed at Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in Africa. The program allows military members to submit an order and pay for merchandise via a secure encrypted email. Once NEX Djibouti receives the order, it fills and ships it the same day at no charge to the customer. Customers typically receive their orders within 3 – 5 days.

Customers can purchase over 200 items from the NEX that include snacks, non-alcoholic beverages and select electronics as well as male and female personal hygiene and health and comfort items. Another benefit the NEX offers is that customers can order a single item vs case pack that are often required from other retailers.

NEX Djibouti tested several shipments of merchandise to see what shipped well and what could be prone to the heat and humidity and tailored the list accordingly. For example, it was determined that chocolate could not be shipped during the summer months.

“Team Djibouti is proud to launch this first-ever type program,” said Mary Esquival, Branch Exchange Manager, NEX Djibouti. “We derive great satisfaction knowing that we bring the NEX to military members who cannot come to us. They are excited about the program as well and have told us how much they appreciate what everyone has done to make it a success.”

NEX Jebel Ali, Dubai, recently created its own Downrange Program to support military personnel stationed several hours away from the store. To ensure that military members remember the Downrange Program, Clyde McCune, Branch Exchange Manager, NEX Jebel Ali, emails a new form with updated merchandise and pricing information each month to those military members who would benefit from the service.

NEXCOM hopes to further expand the Downrange Program to other FOBs in the Middle East and Africa.

• Date Taken: 02.11.2020
• Date Posted: 02.11.2020 11:16
• Story ID: 362554
• Location: VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA, US