Small Store, Big Impact: Illinois National Guard Soldiers Help Exchange Boost Soldier Morale at Forward Operating Site Karliki, Poland

At the tip of the spear, where Soldiers operate from small, dispersed sites far from large installations, even limited resources can make a meaningful difference. Across Poland, many forward operating sites host fewer than 300 Soldiers and lack the population or infrastructure to support a full Army & Air Force Exchange Service operated store.

At Forward Operating Site Karliki, the 232nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion-run Authorized Imprest Fund Activity (AIFA) PX has become a vital Quality-of-Life resource, delivering everyday necessities and a boost to morale in an austere environment where mission requirements come first.

"This is a forward operating site, it's not as built up as a base," said Illinois Army National Guard Capt. Alissa Mendez, the Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander for the 232nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion and AIFA officer in charge. The Springfield, Ill.-based unit deployed in June 2025 and was on-the-ground in Poland in July 2025.

"A lot of Soldiers here don't really have access to town unless they're walking or taking a taxi, and that's not always realistic, especially in the cold or when it gets dark early."

Imprest fund activity sites are operated by military personnel, typically in remote or austere locations where a full-service Exchange is not feasible. These small, unit-run stores carry a limited inventory, generally valued at less than $15,000, with approved exceptions up to $50,000 and can operate indefinitely in coordination with a supporting Exchange general manager. Proceeds from sales are used to replenish merchandise, while the unit assumes responsibility for ordering and transporting products, ensuring Soldiers continue to have access to essential items despite their distance from larger installations.

"Requests for AIFA sites are submitted by the unit through their higher headquarters and outline projected personnel strength, location and sustainment capabilities," said Lt. Col. Mitchell Brooks, the Exchange's Europe Region chief of Contingency Operations and Plans. "That information allows the Exchange to plan and execute support in a timely manner, ensuring Soldiers have access to essential Exchange services even in the most austere environments."

At Karliki, PX means immediate access to hygiene items, snacks, drinks and small comforts that would otherwise take weeks to arrive by mail. The Exchange has 10 imprest fund sites in the Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia.

"The PX is such a big contributor to morale," Mendez said. "It's your comfort food, your comfort items. You're away from home, sometimes for the first time, and this is one of the ways we can make this feel like home now."

Illinois Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Jacob Whited, also with the 232nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, is the store's noncommissioned officer in charge. He oversees daily operations with a focus on organization, cleanliness and accountability.

"This keeps Soldiers from having to pay for taxis or wait weeks for basic necessities," Whited said. "That alone boosts morale."

Beyond convenience, the store provides leadership and development opportunities, with Soldiers earning volunteer hours, promotion points and hands-on management experience.

Since the store opened in January 2024, leaders have focused on keeping it responsive to Soldiers' needs, a priority Mendez reinforced when she arrived on ground in July 2025. "We really came in with the mindset of, 'What is going to sell best for troops? What do Soldiers actually want?" Mendez said. "We put up a board and asked them directly."

That feedback-driven approach shapes everything from what is stocked to how often products rotate. "We'll test new items weekly," she said. "Sometimes we'll take a product off the shelf for a month and bring it back later. Soldiers notice that. They'll say, 'Oh my gosh, my thing's back.' It keeps interest up."

As both a commander and the FOS mayor for the Army side of the installation, Mendez views the store as inseparable from mission readiness.

"At the end of the day, it's what you can provide for Soldiers that makes them feel taken care of," she said. "That's how you keep them focused and resilient."

When asked whether the AIFA store should continue after her unit redeploys, Mendez was unequivocal. "Oh, 100%," she said. "In an austere environment like this, there's only so much you can provide. This fills a critical gap."

Whited echoed that sentiment for other units considering a similar capability.

"Absolutely go for it," he said. "It builds morale, gives Soldiers ownership and makes the camp better for everyone."

Although the 232nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion deployment is separate from the National Guard's State Partnership Program, the Illinois National Guard has shared a State Partnership Program with the Polish military since 1993 and co-deployed with Polish forces for 17 consecutive years, first to Iraq and then to Afghanistan. The Illinois National Guard's partnership with Poland is considered the gold standard of State Partnership Programs.