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 >1 y ago
Responses: 625
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I lost my nejtwork connection when I was posting this so I hope it is not a duplicate.
I have the Solution!
Exchange Club. It is like Sam's club only for service members. Make it a part of the enlistment process. Let a person decide they want to opt in to the exchange club. Then when that person receives an honorable discharge they can pay annual dues to continue shopping through the exchange service.
Take the money from the dues and put it back into the exchange system. Use it for infrastructure, salaries, upgrades, putting an organ grinder complete with symbol playing monkey in front of each store.
I have the Solution!
Exchange Club. It is like Sam's club only for service members. Make it a part of the enlistment process. Let a person decide they want to opt in to the exchange club. Then when that person receives an honorable discharge they can pay annual dues to continue shopping through the exchange service.
Take the money from the dues and put it back into the exchange system. Use it for infrastructure, salaries, upgrades, putting an organ grinder complete with symbol playing monkey in front of each store.
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Maybe the disability rating can be adjusted to reflect the conflicts we have been in, but letting anyone have access just because they served isn't realistic.
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Well Justin Timberlake why don't you "CRY ME A RIVER". I have been on 2 deployments and in Iraq left the fob more than 100 times in 7 months. If I get out without retiring I know I do not get anymore, let me repeat that ANYMORE FROM THE MILITARY.just because you are 30% from wearing you load and have been deployed doesn't mean you keep getting what you think you deserve. You want the benefits but not the time join the GUARD and you can continue to get your wants. Fucking cry baby.
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I would imagine you were informed of all the rules of service, post service, VA, retirement etc. when you joined. If you were able to accept them upon enlistment, why are you arguing your point now? Your seven months in country earned you what you got-VA benefits. Unless you were dishonorably discharged, accept what you got and move on. I put my 25 years in and got what goes with that. I won't cry and whine for benefits that someone else earned from an era before or after mine that I did not sign up for. If they want to take away what you earned, then jump on your soap box, call your Senator or Congressman and get them to assist you. Other than that, your five or six years did not earn you another day at the Commissary or BX.
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I got it! I have an awesome solution to the issue!
Exchange Club
Make it like a Sam's Club. When you enlist you can sign up for Exchange Club, and then after leaving the service you can continue using the exchange provided you signed up for it during initial enlistment, you received an honorable discharge, and pay annual club dues. The dues can go to the local exchange for improvements, salaries, hiring, or any other pressing need to make their service better. The former service member gets to continue shopping at the exchange. It's a win win
Exchange Club
Make it like a Sam's Club. When you enlist you can sign up for Exchange Club, and then after leaving the service you can continue using the exchange provided you signed up for it during initial enlistment, you received an honorable discharge, and pay annual club dues. The dues can go to the local exchange for improvements, salaries, hiring, or any other pressing need to make their service better. The former service member gets to continue shopping at the exchange. It's a win win
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I think this post is ill conceived.
I believe a better question would simply be: "Should honorably discharged veterans be allowed to shop at military exchanges?" It takes a less aggressive tone and doesn't put anyone on the defensive.
I believe a better question would simply be: "Should honorably discharged veterans be allowed to shop at military exchanges?" It takes a less aggressive tone and doesn't put anyone on the defensive.
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Are we really going to compare the sacrifices of 20 retirees and " meh, tried it and got out" vets? Come on now... I understand you got hurt, but in fairness it's hard anyone with some time in that isn't broken in some way... Especially retirees
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SSgt (Join to see)
"meh, tried it and got out" vets? Com'n brother, Vet is a more than sufficient label.
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I agree with most...while your service is honorable and certainly significant, some benefits have to be limited. That would be like saying you should get a percentage of retirement benefits.
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The way you asked the question practically demands that people disagree with you and say Yes. My questions are: Is it too costly to allow veterans access to aafes? Your problem is that you can't get access to the store without an ID and if they create the bureaucracy and spend the money to make every Veteran an ID would it overwhelm the system? I don't know but it's an interesting topic. Good Luck.
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Yes, I believe honorably discharged veterans deserve to retain Exchange/Commissary privileges.
That said, I think you should rethink your talking points. I retired after 20 years active duty in the Army. To compare apples to apples, I will only site my last five years, not my entire career. From 2006-2011, I deployed to Iraq twice for a total of 27 months: one 15-month tour and one 12-month tour, with 12 months back at home between tours, much of which was recovery from the first tour, and training to prepare for the second, so not a lot of family time. Also, when we left home station for the first, we thought we were going for 12 months. After we got there, we found out we were extended to 15. While I too held a support MOS (not infantry, armor or artillery), I completed 25 combat patrols outside the wire.
Maybe would limit access for non-retirees to Combat veterans: Army recipients of Combat Action, Infantryman's or Medic's Badge, USN/USMC recipients of the Combat Action Ribbon and USAF recipients of the AF Combat Medal.
That said, I think you should rethink your talking points. I retired after 20 years active duty in the Army. To compare apples to apples, I will only site my last five years, not my entire career. From 2006-2011, I deployed to Iraq twice for a total of 27 months: one 15-month tour and one 12-month tour, with 12 months back at home between tours, much of which was recovery from the first tour, and training to prepare for the second, so not a lot of family time. Also, when we left home station for the first, we thought we were going for 12 months. After we got there, we found out we were extended to 15. While I too held a support MOS (not infantry, armor or artillery), I completed 25 combat patrols outside the wire.
Maybe would limit access for non-retirees to Combat veterans: Army recipients of Combat Action, Infantryman's or Medic's Badge, USN/USMC recipients of the Combat Action Ribbon and USAF recipients of the AF Combat Medal.
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