DALLAS - For the third consecutive year, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service has received accolades from DiversityBusiness.com as one of the nation's best for multicultural business opportunities, earning the number five spot on the "Top Government Organizations" list.

More than 650,000 diversity business owners had the opportunity to participate in the online election that determined the top agencies. The resulting "Div25" recognizes those government agencies that provide the best and most business for diversity-owned companies. The business owners based their decisions on factors such as volume, consistency and quality of opportunities granted to women and minority-owned companies. AAFES garnered recognition because of its commitment to opportunity, particularly in the communities it serves. In fact, in 2008 AAFES increased its spending with diverse business owners by more than $58 million from the previous year.

"It's an honor for AAFES to once again be recognized nationally," said Jeanne McDonald, AAFES director of diversity. "Ranking fifth on the list of all government organizations shows the lengths we go to ensure the exchange's product mix mirrors our diverse customer base."

AAFES, along with the other winning organizations, will be honored at a special awards ceremony at DiversityBusiness.com's ninth Annual Multicultural Business Conference in Orlando in April.

The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is a joint command and is directed by a Board of Directors which is responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force through the Service Chiefs of Staff. AAFES has the dual mission of providing authorized patrons with articles of merchandise and services and generating non-appropriated fund earnings as a supplemental source of funding for military Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs. To find out more about AAFES' history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http:// www.aafes.com/pa/default.asp.