AAFES shopping now open in Raleigh Published July 31, 2008 RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Army Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) has opened a shoppette on the campus of the North Carolina National Guard headquarters here. National Guard and Reserve members, their families and retirees often don't live near an active-duty military base, which leaves them unable to take advantage of their BX/PX and commissary privileges. The National Guard has teamed with AAFES to provide this service to members of the military community in the Raleigh-Durham area. Though already operating, the AAFES shoppette will officially open during a ceremony at 3 p.m. Friday, July 18. Located at the Claude T. Bowers Military Center at 4105 Reedy Creek Road in Raleigh, the store is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. during the week and from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on drill weekends. Drills are usually held the first weekend in each month. The store offers a variety of the usual items found at commercial convenience stores but also items of specific interest to members of the military such as uniform items and things such as backpacks, service emblems and other merchandise shoppers can only find on a military base. Like on a military installation, all purchases are tax free. The shoppette is open to all military identification card holders who would normally have access to on-base shopping facilities.