Posted on Apr 2, 2015
Do Retirees Really “Deserve” Access to AAFES Stores More Than Non-Retirees?
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* Please vote in the survey here *
Note: I am a RallyPoint member (served in USAF for 5 years) and wish to remain anonymous, because I need to be 100% honest that I feel the DoD is discriminating against non-retirees like me. Please tell if I am right or wrong here.
While I was serving in the USAF (5 years active), I enjoyed shopping at AAFES locations and online as well. It saved me a lot of money and the deals always seemed good. Now that I am a civilian, and did not hit retirement before I got out, and am not rated 100%, I can’t shop at AAFES anymore. I think that’s flat out wrong. I put in my time as much as anyone.
I know there are going to be RallyPoint members who respond with, “You only did 6 years, and you knew AAFES rules full well.” Well, here is what I say to that.
I did a 7-month tour in Iraq at FOB Taji. Easily left the wire more than 10 times. I hurt my shoulder due to wearing my kit a lot (30% rated). I did as much as most retirees, including retired grunts. I deserve AAFES access as much as any retiree. I respect that retirees served a little bit longer, but I did 7 months in Iraq.
Am I justified in thinking I should get full AAFES access?
Please vote in the survey below. Thank you.
Note: I am a RallyPoint member (served in USAF for 5 years) and wish to remain anonymous, because I need to be 100% honest that I feel the DoD is discriminating against non-retirees like me. Please tell if I am right or wrong here.
While I was serving in the USAF (5 years active), I enjoyed shopping at AAFES locations and online as well. It saved me a lot of money and the deals always seemed good. Now that I am a civilian, and did not hit retirement before I got out, and am not rated 100%, I can’t shop at AAFES anymore. I think that’s flat out wrong. I put in my time as much as anyone.
I know there are going to be RallyPoint members who respond with, “You only did 6 years, and you knew AAFES rules full well.” Well, here is what I say to that.
I did a 7-month tour in Iraq at FOB Taji. Easily left the wire more than 10 times. I hurt my shoulder due to wearing my kit a lot (30% rated). I did as much as most retirees, including retired grunts. I deserve AAFES access as much as any retiree. I respect that retirees served a little bit longer, but I did 7 months in Iraq.
Am I justified in thinking I should get full AAFES access?
Please vote in the survey below. Thank you.
Posted in these groups: 
Benefits
Benefits
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 625
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MSgt Jim Wolverton
Because you knew when you got out that you would no longer have those privileges, correct? You also knew that those benefits were reserved for retirees and those that qualify, correct, and you still chose to leave? Hell no, clarified for you.
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SSgt Troy Allen
MSgt Jim Wolverton - In case you haven't noticed, there is a drawdown going on. AAFES has been closing and combining facilities overseas, and just completed a huge voluntary early separation/retirement sweep to save on operating expense so payouts to MWR programs can continue. People complain about AAFES not being competitive, but they don't realize the total universe of authorized customers is orders of magnitude smaller than Walmart or Target, so they don't have the same buying leverage. As the drawdowns continue and the customer base dwindles, there's a real threat that AAFES will go away. That's why there is an effort to authorize access to shopmyexchange.com for honorably discharged veterans. What you "clarified" is a set of antiquated rules that don't reflect the current situation. I have graciously clarified the REAL rules of business for you.
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MSgt Jim Wolverton
There's a drawdown and effort to combine facilities overseas but TWO large exchanges exist on Bragg and on several other large Stateaide bases? That makes no sense and something doesn't seem right. Additionally, how do you control those on the base that have restricted access? It sounds like a force protection nightmare to me.
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SSgt Troy Allen
MSgt Jim Wolverton - There is no force protection issue if honorably discharged veterans are authorized access to shopmyexchange.com. Done and done.
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I did 25 years and multiple in Iraq, leave the military, leave the benefits. Sorry
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Wow, you did a whole 5-6 years and that is as much as a 20+ year veteran. I respect and admire the fact that you did serve and did deploy to a combat zone. Now let me help you understand some things about retirees, since I am one.
