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

I think those with 20+ years, and those that are disabled, deserve additional benefits for their service. Although given the opportunity, I would happily shop at the commissary and main exchange on MacDill.

I say this: You do your time, you deserve to be recognized for your sacrifices. However, what you earn, is dependent on how much you sacrifice. For example: If you only do your five and get out, how much have you sacrificed, compared to a 20+ year retiree? Better yet, you do your five and get out, how much have you sacrificed compared to the 10 year infantry guy who got blown up and lost both legs, and eye, and his arm?

The long and short of it is that you haven't served long enough or sacrificed enough - so you haven't EARNED those privileges that a retiree has earned.

I think you need to put your big-boy pants on, admit that you didn't do what was required, and accept the consequences of that decision.

Even if you were medically discharged, then you would continue to get privileges for at least a few years, or if severe enough, the rest of you life, and I don't think we'd be having this discussion in this case.

And one other thing: Hurting yourself carrying a load is part of the job. If you hurt your shoulder carrying what every other Soldier carries over there, you didn't do PT well, or enough, or you did something stupid, like the bend and reach while wearing it.

If you got out because you couldn't take it, that's fine - that's a decision you made, but if you weren't med-boarded then that's your fault. You should have driven on until they either forced you out, or got you the treatment you needed to fix your shoulder.

Also, I did my time in Africa, Iraq, and Afghanistan. I got shot at in all three of those countries. I got hit by IEDs in two of them as well. I had RPGs fired at my helicopter during low level flight (how the hell I survived that I have no idea). I have injuries from AFG and I don't complain about them. I see the doc when I need to, but I also stuck it out for three more years after AFG. I didn't retire until I hit 25 years - despite combat - and I mean REAL combat injuries that still affect me to this day.

Last comment: Are you a part of the entitlement generation? Because it sounds like you are. Lately, everyone seems to think it's a RIGHT to have all sorts of "benefits." The only RIGHT you have, are those enumerated in the Constitution, and the right to live, and the right to die when it's your time. That's it. You're not entitled to anything that you didn't sacrifice enough for, and the military, AAFES, and the US Government have decided that you haven't served long enough to have earned a right to shop at the PX/BX.

The "anonymous" poster of this question first of all is a straight up liar...The picture he used in the article is of one of my troops who is still active.......his name is " TSgt Smith"....
Imagine his surprise when this question on Rallypoint showed up on his newsfeed with his picture on it.
"STOLEN VALOR" that picture first appeared in the Airforce times in 2009 at Balad AB.

That said...if he was medically retired. ..he would have an ID that would admit him to any base to use AAFES...
suck it up buttercup..you make me sick

I believe that there should be some perks for prior service such as maybe keeping your AAFES online privileges. It is an unrealistic expectation to keep full base privileges. For retirees they have done more then most service members and they have earned that privilege to keep base rights as well as retirement benefits. I do feel there should still be something for non retiree prior service, but at the same time anyone who feels an entitlement to benefits is just dead wrong. If you get a benefit or perk from your time in service be grateful for it but do not expect it. We all joined up voluntarily and should only expect to serve proudly. This I did this so I deserve this mentality has to go there is no place for this thinking in the military.

Access to AAFES is a benefit of retirement, not of serving. It is intended to help retirees "stretch" their retirement income. That being said, I believe a case could be made for some who fall short of their 20 years towards retirement.

Assuming that retirement pay and benefits are inducements for personnel to remain on active duty, how can they be denied to those who served honorably and were committed to remaining on active duty until retirement, but released early through no fault of their own?

Maybe those who serve long term and were released from active duty involuntarily, not because of poor service or discipline problems, but rather because of "the needs of the service" should enjoy some benefits provided to retirees. They are, in effect, "disabled".

Think about it: Anyone who serves in the armed forces must compete in the civilian job market with those who didn't. The veterans among us know that we compete at a severe disadvantage because civilian employers rarely see the link between our military experience and their needs. The longer we remain in the military, the harder it becomes to compete for civilian jobs.

Most who retire from active service seek civilian employment. There is little hope of living on half pay, especially if you're still raising a family, and every retiree knows they suffer a disadvantage when competing for civilian jobs. However, those who serve less suffer it too. I served just shy of six years and I felt that disadvantage. Imagine someone who has served ten or fifteen years. At least those who retired have retirement pay to supplement their civilian income as well as greater purchasing power at AAFES. (Well, they have greater purchasing power in theory. The fact is that shoppers often enjoy deeper discounting at some civilian outlets such as Costco and Walmart. However, the lack of state sales taxes can be significant, especially in places like California where sales taxes exceed 10%)

Think about it...

Wow, whine much? You're not rated 100% (injured shoulder from carrying your kit? really?), you're not retired, and you got what you earned. I can see why you want to stay anonymous, because you don't want to be called out by name. A buddy of mine was a 11B over there and "left the wire" almost daily. Another buddy was a Ranger (75th ranger regiment) and spent plenty of time door kicking out side of the wire. Guess what? Neither of them complain about losing access to AAFES. I was a 19K (Tanker) and spent a year in Bosnia, and no, I don't deserve it either...suck it up buttercup.

Sure, I don't see why you shouldn't be able to. They let non-service member civilian federal employees have that benefit; why not Veterans? (AAFES on-line)

I think we can all share the same playground.

I must have gone to the wrong doctor I only got 10% for my 2 herniated discs and hearing loss after 22 years. They weren’t sure if my injury was from wearing the IBA etc during 2 year long deployments as well as 2 months digging people out of the rubble after Hurricane Katrina or humping 95+ pound artillery rounds and all the other heavy lifting artillerymen do. The contract we all signed said part of sticking around 20+ years was commissary privileges You knew the rules and chose not to re-enlist

Really? There are plenty of thing about the VA systems, and this is what we chose to quibble over, I shop at Wal-Mart, cheaper