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

These days, the Exchange system is not really a benefit. Prices are higher than out in town, selection of merchandise is worse, and the technology is usually out of date. I haven't shopped regularly at Exchanges for almost 20 years...

The only place they (and Commissaries) really make a difference is OUTUS (including HI and AK) where prices are so much higher...

I'm not going to vote down your comment, but, no, you don't "deserve" more than you contracted for. I'm sorry for your disability and I honor your service, but you did not do as much as retirees, who put themselves on a potential deployment list continuously for at least 20 years, whether they actually got deployed or not.

Of course, I think the exchanges kind of suck, at least compared to 20 years ago, so I'd be wondering why anyone would want to make a big deal of this. You are exempt from buying Medical insurance under Obamacare, because of your 30%, while many of our brothers and sisters still get screwed, whether they deployed or not. Retired reservists do not qualify for government-supplied medical care until they turn 60, which for many can be 22 years for someone who went in at age 18. Then, it goes over to Medicare at age 65, so not much is gained.

I am still amazed by the fact that 26% said yes they do......

I think people who are on disability should also get access, I think it would make it more fair. The reason I say this is because unlike people who voluntarily leave the service, people who get disability might of stayed 21 years if they had not gotten injured which was probably not their fault. I was put out for disability because the surgery on my injury that the military took half a year to believe I had was botched, that was not my fault.

People who voluntarily separate, no they shouldn't they choose on there own to leave.

Hahahahah. "A little more time." First, I don't think their discounts were very good. Second, I served 5 years in the Marine Corps, and spent 6 months in the Philippines and 6 months in Afghanistan and don't feel the slightest bit of entitlement that you do. Third, retirees generally retire near a base with these amenities, and I'm fairly certain there isn't anything too close to Sioux Falls, SD. I'm good with all the discounts that other retailers proudly give ( and that's likely why us short-timers don't need AAFES.).

This is rediculous. We're not talking about walmart here. AAFES is an entitlement to service members and retirees. If you feel like your 7 months of combat entitle you to special previlages then maybe you should open your own store. You can allow access to whomever you wish. There are many prior military that would love to shop at your store. The disciplinary chapters have combat experience also. Let not forget about them drug users that fought in the invasion. Or the many other rabble that also have combat experience. Face it, if you don't retire then you lose certain benefits, combat experience does not justify all desires.

So, I commented without reading your post all of the way through.

Here goes...

First off, I think you are trying to troll RP and the service memebers, retirees, and veterans on here. Your self entitled attitude says it all. You did one 7 month deployement to Iraq and left the wire a bunch of times? Really? Good for you. I watched the same MP's, Grunts, and Engineers leave the wire daily while I was there. They were there when I got there and stayed long after I left. You did not do anything near as hard as any of them. I do not care what your AFSC was nor what detail(s) you were on.

Something else, "a bit longer" shows me you have no true idea or comprehension of time.

You completed 5 years in the Air Force. That is almost as hard as completing 3 years as a Girl Scout. How does that make you feel?

Try seeing something bigger than yourself for a change.

Here's the scoop, Snoop. You left service after 5 years. That means you also left the privilages you had for said service.

What do you mean by, "Wearing my kit?" I never heard of that before. In the AF we call that really heavy vest an "Individual Body Armor" (IBA). If you wore something heavy on your head it was most likely a Kevlar Helmet... or K-Pot.

Feel free to message me if you want to discuss this further.

Have a great day.

Sorry, but if you want to enjoy the benefits of military service (Active Duty, Reserve/Guard, and Retiree) you should have kept serving. Once you decided to no longer serve you forfeit the benefits of that service.

Do non-retirees deserve AAFES as much as retirees. Simple answer - NO.

But don't worry, you're really not missing much.