Do Retirees Really “Deserve” Access to AAFES Stores More Than Non-Retirees?
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.
My teenage children sound more mature.
Feel free to visit VetVerify.org and provide the information requested. If the info you provide matches a record at the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC), and you are coded as an honorably discharged veteran, you will receive acknowledgement that you can create a shopping profile at shopmyexchange.com on or about 11/11/17. More info can be found at the link below:
https://www.shopmyexchange.com/s?Dy=1&Nty=1&Ntt=vosbwelcome
Starting Veterans Day 2017, vets can verify their status at https://www.vetverify.org. If an honorable discharge is confirmed, the vet can register at shopmyexchange.com and will be authorized to buy merchandise online, not at BX/PX Exchange stores. Vets can also apply for a MilStar account.
www.VetVerify.org coming soon page
The Exchange system is nowhere close to "going under" as you state, but drawdowns in personnel have reduced the customer base, therefore reducing a buying team's ability to negotiate better pricing.
Once veterans can purchase at shopmyexchange.com, the customer base will go up and buying teams will be able to negotiate better prices, which will be passed on to online and store customers.
Details here:
https://www.shopmyexchange.com/veterans
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AAFES is a for profit corporation that happens to have retail outlets on Military bases.
Maybe things have changed since I was discharged in 1994, but back in the day AAFES was more expensive and had less inventory than the places just off base.
Why? Economy of scale.
Only 7% of the U.S. population are veterans, that means if you let every active duty, retired, or person that just served 6 months and got out into the PX your customer base is still only 7% of the population.
Walmart sells to 100% of the population. Walmart can sell things cheaper and stock more because they buy and sell more, so their profit margins don't have to be as high to stay in business, and they can can negotiate better volume discounts from suppliers.
I don't live anywhere near a base, so I don't have any vested interest in the discussion, but it seems to me like the best policy would be to open up AAFES to anyone that is eligible for VA benefits, just because prices would come down.
I really don't care if someone was a bean counter behind a desk in the Coast Guard (no offense) for six months before they "got a boo boo" and were discharged on a medical. My only concern is base security 1st, and serving the troops well 2nd. The 1st means you gotta keep the riff-raff out, the second means let as many people in as you can.
Also, you are misrepresenting AAFES as being a for-profit corporation. It is not a corporation at all. It is a government instrumentality authorized by Congress and falls under the DoD as a mostly non-appropriated fund activity.
97% of AAFES opeations are self-funded via revenue from the sale of goods and services. The remaining 3% is appropriated funds used for overseas operations.
100% of AAFES earnings are invested as follows: Two-thirds support Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps morale, welfare and recreation programs - that's $200+ million in funding that offbase companies don't provide; the remaining third is used for new store construction and facility costs.
I wasn't aware that http://www.shopmyexchange.com existed, but if I was able to order there I would certainly pay a bit more to support the morale of my active duty brothers and sisters in arms. Unfortunately, I can't. I'm just a guy that served five years, went to Desert Storm, and was honorably discharged to become a proud civilian.
Access to exchange Online Store is restricted to:
Active Duty Military
Military Retirees
Reserves
National Guard personnel
Department of State Officials serving in foreign countries
And, dependents of the above
Veterans Canteen
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https://www.shopmyexchange.com/veterans
{category} : Shop Top Brands For {category} | Shop The Exchange
Save on name brand {CATEGORY} and tax free at The Exchange. FREE shipping available on {CATEGORY}!