Posted on Apr 2, 2015
Do Retirees Really “Deserve” Access to AAFES Stores More Than Non-Retirees?
356K
5.46K
1.25K
64
-44
108
* 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 9 y ago
Responses: 625
2
2
0
Terrible job trying to make your point here, but in the interest of discussion, what would be the argument to keep SM's who retired with an Honorable discharge from having access to these things? I know people will say that it is only for retirees but lets all be honest for a second, when someone decides to do the 20 the PX/BX/Comm are much lower on the list than Health insurance and pay. Plus AAFES and DECA are still running businesses and they need customers. What would be wrong with this option?
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
This is a question that I always see causes division and opinions.
I think anyone that served should get the benefit. Why divide us up among our brothers and sisters?
I hear all the time "I lost a leg, served for 15 and someone that served for 5 years should get AAFES benefits? Absurd!"
What is absurd is people that served honorably, who gave, who risked their lives also, who went through hardships, being divided and treated like a civilian by their peers. That is what bothers me.
I think anyone that served should get the benefit. Why divide us up among our brothers and sisters?
I hear all the time "I lost a leg, served for 15 and someone that served for 5 years should get AAFES benefits? Absurd!"
What is absurd is people that served honorably, who gave, who risked their lives also, who went through hardships, being divided and treated like a civilian by their peers. That is what bothers me.
(2)
(0)
Cpl Paul Smith
That is my opinion too. It's not as though everyone lives close enough to a base to be that much of an impact. I would visit once every couple of months though. It would greatly increase the income potential and save jobs. If it was too much hassle, I wouldn't go, so that would reduce the traffic.
(1)
(0)
2
2
0
2
2
0
None of us, active, veteran, or retired are entitled to anything. We are all given a lot of benefits for our service, but no we are not entitled to anything. So please put your big boy pants/big girl panties on and deal with it.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
Sure, why not? As long as they got out under honorable conditions. If allowing these potential customers into PX/BX locations means AAFES doesn't have to raise prices or charge taxes or whatever, sure.
(2)
(0)
SPC (Join to see)
Some people get hurt during training and do not finish through no fault of their own. They should also be allowed because they did try to serve their country and the spirit of service is there.
(3)
(0)
2
2
0
I have thought the same thing. Who is really losing here? The PX or PBX is. Each year thousands don't reenlist. The reasons range from injuries, reduction in force, not wanting to deploy again and family issues. During the World Wars, most veterans served 3 or 4 years and were done. My grandfather was in the Navy during WWII and served 8 years and was considered the "old man" on ship.
Why don't we rate to continue to provide espirit DE corps and financial support to the base stores?
Why don't we rate to continue to provide espirit DE corps and financial support to the base stores?
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
I really hope this post is a joke. You're justification of why you feel you "deserve" access to the exchange is about as disgusting as a dependent saying they deserves a salute due to the rank of their spouse. "Ten days outside the wire"... That's cute, what did you do for the other 200 days of your deployment?
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
There is discussion for vets to also be able to use aafes.com
I think that is great. The more business put through AAFES, the better their buying power.
I think that is great. The more business put through AAFES, the better their buying power.
(2)
(0)
SSgt Troy Allen
SFC (Join to see) - Again, you are focused on the wrong issue. Let me put this as clearly and simply as I possibly can:
As troop drawdowns continue, the Exchanges will not have the leverage to buy merchandise at attractive prices. The Exchanges can only operate if they can pay for the cost of goods sold plus admin/overhead. Everything left after that goes to MWR programs. If enough servicemembers stop shopping at the Exchanges due to high prices, the Exchanges will close. There will be no Exchange benefit. No payouts to MWR programs. No nothing. Benefit gone.
However, if honorably discharged veterans can shop at the online store, it will give Exchange buying teams more leverage to buy merchandise for the stores and online at more attractive prices.
What part of this concept do you not understand? It's a fairly simple business equation.
As troop drawdowns continue, the Exchanges will not have the leverage to buy merchandise at attractive prices. The Exchanges can only operate if they can pay for the cost of goods sold plus admin/overhead. Everything left after that goes to MWR programs. If enough servicemembers stop shopping at the Exchanges due to high prices, the Exchanges will close. There will be no Exchange benefit. No payouts to MWR programs. No nothing. Benefit gone.
