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

It all goes back to established norms, which have been in place for good reason. There is a certain rung which has been placed at a particular height which you have to achieve in order to merit the prize. If you do not achieve that rung, then you do not merit the prize...simple as that. Should a Commissioned Officer be promoted to Major if he does not have a Bachelor's Degree? It is the same sort of thing in my opinion. There are certain things in life which you must achieve in order to get the most benefit out of life in general. If you want your service record to be considered competitive for promotion as an Army NCO, you need to have attended the NCO Academy at some point...and it probably doesn't stop there, but I am using that as an example. You may consider these parallels I have used as apples vs oranges in this case, but the principal is the same in all cases. There are standards established and we go with them. Someone much smarter than us established the rules for the Exchange and that's just how it goes.

Having said all of that...in the 21 years that I have been retired, I have used the Exchange very little. Even when I lived near to a military facility, I did not go out of my way to shop at the Exchange...and usually only shopped at the Commissary for certain items. In general, I don't think you are really missing-out on much by not being able to shop at the Exchange. Maybe you would be if you are sort of a yuppie and are driven to possess major name-brand items because that is all you can usually get at the Exchange. Even though the prices for such items may be a little better at the Exchange, I go more for functionality and cost over major name brands. In the overall scheme of things, and in MY opinion, shopping at the Exchange really doesn't save you a whole lot of money when it comes to your normal everyday bottom line living expenses. And many times, depending upon where you live, you can find better deals on the outside for some of those name brand items because the Exchange is not in competition for your business...it is the Exchange "Service" and doesn't have to engage in any price war competition like your typical retail stores do a lot of times. In my honest opinion, the Commissary and Exchange Services are really most essential in the overseas setting...moreso than in CONUS.

Clear as mud, huh? HAHAHA. Just being honest from my personal perspective. I do not intend to minimize the importance and function of the Exchange Service, and I certainly do not intend to minimize your opinion about having served, etc. I thank you for your service. But when it gets down to the brass tacks, apart from the monthly check I have been receiving for my 20 years of service, that retired ID card and about $4.00 will still get me a medium Caramel Machiato at any Starbucks...including the Starbucks inside the shopping plaza at the local Exchange. ;)

Prices at AAFES wasn't that much cheaper than what I could find at the local Walmart. AAFES is more a convenience than anything else. Being a civilian again,... looking for a BX or Commissary isn't really convenient for most people. There's a base about 35 miles from me. The local Walmart is just 2 miles away. I'm not retired, but if I were, I'm pretty sure I'd use what is closest.

When I enlisted,... BX and Commissary access wasn't a factor. I knew when I got out, I would not be able to use AAFES anymore. No big deal.

Another thing,... I'm kinda surprised that a fellow Airman would equate his/her 5 years service to that of someone who served 20 years or more. Also, 7 months down range on a FOB that you ventured out of 10 times,.... You know what? Don't do that. Don't try justifying your arguement for continued AAFES use as a civilian with your tour of duty. You trivialize your service when you do that. Surely, that is not the reason you took the Oath of Enlistment.

Sorry you didn't put time in as much as anyone else, because you put in 6 years. Also known as fuck all time to members who give their 20+

Also don't throw around a deployment as if it matters, because in the military it doesn't and shouldn't. That is your job, that was your job, you don't deserve bonus points for doing your job. Also the fact that you want to talk about your rating due to wearing kit, trying living in that shit for weeks? Get out of here. Left wire 10+ times? What? We down here in grunt world that would be a weeks work?

You're an entitled weak heart person and I thank you for your service, but it's good you've moved on.

Now I'm not here trying to be a hard head, shit I've only done 3 years of service, but those perks should be kept for ADSM and retires who've done their full time and deserve those extra points, and those who have gone above and beyond.

I would be OK with Honorably Discharged veterans having exchange/commissary privileges, even more so for disabled veterans, but it's not a hill to die on.

As for me, I don't miss it much myself. If I REALLY wanted to go to an exchange, I know enough retirees and actively serving personnel to get the job done. :)

Left the wire ten times we lived out of the wire for days are patrols where 24 on 24 off out of the wire I did 22 years 7 active 15 guard if he wants to use AAFFES he should go Guard

I voted yes, but not for your reasoning. I did 9 years Air Force, but I was forced out due to the ERB. I joined to do the 20. I've wanted to retire since I was a freshman in high school. But budget cuts screwed that up for me. I feel as if I should still be able to go to the base gym, and use the BX/Commissary.

The yes/no argument will likely be moot by first quarter 2016. The Exchange is in negotiations with DoD to authorize honorably discharged veterans access to shopmyexchange.com (not brick and mortar Exchange stores) and keep tax-free purchases intact.

One of the biggest complaints is Exchange pricing can be too high. If veterans are allowed to shop, Buying Teams will have much greater leverage due to increased volume and can negotiate better deals with suppliers. It's a win for customers. It's a win for MWR programs. It's a win for Exchange employees, many of whom are dependents of servicemembers.

Either you intended to induce an inflammatory response or your case wasn't clearly articulated. Comparing yourself to retirees is a mistake. Hopefully, we realize that by overwhelming feedback that's been given.
I think you may have better served with an argument that disabled vets or wounded warriors should be considered for the privilege rather than trying compare resumes and making it about you

Wow, um, no, the fact that you can count the times you left the makes me laugh lol, no offense but, ueah, yiu knew how the military works, uiu knew the benefits of retiring, and in no way shape or form did you do as much as any retired grunt, I was a Cavalry Scout, I did my 30 and I can tell you that I didn't do nearly as much as any other retired grunt, reading this makes me want to beat you senseless, YOU chose to get out, Quit bitching, you bsound like A goddanmed potato

This policy is not AAFES driven. Stop complaining. The ability to use the base facilities is a privilege and not an entitlement.