AAFES offers aspiring young writers opportunity for prizes Published July 29, 2008 By Lynn Masters Mountain Home Base Exchange MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- School may be out for the summer, but the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, or AAFES, has one more assignment for military children. The "Back-To-School Essay Contest" gives students in first through twelfth grades the opportunity to submit a 200 words or less essay on "What AAFES means to me and my family." "Most military dependents have been shopping at AAFES their entire lives," said Richard Sheff, AAFES chief marketing officer in Dallas. "As a result, we are anticipating some very good essays from these young students on what the benefit means both to them as well as to their families." The essay contest runs through Aug. 31 and includes categories for those in first through third grade, fourth through sixth grade, seventh through ninth grade and tenth through twelfth grade with three winners from each category. First-place prizes include computers, $500 savings bonds for second place and $200 savings bonds for third place winners. Complete rules, including release forms and specific instructions on submitting essays, are available at www.aafes.com under the Patriot Family Connection link.