Do Retirees Really “Deserve” Access to AAFES Stores More Than Non-Retirees?

Most epic troll post EVER on RP... Hundreds of replies took the bait and fed the troll, who is sitting back and giggling his butt off in his moms basement. After having been involuntarily separated and finding a other than honorable discharge really is a discriminator in the job market, trolling RP is the most eventful thing this troll can come up with,,and we all fed his ego.

Well done troll, if I could issue RP bages I would, simply because you managed to get om many Rp'ers engaged in your ridiculous post.

There is a significant difference between someone who served 7 years and someone who served 20, 30 or more. AAFES, Commissary and Medical Benefits, among others, are incentives to encourage military members to make a career of the military.

I will not restate what so many others who have responded have said. Suffice it to say that I strongly believe that the policy should remain as it is.

I like how you want to remain anonymous, but we can't answer you that way...LOL

Retirees...retired----The amount of sacrifice for at least 20 years deserves more than what is provided.

While I don't have a problem with Veterans who did not retire having access to Aafes, I'm not sure I agree with your argument as stated. I respect that you served and I thank you for your service. I also respect the fact that you deployed and did missions outside the wire. But stacking that up against a retiree such as myself for example, doesn't really compare. You served 6 years - I served 32 years. Yes, 21 of those years were as a traditional Reserve Soldier; however, 11 of those years were full-time and anyone who has served in the Reserve (especially in command) knows, that there is absolutely no such thing as "traditional" when it comes to fulfilling our responsibilities.

Second, you stated that you did a 7 month deployment to Iraq. Commendable. I did three deployments throughout my career. Were any of these deployments to Iraq or Afghanistan? No, I admit they were not. Does that make them any less dangerous? Well, some may argue that it does, but then again, anytime a scud is aimed at your head, it can get dangerous.

My point is not demean your service, I simply think you should consider putting how much you gave into perspective. You make the comment that you gave just as much as most retirees. I'm not sure which retirees you are comparing yourself to, but I would argue that most retirees today have not only put in 20+ years of service, but have also deployed numerous times, so they are not just retirees, they are veterans too.

I could argue that I deserve my retirement pay now, instead of having to wait until I'm 60, but I'm not going to make that argument. Why? Because I knew what the policy was when I joined, and I accepted it. I have nearly 15 years that counts towards AC. I'm proud of that fact, but I know it doesn't earn me retirement pay right now. That's ok. I can wait.

I'm sorry you are not allotted Aafes access and I am, but as you even stated, you knew the rules going in. We don't have to agree with the rules, but right now, we are stuck with them.

I know I commented already, but in 37 months as a Garrison Commander, I always looked suspect on comments from anyone who would not sign their name...

I don't mean to slight any of my brothers and sisters who served, but putting in your 20 and retiring is a mark of distinction above serving less than 20 and leaving the military. We all have our reasons for taking the career paths we do.

I applaud anyone who has served, deployed or not and have respect for those who have been injured in LOD, but where does entitlement end? The VA has turned me down flat on my claims for sleep apnea, botched surgery and a back injury. Maybe I haven't pushed hard enough but then again, people are coming home without limbs and worse to an over burdened system so what do you do?

"I hurt my shoulder due to wearing my kit a lot (30% rated). I did as much as most retirees" If you worked 6 years and not 20 years, how did you manage to "do as much as most retirees"? I'm sure many would argue that they did a lot more in your missing 14 years than you did in 6. I had a herniated disk in February, had it fixed and deployed in July with 17 years in and 3 to go. I spent 3 years overseas during my 20 so how is your 7 months "as much" as mine.

Besides, other than no sales tax and some exclusive military items, what are you really missing? I go to the BX at Newport periodically and for the most part you get better prices at Target and Walmart.

I really think you need to re-evaluate your position and think twice about what you are calling discrimination. You feel entitled because of your service, even though you do not meet the criteria for a benefit, Sorry that's not discrimination, that's griping.

@anonymous is probably trolling, but here goes...

His 'Kit' must have been on his character on COD.

This is just another fine example of how the 'younger' generation are wanting unearned entitlements.

