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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Twenty years is a long time. If you didn't do twenty and wish for benefits; well! You should have thought of that before separating!
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
Yes those major career decisions can wreak havoc on one's mind. "Hmm, do I stick it out for 14 more years so I can shop tax free at AAFES? Does my shoulder hurt bad enough to pass that up? Golly Gee, I dunno?" :-)
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We may have gone 'out of the wire' but we didn't put in the full time. To me it is kind of like a MacDonald's employee looking for $15 an hour...it doesn't equate to me.
Without knowing your AFSC, it is hard to say if your time out of the wire was spent like mine, and I am not judging, but a 7 month tour and that comment about a 7 month tour is sure to ruffle a few feathers. People have spent better parts of careers now over there and I am sure they just love hearing this from the ChairForce. Again, no offense, just think about the impact of your words.
Without knowing your AFSC, it is hard to say if your time out of the wire was spent like mine, and I am not judging, but a 7 month tour and that comment about a 7 month tour is sure to ruffle a few feathers. People have spent better parts of careers now over there and I am sure they just love hearing this from the ChairForce. Again, no offense, just think about the impact of your words.
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I will gladly give you my 100% disability for PTSD and 23 pills a day, and my PX privileges, if you want them.
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Being able to shop at the liquor store on base after retirement was enough incentive to get me over the hump....
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As a fully disabled retiree I find your statements just a bit condescending. You did not do as much as I did. During my 22 years of service I spent half of it on hardship tours.
When you left service before being eligible for retirement you gave up your eligibility to use AAFES. I am sure that you completed your TAP class prior to exiting the Air Force and they told you that you would lose that benefit. If you didn't want to lose that benefit you shouldn't have ETS'd.
I do not know why you got out, and quite frankly I don't care. The only real benefit of using AAFES is the tax free. You can normally get better deals at Walmart or target. Time to suck it up and move on.
When you left service before being eligible for retirement you gave up your eligibility to use AAFES. I am sure that you completed your TAP class prior to exiting the Air Force and they told you that you would lose that benefit. If you didn't want to lose that benefit you shouldn't have ETS'd.
I do not know why you got out, and quite frankly I don't care. The only real benefit of using AAFES is the tax free. You can normally get better deals at Walmart or target. Time to suck it up and move on.
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LTC Hillary Luton
SSG (ret) William Martin I can't say I blame you. Occasionally I find a good deal at Aafes, but not often. Not sure these are entitlements worth fighting for. I retired recently and since my retirement, I think I've been to the commissary once and the PX.....uhhhh...well, I haven't.
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Capt (Join to see)
We went about twice a month until we moved. We were 2 miles from the BX and are now 15. We still go when we go to the old town for medical appointments and when we go to the pharmacy. In Colorado we lived 43 miles away and only went quarterly when we went to the pharmacy. Now the pharmacy - for us that is THE benefit. Between my wife and I we get 31 prescriptions filled quarterly. It made that 90 mile round trip well worth it.
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I really want to take up for you since you're getting bashed pretty hard here. However, I cannot. Retirees (my Mother is retired Navy) do not "deserve" AAFES rights, they have EARNED it by sticking it out with their respective branch of service for 20 years or more. I'm not sure if you are just young and have an entitlement issue, or you're just an asshat without anything else to think about. Not to mention the AF gets enough bashing from the her sister services (i.e. "chairforce" etc), without you adding onto it with your nonsense.
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Hell no. Guess what; I did nine years Active Duty with 1 tour in Kosovo and 2 in Iraq. I don't feel I deserve access to AAFES facilities or anything else retirees are entitled to. Stop whining.
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Jesus.....are you kidding me? The first problem is the use of the word "deserve". I'm about done with the sense of entitlement we as a community have developed. Makes me sick--and don't get me started on when dependants start wearing their spouses' rank. You did your time, you are being compensated for you injury, move on.....and by the way, I served 20 years 7 months total time I uniform. The Army cannot find my medical records and so the disability claims I submitted for maladies received during 3 combat tours, including PTSD, TBI following 6 concussions and a vehicle roll over, e posture to cyclosarin nerve agent in DS/DS and a variety of other crap, sit in limbo with no service connection so QUIT YOUR WHINNING.....you bring disgrace to the uniform through your petty complaining.
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MAJ John Storer
Oh and ease do t misunderstand. I'm not complaining about my circumstance. I had a great life/career and am grateful to have had the opportunities. Every day above ground is a gift and should be appreciated
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CW4 Larry Curtis
Jeesh I hope you are able to get this sorted out. You deserve the compensation and help you should have coming to you. This is a significant travesty that too many of our brothers-in-arms have had to deal with and is completely unacceptable. But what can we do, right? We suck it up and roll with it and continue to hope that things will eventually fall into place for us, and I continue to stand by you with such hopes. I'm sure that you have probably been down every conceivable avenue available to help you in this, but maybe someone somewhere will get lucky on your behalf and will be able to bring this all together for you. Thank you for your service, leadership, and sacrifice, MAJ Storer.
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