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

Yes, we sacrificed a lot more than some who has done less than 20 or more years.

The only way this would work for all that served but didn't retire or reach 100% is to issue all a VA card and that would have to be shown like an active or retirement ID.
But I would think this would benifits everyone because of all the extra people who would be buying from AAFES.

If you can count how many times you "left the wire"...you didn't leave it enough. AAFES regs should not change for this war just like it didn't for any of the previous conflicts.

Being a veteran of this war I find many of my "peers" seem to have a misplaced sense of entitlement. We are not special in any way...do your 20 or get service connected enough to warrant the use of AAFES facilities.

Nope, Most retirees have done much more to deserve that access and privelage.

What were the regs when you went in? You probably knew up front what was going to happen when you got out. Don't cry about it now and don't tell me you did as much as any retiree: 1. did you spend 3 years in the South Pacific, before you saw your family? 2. Did you spend 2 3years in Korea before you were able to come home and see your family? 3. Did you spend a year in Vietnam, before you came home and not see you eldest son off to Vietnam? did you spend 28 years in the Military. My father did all of the above, so don't go belly-aching about 5 years and a 7 month deployment. Get a life and quit whinning, grow up for crying out loud. You signed on the dotted line and knew what benefits you were going to get, 30% for carrying a ruck...get over it.

Actually, most stores in my area offer Vets a 10% percent discount. All you have to do is say I am a Vet. I, myself, have worked many years in retail Management after leaving the Corps. I suggest if you truly want to save money, then do research on wholesale merchandise suppliers. A lot of them do not require you buy in bulk and you can save up to 70% or more off retail price. Even the ones who require a minimuim bulk purchase can save you if you couple your order with other family members who use the same products. Yes, you have to spend the time doing the research to locate true wholesalers but if you want to truly save money it is worth it. For example the knife Pic I am posting. This knife has a retail value of $24.99 but by purchasing them through a wholesaler ( I had to buy a case which had 12 knives in it) I paid only $3.75 per knife. AAFES is no better to me than a Walmarts, Kmarts etc. Now I was always told that the Air Force attracted the most intelligent people than any other department, if a Jarhead like me can figure this out and use my intelligence to not only save but actually resale items to friends and family, thereby saving them money and actually turning a profit for myself, surely you can quit whining and use the brain God gave you also.

As long as it was Honorable discharged and you have a VA ID I think you should be able to AFFES....your still a soldier in my book. but I'm told my opinion doesn't matter much.

From a business perspective I think its a good idea to have more potential customers. For me it doesn't matter I didn't use AAFES that much anyways when I was active duty. Now that I'm a contractor I go inside a few times a year, and don't find anything worthwhile for me that I couldn't find a better deal online. I wouldn't have an issue if it was opened up to any veteran with a service connected disability.

Good choice remaining annonymous. You should be careful when you say " I put in my time as much as anyone". When you leave ANY employer, you lose benefits. One benefit to staying in would be the AAFES access. It is the right and benefit of those who serve and those who qualify. Now, I have more than 26 years in and I don't deserve to shop there any more than the E3 or 1LT while a member of their branch. Nor do I diminish the service of those who stuck it out for 20 or more years to earn the right to shop there. It was they who paved the way for this country. Well deserved I say. However, we all make choices that have consequences. Some beyond our control. But when we make them we must understand that it goes with the territory.
No, you do not have the RIGHT any longer. Not to the AAFES, Commisary, GI Bill, Tuition Assistance and a host of other things.

I don't agree, Of course they do - but not for the reasons you may think.

I served 10 years Active duty. I don't miss the benefit and if it's something retirees cherish, great... They deserve it. I think the least we can give 20+ year warriors are some discounts.

Here's why I am _aggressively_ anti-AAFES:

1. They prey off soldiers, especially lower enlisted.
I cannot count the number of times I was faced with lower enlisted soldiers, who were basically issued an AAFES Card and ran into financial difficulty.

**AAFES does not issue credit cards in the same manner as most financial institutions. If your in the service, you'll get a card. There is one reason for this: They don't have to abide by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. They also don't have to abide by credit collections laws. AAFES has a direct line to DFAS and can generate a no pay due on a whim. No matter your marital status, or if you have dependents. If you have a dispute - you will lose. There is no contesting, no warning, even if they are wrong. It will take a very long time (after the fact) to get your money back if they took it in error. In the mean time, soldiers will be begging and taking loans from AER just to feed their families and/or themselves (See item 4). Even when money is owed, there is no payment structure. AAFES will take all of the service members pay until it is re-payed.**

2. AAFES as an organization is a club of retired Officers (No offense intended) which does not have the best interest of soldiers at heart.

3. There are better options for discounts (CONUS) than fueling this government sponsored 'company'. One of which is contracting out with companies such as Wal-Mart, Costco, BJs, Sams Club, Target, Grocery Chains etc, and subsidizing a tax-exempt discount card for Active Duty and Retirees. This would eliminate the incredibly costly overhead bore by this Non-Appropriated Fund (NAF). Cost savings would be astronomical. Currently the prices aren't that much better anyway. Discounts could be greatly expanded by contracting this function. This solution would also make the benefit available to retirees and service members who are not local to a military installation.
Caveat for OCONUS and remote locations where some of these private businesses are not available. AAFES should still be offered at these locations.

4. AER isn't really relief (In many cases). The Army presents this as such a great institution, but I've often seen soldiers (my soldiers) who really needed it get saddled with loan repayments which are impossible to meet. Soldiers who genuinely should have qualified for a grant ... denied. ...18+/- years of asset reserves and $350M in AER coffers and you can't give a hardship grant to a struggling E-3?

--Additional miscellaneous gripe: At the Commissary, Most of the customers are active duty soldiers who don't need someone to carry bags to the car. They also make these baggers beg for tips. What company would get away with that any where else? Pay them and provide the service to retirees or medically retired personnel who actually need the assistance.