Last visit 12/04/11
BRAC has destroyed what was once a very nice military base and has turned Aberdeen Proving Grounds into a civilian military base. Sure there are some uniforms running around, but less than 25% of the uniforms that were there before. The demographics of the few uniforms that are left is drastically changed as well. Almost all active duty posts the majority of uniforms are lower enlisted, young people just starting out. This is not so here at APG anymore, the majority of uniforms now are officers who have been around for awhile.
What does this mean for Base/Post Exchange, well it means that they are not selling enough to maintain and have to consolidate. Clothing Sales (Military Uniforms) is part of the PX, and it went from large satellite building to being put in the Main PX near the shoe department. Most of the time if you need something now, you will need to order it and wait for delivery. Either that or head on down to Ft Meade, which is transforming as well, but will keep the majority of their junior uniforms.
The PX specialty shops are dropping like flies.... The beautician's shop, coffee shop, sandwich shop, the florist shop, and trophy shop have all bitten the dust within the last several months. The barber shop is hanging on by a thin gray hair, and so too is the pizza place.
When I rejoined the military via the Maryland National Guard 7 years ago, this was a bustling post, filled with a lot of junior enlisted attending one of several AIT (Advanced individual training [job training]) courses. These young soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines attending classes/training and rotated through every 3-6 months and many bought new stereos, TVs, computers..etc with each new class that arrived. Now the post has so few uniforms, it is so disappointing to see APG atrophy.
BRAC has not only affected the PX, but it affects the daily lives of the civilian populace that once made their living selling goods and services to these young troops. In their place has come 5000 jobs from Jersey, mostly civilian, but a few military as well, but these people are established and do not need all those new stereos, TVs, and taxicab rides.
I wonder how much longer AAFES (PX) can justify keeping the APG PX open. read more