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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Vets, retirees, and service members should equally have access. None are better or more deserving!
As a matter of fact. AAFES, and the other stored need all the help they can to keep from going under!
Make the stores more competitive with civilian markets. Just don't make them like Walmart, where they destroy family businesses.
As a matter of fact. AAFES, and the other stored need all the help they can to keep from going under!
Make the stores more competitive with civilian markets. Just don't make them like Walmart, where they destroy family businesses.
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I think it should be open to purple heart recipients...but that's just me.
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I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that AAFES is run on a "for profit" basis.
With that said, I would think that it would be a smart business practice to allow anyone who has "on base" privileges to shop there. After all, most stores spend millions a year on advertising trying to get people in the door.
That said, the question could be phrased better... it sounds very Entitlement Mentality.
With that said, I would think that it would be a smart business practice to allow anyone who has "on base" privileges to shop there. After all, most stores spend millions a year on advertising trying to get people in the door.
That said, the question could be phrased better... it sounds very Entitlement Mentality.
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MAJ David Vermillion
I am a retiree and I don't think I deserve anything more than the active service men and woman, I just want access to the PX/BX. We are one and we don't need more things that divide us.
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SSgt Troy Allen
After cost of goods sold and overhead is covered by sales, anything left over (ie, AAFES "profit") goes to funding MWR programs. This is a good reason to allow honorable discharged veterans the right to shop at the online store. Shopping at the online store avoids the cost of extra base/post security required to handle the additional traffic.
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I believe that AAFES and the Exchanges ,should be available to Active Service Members, retirees, and veterans.
They need all the support they can get from us. Perhaps the prices could eventually become more reasonable, and competitive with civilian markets!
They need all the support they can get from us. Perhaps the prices could eventually become more reasonable, and competitive with civilian markets!
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YOU DESERVE? You worked/served, you got paid. You knew the risks, and you could have gone on a civilian career, but you decided to serve (in the military). You came to your senses/ got tired/ find a better job, etc, and got out. Tell me, at what point you started to "deserve" the virtually unlimited support of the taxpayers? I am sure that if you "deserve" that, you will deserve a bunch of other things along the line, right?
Welfare mentality, that is all it is.
Welfare mentality, that is all it is.
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Yes, retirees deserve to have access to AAFES. It's just that simple. It would be nice for all veterans to have access, but that doesn't make you entitled to it. This is just the way it is.
In regard to the rest of your cry baby post, stfu! No one cares what you or anyone else has done on deployment, it makes no difference what you think your service should entitle you to. It really has no bearing on the question you posed, but you included it and stayed anonymous so your friends wouldn't laugh at the absurdity of it all. Wearing your KIT shouldn't injure you, maybe you needed to invest more time in the gym to be able to wear it. I wore, and still wear, full kit...longer than you ever dreamed of and I'm not injured. Probably because I'm not a freaking baby and I make sure that I maintain my physical fitness. Get it together man, you are an Air Force stereotype.
In regard to the rest of your cry baby post, stfu! No one cares what you or anyone else has done on deployment, it makes no difference what you think your service should entitle you to. It really has no bearing on the question you posed, but you included it and stayed anonymous so your friends wouldn't laugh at the absurdity of it all. Wearing your KIT shouldn't injure you, maybe you needed to invest more time in the gym to be able to wear it. I wore, and still wear, full kit...longer than you ever dreamed of and I'm not injured. Probably because I'm not a freaking baby and I make sure that I maintain my physical fitness. Get it together man, you are an Air Force stereotype.
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Maybe you should have joined the reserves. Then you could still shop at the BX.
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I spent 11 years active duty Marine. and had to get out due to the draw down and reaching service limitations at the same time, during the Clinton years. I loved being a Marine I believe that I should have these privileges the same as a retiree not that I deserve more but I believe my time was worth something. Can you imagine driving by something you love and put sweat in and all the sudden you can't be a part of it anymore. We don't get paid for retirement because we didn't do the time. I believe though if you spent time on active duty and we're discharged honorably you should get those on base privileges.
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