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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Haha is there REALLY a demand for AFFES?? I only shop there when it's absolutely necessary out of convenience. I save much more money in the real world.
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I was active duty Air Force for just under 8 and a half years. I never even considered that I should have AAFES access after I was discharged. I chose to leave the service when I did. I wouldn't expect to get benefits that active or retired get and deserve.
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A whole 10 times...Wow....6 combat deployments and 12 years in the Corps. Since I didn't retire, I understand I don't rate anything. Retirees put in the time.
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I'm sorry, 6 years with one combat tour of 7 months. I feel for you, my first 6 years in the Navy I made 3 deployments including a 10 month combat tour during Desert Shield/Storm. I know a Nam Vet who spent 18 months in a combat zone and lost a leg, who does not have AAFES access. I don't know you or what you went through, but I do know him, and even he is not worried about not having AAFES access.
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I am a little surprised this hasn't been deleted. I legitimately believe this to be a trolling discussion, but whatever. Simple fact is you don't rate. Retired members are authorized to utilize services because of the length of their service and honorable service. I also highly doubt your claim that you injured your shoulder from wearing your gear to the extent you stated. That is neither here nor there though. If you want deals on quality things try Amazon, Groupon, or your local VA PX.
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SSgt Troy Allen
Amazon, Groupon and other commercial establishments don't give all of their earnings to MWR programs. If homorably discharged veterans had access to shopmyexchange.com, annual sales would increase exponentially and help turn around sales declines caused by reductions in force.
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No. You don't deserve AAFES access. There are benefits you get after serving your 20 that others don't and that includes access to AAFES. Retirees didn't just serve "a little bit longer", they served a lot longer. I can honestly say this is the first I heard this argument from anyone who deployed. 7 months, good; you got to serve your country. Others serve years in the combat zone over multiple deployments, seperate and still don't get the benefit. Everyone is made aware of their benefits of retirement and the differences of seperation. No discrimination in the DoD in regards to AAFES or NEX access.
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Ok, I see where you are coming from, however, your view is extremely self-centered. First, you think that the AF or DoD owes this to you because of your service. That somehow the post-9/11 GI Bill wasn't enough, that the MOS skill that you learned was not enough, that your leadership and people skills were not enough, etc, etc, etc. I have done a combined total of 36 months deployed and 14 years in service. If I got out tomorrow, I would understand that the PX is no longer mine to use and that people ahead of me put up with a lot more crap than I did to actually earn those benefits. Sorry, but you are whining to the wrong group of people when you come in here talking about your 5 years and 7 month deployment.
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Kid, I spent 20 years in three wars and countless armed conflicts as a combat Naval aircrewman. After that, I have served more combat time in Iraq and Afghanistan as a CIVILIAN than you did in your entire time in the military. No, you do not deserve the same benefits as a retiree.
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I retied in 1992. Since that time, I have used the BX only about 3 times and the commissary only twice. If the commissary was closer than 4 hours away, I may use it more often. As far as the BX goes, I find that I can match or beat the their prices at Walmart or Target! And NO, you are not justified in feeling the way you do.
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Is this what we have become? 'I have one bullet wound' 'oh yeah? I have two!" Really? I didnt join for AAFES, but I am not about to discriminate for it either. Both my parents served, one as a wac for 5, and another for 20, though neither were in combat. I have 5 tours. Am I better? Nope. My gunner, a cook on his only combat tour, had one injury. His death still haunts, but apparently because he only served x-amount of time he doesn't deserve what i deserve when I retire,according to these posts. We have to stick together. We all serve our roles. If you serve your role honorably and with good intent, then you should be treated that way. I couldn't give a shit less if you served 12 months and then got shot and medically retired or whatever and you had 1 month in combat: You did it. You served and did your duty. If you served 40 years and got shot, the same. Thank you both for your service. Our nation didnt begin because of stratification, let's not end it that way, God Forbid.
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MAJ (Join to see)
Veterans are veterans. You chose to serve as a role. You also chose not to serve as a role. That doesnt mean those roles are less important...
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CCMSgt William Galvan
Veterans, with the deepest respect for all who "served", the issue of "exchange/commissary privileges should not be "the issue". Major(Join to see) very eloquently inspired me by his declaration. "We have to stick together". Do some of you remember your career advisor including all of the in-service, after-service entitlements that comprised your outstanding basic pay allowance? Are you ready to let the exchange and commissaries close? They need customers to keep the doors open. If you don't see value in them, change it. Do you ever consider the military member wha wants to be a career member but is given a "pink slip"? How about the veterans who are victims of an economy that is the product of leaders who for the most part never served in the military? (Fixed income does not equal cost of living) I love , respect and honor ALL who have served and are serving. Are you paying attention to the news? Undocumented immigrants and incarcerated prisoners are receiving benefits far siperior to to our veterans. I did not fight for that. Did you?
It is our "duty" to have their back.
"ONE TEAM ONE FIGHT"... Remember? The problem is much larger than the issue of who gets to use the exchange.
It is our "duty" to have their back.
"ONE TEAM ONE FIGHT"... Remember? The problem is much larger than the issue of who gets to use the exchange.
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CCMSgt William Galvan
Thank you for the ups. I am not seeking a right or wrong endorsement. We all offered our life to afford ALL the opportunity to voice one's opinion. To ridicule or condemn another's opinion does not reflect the freedom for all Americans which is what I thought we are all about. "Home of the brave, land of the free". Who is brave enough to let the other be free to voice their opinion? I totally respect yours whether I agree or disagree. Why? Because we are AMERICAN VETERANS WHO FOUGHT FOR IT.
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