1) Serving 6 years is not the same as 20+ in any branch of the service. Those 20+ years do take a toll on ones body and most leave the service worse medically than when they entered.
2) Being in the Air Force is not the same as a Grunt. I seriously doubt you know how a 25 mile ruck feels with 75+ lbs on your back plus all your gear. Going outside the wire 10+ times is not the same as going out everyday in full battle rattle ( full ruck and gear). Then to claim that your kit caused your shoulder to hurt. I have personally torn one of my shoulders twice, while deployed, and had to have it operated on twice once I returned to the states. The other should needs to get operated on, but I can deal with the pain and discomfort for now.
3) Deploying on a 7 month tour is not the same as deploying 12+ months at a time, multiple times. I can remember my first deployment to Afghanistan and seeing the same AF guys on their two separate deployments before finishing my first. I know guys that have more deployments than you do years of service and you say you deserve the same benefits as them, even though they did 20+years. I know when I was in our deployments in the Army were 12 month minimum and could get extended, and did, with little to no notice because mission dictated it.
4) If you wanted some of the same benefits as a 20+ year Vet, you should have done the time.
1) Serving 6 years is not the same as 20+ in any branch of the service. Those 20+ years do take a toll on ones body and most leave the service worse medically than when they entered.
2) Being in the Air Force is not the same as a Grunt. I seriously doubt you know how a 25 mile ruck feels with 75+ lbs on your back plus all your gear. Going outside the wire 10+ times is not the same as going out everyday in full battle rattle ( full ruck and gear). Then to claim that your kit caused your shoulder to hurt. I have personally torn one of my shoulders twice, while deployed, and had to have it operated on twice once I returned to the states. The other should needs to get operated on, but I can deal with the pain and discomfort for now.
3) Deploying on a 7 month tour is not the same as deploying 12+ months at a time, multiple times. I can remember my first deployment to Afghanistan and seeing the same AF guys on their two separate deployments before finishing my first. I know guys that have more deployments than you do years of service and you say you deserve the same benefits as them, even though they did 20+years. I know when I was in our deployments in the Army were 12 month minimum and could get extended, and did, with little to no notice because mission dictated it.
4) If you wanted some of the same benefits as a 20+ year Vet, you should have done the time.
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I know most would say no. But if you all think about the business side ,If a AAFES is not able to sustain itself with a reduced military would the DOD keep it open ? with that in mind I think veterans should have access.
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they are kicking people out who want to stay in and do there time in service.
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I voted no but want to qualify my answer. Frankly speaking, your comparison of your time compared to retirees is a bit off-putting especially when you refer to retiree's time as "a little more than yours." The "No" vote came because it felt as if you were denegrating the full service of retirees. Nonetheless, I feel veterans should have access period as long as they served honorably throughout their time in service. I just think you would have made a better case by stating your honorable service, mention your war time service in a combat zone, and the completion of whatever contractural committment you signed up for. Attempting to make your point by comparing your 7 months to "grunts" that more than likely have done more than 27 months in theater is a sure fire way to lose your argument because they stopped listening a long time ago.
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Give me a break. You did 5 years. You really need to get over yourself. Thanks for your service but I spent 22 years in so that I would get to keep benefits like that. That's why retirees get benefits. You did 5 years, I did my entire young adult life. As much work -HA! I spent nearly as much time deployed as you spent on active duty.
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I believe that anyone who was honorably discharged should have access to the base exchange commissary, and gas station. This would help the struggling exchanges and commissaries around the country.
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SSgt Michael Cox
With that being said this blog shouldn't even be up due to the way the author is conceded and demanding the rights when he was only in for one enlistment and left. While I would love to be able to go back out to the base I was forced out after 14 years because injuries I received while on one of my six tours left me unable to complete the run for the pt test. Sorry to say but one enlistment is nothing compared to those who have retired. The whine in the blog reminds me of those entitled kids we had coming in that I helped kick out before leaving service.
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The only reason I would say yes is to put more money into the AAFES system. But I've lived the past 20 years not being allowed into either a bx or px that it's no longer on my radar.
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