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

No. A retiree with 20+ years of service should have access. If every Tom, Dick, Harry and Jane that served a 3 year enlistment is granted access it will overwhelm the system and deprive true retirees from some products and services. This topic has been beat to death and just because a troop couldn't properly load and adjust the straps on his kit does NOT qualify because he left the wire 10 times. Retirees only. Enough Said.

7 months in Iraq, huh? Since I've been on active duty, I've spent more time than that cleaning my weapons.

I don't mean to degrade your service, but there's a HUGE difference in someone who served for 6 years, and someone spending 20-30 years of their life in the military, deploying to multiple theaters to counter all sorts of threats, having to uproot the family every 1-3 years, etc. In my almost 23 years of active service, I've spent more than 15 years serving away from my family. You miss being able to shop at the AAFES? I miss my FAMILY.

I don't deserve it MORE than you, I deserve it, PERIOD. You don't.

Lastly, have the guts to show yourself and not hide behind some anonymous posting. It takes courage to be in the military...perhaps that's the reason you got out in the first place.

Yes, to a point. I believe that if you are a disabled Veteran, or a combat veteran then by all means let them have access to the Exchanges of all military services. However, there should also be a cut off on the disability rating that would qualify for such visits.

From where I sit, a smaller active duty force and their families can always us more MWR funds, which requires more spending on post at AAFES and MWR facilities. Why not open things up to all honorably discharged veterans who have a VA ID Card?

I certainly didn't stay in 30 years for AAFEES benefits. But I think all those that have served should be entitled to the benefit. I really don't have a problem with it.

5 years in the AF with 7 months in Iraq?! Wow... How'd you do it? Somebody get this guy a Silver Star w/ V device... C'mon now.... It's AAFES.... Go get your Affliction shirts at the mall like all the rest of the kids....

I now a NAVY SEAL who got out at 19 years - He is entitled to NO benefits and I am sure has done a whole lot more than 7 months out of the wire...

The comment "I deserve AAFES access as much as any retiree" just puts a horrible taste in my mouth. I've seen this sense of entitlement in several forms, and it really puts me off. Why? Because we sound like a bunch of insolent little children throwing a tantrum.

On Veteran's Day 2014, I weighed in on a discussion on my hospital forum in which a couple of veterans started a discussion complaining about how they didn't get free breakfasts when they had to work on veterans day....they "only" had a ceremony that was put on by the hospital to acknowledge veterans (which they couldn't attend because they were working).

Here's the deal: Why did you join? I joined because I love my country and I got tired of watching my friends blown up or on frequent combat tours. There are benefits that I will get now as a veteran that are not afforded to non veterans, and there are benefits to combat veterans that are not afforded to me. Then there are benefits to retirees that aren't afforded to even combat veterans.

Additionally, I would like to point out a specific vocabulary term. BENEFIT is something that is given to you as a condition of meeting an expectation/standard, an ENTITLEMENT is something that is automatic and universal. You have benefits already afforded to you as a result of your disability that are not afforded to others, such as free access to the VA for healthcare and prescriptions. Some states offer free hunting/fishing license and discounts on other government services. You have benefits afforded to you such as your MGIB/post-9/11 GI Bill that are afforded for your completion of services. During the time of your deployment, your healthcare was free and you were paid reasonably well, plus tax breaks. These are all things that were given to you by the government as a thank you.

Then you have the "I did 7 months in Iraq." Thank you. I'm not a combat vet, and am not trying to diminish that, but I have several friends that have done multiple combat tours and are not allowed to shop at AAFES either. They are grateful to have had the opportunity to serve and look back on that time with the usual mixed emotions. Some of them left the wire far more often, and still they are grateful for their experiences. Your service in the military has afforded you many benefits that would not otherwise have been available to you. AAFES is simply not one of those benefits. Rather than being upset for that one benefit, try to consider the other methods in which your service has benefitted your life. I know that the 30% paycheck from disability isn't enough to life off of, but I do know that it's enough that it will offset what you would have saved from shopping at AAFES. Now, combine that with free medical care for the LOD-related condition. See all the ways you are CONTINUING to benefit from the military? Maybe not enough to buy a car, but it can help offset groceries.
v/r,
CPT Butler

The only reason I voted ‘No’ to this is… Myself just being an 8yr total service veteran, when I departed from active duty, I didn't expect that any perks to active service would follow me into civilian life. This Dec (2015) will be 23 years since separating from the military, and I have yet to enroll with the VA or use any benefit other than my VA-Loan, which I've used once. I guess I’m just “old school” in the thinking that; I didn't have it before I went in, why would I expect it after getting out without going all the way to the end game (retirement)? That said… I have 8 years, 2 months and 7 days until I reach 30 years with my current employer, and yes I will be expecting everything due to me for this completed stint of service.

You say you have done 5 years and did a 7 month your down range and those should be the reasons you have base access. Sorry to say I can agree with you, for example I have 12 yrs and 5 combat deployments (still active) as well as countless others. It seems you want to take advantage of the benefits without the work, you speak on those who have retired that's 20 years of service or more. Trying to compare 5 yrs and a deployment to 20 years of service is kind of an insult.