However, if honorably discharged veterans can shop at the online store, it will give Exchange buying teams more leverage to buy merchandise for the stores and online at more attractive prices.
What part of this concept do you not understand? It's a fairly simple business equation.
(0)
(0)
SSgt Troy Allen
Cpl Paul Smith - Right now there is high-level discussion about allowing honorably discharged veterans to shop at the online store shopmyexchange.com but not at the brick-and-mortar stores.
(1)
(0)
SFC (Join to see)
I haven't misunderstood anything here. Prices have always been high and about the same as the outside businesses but what i see here is that vets that are out think they are entitled to keep using facilities that are intended for serving members and retirees. Just because the world is in everyone is entitled to everything does not mean it is right. If you want access to those things do the work involved and continue to serve, but you either got out for personal reasons or were forced out, but either way stop trying get something you don't deserve. Hell go into the reserves and you can continue to enjoy the finer things in life again. Otherwise let the ones that are serving currently or retired worry about whether or not the commissary or exchanges will remain open
(0)
(0)
SSgt Troy Allen
SFC (Join to see) - I hope the DoD finally agrees to allow honorably discharged veterans to use shopmyexchange.com. If that fails to happen, I'm fairly confident the Exchanges and MWR benefits will disappear because they rely on self-funding (NAF). The commissary benefit is different because it is subsidized.
I've made my case. I disagree with yours. So be it.
I've made my case. I disagree with yours. So be it.
(0)
(0)
2
2
0
What about two-year enlistment guys? Them too? Or the medical drops from BCT before completion? Them too? Nah, retirement=benefits. Holding what we have for those qualified for them is hard enough.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
Veterans have a similarly run online shopping service called "Veterans Canteen Service" (VCS) and have some small outlet stores at each of the VA Medical Centers in the U.S. It's a relatively new concept over the past couple years and has been expanding.
http://www.vacanteen.va.gov/RetailOperations.php
As well, Some of the Army MWR resorts have been opening up certain times of the year to all Honorably discharged Veterans. http://www.shadesofgreen.org/Veterans_Special15.pdf
In the bigger picture, Any Veteran below the 100% level has expanded services more than ever before, yet there needs to be some availability for active duty and their families for the many MWR operations, to include Base exchange and Commissaries and are priority in this, with Retirees and 100% Disabled Vets and their families taking the back seat on availability of services.
I can as a retiree argue that I should be entitled to things like DFAC services on base. After all, many active duty service members don't actually use them. Yet, many base DFACs don't allow retirees access to them and I'm cool with that, just like many Veterans who are not Medically (30% or more DoD) Retired, 100% Disabled with the VA and such are cool with the fact that they are not entitled to continued access to Military bases, that includes Exchange and Commissary privileges, as it goes to this being a benefit for those who have decided to stay on and make a career out of it, up and through retirement after 20+ years. Many who stuck around willing to commit to mulitple deployments and are still subject to recall to active duty for life, even after "retirement". Whereas a discharged Veteran is not.
http://www.vacanteen.va.gov/RetailOperations.php
As well, Some of the Army MWR resorts have been opening up certain times of the year to all Honorably discharged Veterans. http://www.shadesofgreen.org/Veterans_Special15.pdf
In the bigger picture, Any Veteran below the 100% level has expanded services more than ever before, yet there needs to be some availability for active duty and their families for the many MWR operations, to include Base exchange and Commissaries and are priority in this, with Retirees and 100% Disabled Vets and their families taking the back seat on availability of services.
I can as a retiree argue that I should be entitled to things like DFAC services on base. After all, many active duty service members don't actually use them. Yet, many base DFACs don't allow retirees access to them and I'm cool with that, just like many Veterans who are not Medically (30% or more DoD) Retired, 100% Disabled with the VA and such are cool with the fact that they are not entitled to continued access to Military bases, that includes Exchange and Commissary privileges, as it goes to this being a benefit for those who have decided to stay on and make a career out of it, up and through retirement after 20+ years. Many who stuck around willing to commit to mulitple deployments and are still subject to recall to active duty for life, even after "retirement". Whereas a discharged Veteran is not.
(2)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google