And as far as danger and deployments go:
3 tours in Iraq; 1@15 months; 1@12 months; 1@ 6 months (Because I got MEDEVAC'd)
- OVER 500 convoys in first tour alone (10 convoys, Pffft)

1 10 month tour in Afghanistan
- 148 hours of mission flight (UH-60's and CH-47's), in addition to convoys

Let me start by saying thank you for your service. However, going in, and during your active duty time things were explained to you on how the service, and retirement works, or at minimum you would exercise initiative in finding out. Although five years is a good stretch, there are plenty here that agreed is not equal to 20 years. Not even by stretching reality.

The main issue I have with your comment is that you are trying to say that you almost did the same as a grunt does in 20 years. That is offensive, specially for those who have gone in more than one 7 month deployment, and goes out the wire 10 times during that time. You need to elaborate what that going out the wire also implies, did you just sit in a vehicle and drive to a bigger base? or did you have to hike 6 miles on foot? Being a line medic I take offense how you disrespect not only your fellow veterans, who have endured multiple deployments. In my short career, not even 12 years in, I have 4 tours with over 1000 missions of all kinds. And trust me, not trying to make this a pissing contest. You have or had the choice to suck it up and drive, or complete your 20 in the reserves. The service is not like being a politician who after only 6 years of at times, dubious service, get platinum retirement packages. We all signed the dotted line as volunteers, and I don't know about you, but I usually read the contracts I sign. Seems you failed to do so.

There are also plenty of other venues for combat vets, and yes, you do qualify for that, make sure that you understand I am not trying to demean what you sacrificed while in service, just don't go saying you have done more than a grunt does, because clearly you don't know what they do, or have to put up with. Have more respect for what they do. Remember, you are what they call POG, and very much acting like it. Look up on military one source, and the VA, and your local VA representative to see what other benefits you have actually earned, another one is become a member of the American Legion or VFW, another great resource and wealth of information.

One more thing, please stop saying your "kit". You should refer to it as your IOTV, OTV, or simply your combat load. We don't wear kits. we use gear. You are definitely getting pounded really hard if a grunt hears you saying it like that, take all of this as an honest advice. Good luck.

Im impressed with the 30% rate for leaving the wire 10 times and being deployed 7 months. Hell I did 20 years in a combat mos caring heavy gear my entire career and didn't get a percent for my shoulders.
But hey, I can go to the px.
You can probably detect a bit of sacasm in my answer. You have a legitimate question, but when you compare yourself to a grunt while stating how many times you deployed and "left the wire" it sounds like you are crying about it. I have known fellow Marines and Soldiers that have lived outside the wire for most of their 4 year enlistment and still don't have px privileges.
There are certain perks you get as you put on rank during your time in. Same goes for retirement. I stayed in so I could get those perks, mainly retirement. But base and px access is just a plus.

I was compelled to vote NO! Mostly with the thought that there is really nothing broken. I did 21 years as a Marine, and therefore have mostly seen just Marine base PX and commissary privileges. I did not think much of them then, and I think less of them now. I have found that Costco and Sam’s club have great savings with a far better selection. Plus I hate the time it takes just to get on and off of Luke Air Base, and let’s not forget the drive.

Regardless, guys and gals that stay the 20 plus years should have a little more in benefits than those that leave sooner. The thought that everyone regardless of time served should get the same equals equality. I for one do not believe in equality. The first hint of equality presented itself to me in the late 80’s when both of my boys played peewee soccer on base. Every single team received a trophy regardless of how they placed. I thought that odd and pushed it aside. In the years that followed with the same behavior revealed what we were teaching our children. That being that we are all winners. When I played sports as a kid there were just three places and therefore only three trophies given as 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Everyone else sucked wind! Neither of my boy’s teams placed in the top three, but they both received a trophy that read the same as everyone else’s team including the team that actually won it all. This behavior is a lie and only serves as a fallacy to life; that being regardless of how you and/or your team plays you’re still a winner. Those of us that have seen combat time no that not everyone is a winner.

Please do not get me wrong, as I’m not saying that those that served less than 20 years are losers. I’m simply stating that a person that does 3, 10 or even 15 years has in fact served less than 20.