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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As a Veteran you do have access to an exchange, at your local VA and online. They have the same items there along with the discount you would get from any other exchange-http://www.vacanteen.va.gov/...Happy shopping.
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SSgt Troy Allen
Not quite. A significant portion of AAFES merchandise is not available at the VA Canteen site.
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Lmao...easily 10 times. Bruh, I left the wire easily that many times in a single work week, maybe 3 days. So please....stop trying to say you are a combat veteran. And what did you do once you left the wire?
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First of all, AAFES doesn't offer anything you can't get from Walmart, Target, or a few others. I did all 32 years, 36 months deployed, 70% disabled, and don't give a second thought about driving on and off post to access AAFES. There are other priorities.
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SSgt Troy Allen
CSM Patrick Durr - Of course Walmart and Target don't have to fund MWR programs. That's the point! Similarly priced merchandise can be purchased at AAFES tax-free *and* support MWR programs,
Second, a person doesn't have to drive to a base/post to access AAFES merchandise. A great deal of it is available through shopmyexchange.com.
Second, a person doesn't have to drive to a base/post to access AAFES merchandise. A great deal of it is available through shopmyexchange.com.
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I say No, but not for any personal reason. It's simple math. The AAFES can only support a certain amount of customers while maintaining the current price range.
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SSgt Troy Allen
The simple math is that AAFES CAN support more customers if there WERE more customers. Continued drawdowns are reducing the customer base, robbing AAFES of the leverage needed to get better pricing on merchandise. If just 2 million out of the 5 million honorably discharged veterans could buy at shopmyexchange.com, that increase would lower pricing and expand selection for everyone.
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CSM Patrick Durr
Lets not lose sight of the original issue. Benefits afforded to retiree's. AAFES is a retired benefit, not an ETS benefit.
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SSgt Troy Allen
CSM Patrick Durr - AAFES won't be a benefit for ANYONE as drawdowns erode their customer base.
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I voted no, but that is because it is policy. I do support a change in policy that would allow you to receive those benefits based on the fact that you served and sacrificed. There are always two sides to every issue, and I don't know what negative impacts that would have on opening it up to soldiers with FWTS.
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Honestly, I don't even think this is something that people should go head over heels over. Yeah you save a couple dollars for food and other goods.
I would like to agree that it should be left available to anyone that has done time in the service. We all contribute to the mission right? We all pay our taxes to run the facilities? And since its for military personnel and their families, maybe a rule to where you had to do a minimum of 4-6 years as active duty w/ honorable discharge or something? Ive deployed 4 times (2 to red-zones) and been on 2 overseas detachments. If thats not enough for aafes then i mean... what is?
Just for a heads up, I could care less who gets what when it comes to something as minuscule as this, just trying to think outside the box and look at the big picture here.
Im not in any shape or form comparing non retirees to people that have done 20+ years.
note: I think the guy that wrote this post kinda worded it wrong, if his statement was re-worded I think that the responses to this poll would have been much different.
I would like to agree that it should be left available to anyone that has done time in the service. We all contribute to the mission right? We all pay our taxes to run the facilities? And since its for military personnel and their families, maybe a rule to where you had to do a minimum of 4-6 years as active duty w/ honorable discharge or something? Ive deployed 4 times (2 to red-zones) and been on 2 overseas detachments. If thats not enough for aafes then i mean... what is?
Just for a heads up, I could care less who gets what when it comes to something as minuscule as this, just trying to think outside the box and look at the big picture here.
Im not in any shape or form comparing non retirees to people that have done 20+ years.
note: I think the guy that wrote this post kinda worded it wrong, if his statement was re-worded I think that the responses to this poll would have been much different.
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SSgt Troy Allen
Hi. Re: your comment: "We all pay our taxes to run the facilities?". When it comes to the Exchanges (AAFES/PX/PX), the amount of money that comes out of taxes to support them is negligible. Most of the government money is to reimburse for the sale of uniforms and the shipping to deliver them if ordered from the website. That's it.
Otherwise, the Exchanges are entirely self-funded. The funding comes from what's left after the cost of goods is deducted from sales.
Otherwise, the Exchanges are entirely self-funded. The funding comes from what's left after the cost of goods is deducted from sales.
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There are benefits for career soldiers, marines, airmen and sailors. You have some VA access for your disability and also the post 9-11 GI Bill. I think you served honorably and made a decision to get out. You can't really expect the system(DoD) to continue for life those benefits you previously enjoyed. Military life comes with support, AFEES, billeting, travel, childcare, education, and deployments. They do provide a great way of life if you can live with the separations and risks to life and limb, but you don't get the benifits when you are no longer serving. That makes financial sense to me. Sorry you feel entitled to those things, but it is a tough part of transition to civilian status.
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SSgt Troy Allen
This may be tough to swallow but reality is that military drawdowns are reducing the leverage of AAFES buying teams to negotiate better deals. If the customer base continues to decline, AAFES will close non-performing stores and the "benefit/entitlement" will disappear. If lower price and better selection is the goal, then it would benefit all active, retired and disabled servicemembers if 5 million honorably discharged veterans also had access to AAFES merchandise via the online version of the store -- shopmyexchange.com.
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I believe if you are service connected disabled veteran you should be given PX and Commissary privileges just my opinion
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