AAFES civilian deploys to Afghanistan Published Oct. 16, 2014 By Kimberly Woodruff Staff Writer TINKER AIR FORCE BASE - Okla. -- A Tinker worker with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service recently stepped way out of her comfort zone to support the troops. Kathy Griffin, a facility manager of the Express II Shoppette near base housing, returned home in August from a year-and-a-half long deployment to Afghanistan. "I have a son in the Army, and if someone is out there supporting my son, I can do the same for someone else's son or daughter," said Ms. Griffin, who has four grown children living in Florida. They were all very supportive of her decision to deploy. She said deploying is the most rewarding thing she's ever done. "It is very rewarding to work with the military, giving something back," she said. "The feeling overseas is very different than here at home -- it is like a small close family." Ms. Griffin was at PASAB in the southern region of Afghanistan. The AAFES team she was part of was there for the close down of a foreign operating base. "I went with a sense of purpose and couldn't let fear overtake me," she said. "I adapted and had a great time." She said AAFES was there to provide a service no one else could. "The Soldiers came in for a change -- like a getaway place," she said. "Everyone loved candy, chips, energy drinks and tobacco. It made them happy and reminded them of home." Seeing the way other cultures live was very interesting for Ms. Griffin. "It was amazing to see how different their way of living was from our own way of living," she said. "I wondered how the Afghan people can live in small huts with no air conditioning, and where their water came from." In the area surrounded by mountains, Ms. Griffin said she was surprised it was so hot even at 4 a.m. The AAFES employees lived in the same accommodations as the Soldiers, and Ms. Griffin said they had special training prior to going, and were given special equipment, though no weapons. She lived in a "chu," or small container, about 12 feet by 12 feet, but it was comfortable, she said. They all shared a community bath area. Ms. Griffin said if she had to go back, she would, but not to close down an FOB. "We worked 12 hour days, seven days a week," she said. "Our mission is we go where you go to improve the quality of your lives through goods and service provided" so we live by our mission in support of our troops and our community.