Will veterans ever be given access to the fitness center?

2022-10-20T10:13:43-04:00

Why are we able to shop at the commissary and NEX but cant utilize the fitness center? It would be nice to be able to keep our health up and stay fit in an environment thats familiar and suitable to our needs.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Oct 20 at 2022 10:51 AM

2022-10-20T10:51:00-04:00

The short answer is money. Allowing more people to spend money on base helps maintain the Commissary and exchange and also helps re-affirm their need to prevent them from being reduced, removed or otherwise disappeared by folks looking to improve the budget. It's much harder to remove something that is cost effective and/or makes a profit. Many of us are old enough to remember the witch hunt that has been base closures and also the ever changing Hours of operation trying to maximize profit for the commissary and exchanges.

Giving more access to the gym isn't a major priority because it's a harder sale to make. The best way to create change is start petitioning and contacting your elected officials. It wasn't that long ago that Eligible Veterans were given the greenlight letting Vets get base access.

Response by COL Randall C. made Oct 20 at 2022 11:13 AM

2022-10-20T11:13:10-04:00

SGT Elisha Johnson, I think I've finally reached the point with people asking variations of "why am I not entitled to the stuff I had when I was an active servicemember?*" that I'm going to say something that you're going to think is harsh. Being a veteran does not mean that the military will continue to provide for you until you're dead.

There are a lot of benefits that the military gives to veterans.
There are a lot of benefits that private corporations give to veterans.
There are a lot of benefits that society gives to veterans.

If you want to stay fit in an environment that's familiar and suitable to your needs... get up at 0430, put on your old PT stuff, stand in a formation with your family, do calisthenics and then run two miles. If you want to go beyond that (likely), then go check out some discounted gym memberships*

If you wanted to be treated like an active military member, then you should have stayed as an active military servicemember.

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* Not necessarily 'active duty', but 'active servicemember' from any of the different COMPOs.
* discounted gym memberships - https://veteran.com/military-discounts-gyms-health-clubs/

Military Discounts at Gyms and Health Clubs

List of Gym and Health Club chains that offer military discounts and savings on membership and enrollment fees.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2022 1:26 PM

2022-10-20T13:26:00-04:00

Why do so many veterans feel entitled to so much? When I retire, I'm absolutely avoiding any military base I can unless I have to go on it. I am putting away all my Army stuff. I might keep one of each uniform that's about it.

The PX and commissary are not in any way similar to the fitness centers. Don't you think the priority should be active duty servicemembers to utilize them - especially in the Army with the ACFT we have more weight lifting? Despite that, there are still some leaders who don't even want us to use the gym. But I can tell you right now, ones I was in before covid (I don't go since if I can help it I bought my own equipment and have a mini gym in my spare room) it filled up pretty quick with active duty.

If you are that concerned about your health and fitness, you'll find a way on your own. Plenty of gyms have just regular discounts or specials or deals. You're not getting anything better out of a military base gym than you would off base either.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2022 3:44 PM

2022-10-20T15:44:53-04:00

Since when are gym memberships free?! If you took off the uniform, you're not paying your gym dues anymore. Simple as that. ;)

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Oct 20 at 2022 10:43 PM

2022-10-20T22:43:29-04:00

Note: Original question was edited. My original response here has been edited SIGNIFICANTLY in kind. Below comments which were posted pre-edit may not make sense in context or may imply agreement with a completely different sentiment or context. *end note*

Do you remember trying to get in to the gym during PT time? Most of the places I was stationed, you had to book the local fitness center weeks, if not months, in advance. Even the places we had a fitness center that "belonged" to my BN or BDE.

Yes, there are down times for those gyms. But, generally speaking, many of them are already operating at, near, or sometimes even above capacity. Especially when we start considering manning the facilities and keeping them clean.

The areas they have recently opened to vets, generally speaking, do not have capacity problems. AAFES and DeCA are both business operations that can flex staffing based on increased use - and the increased use pays for the staffing.

Now, if you wanted to maybe look at having gym membership fees to pay for additional staffing and maintenance, I could maybe see that as a workable compromise. Your comment elsewhere about PTSD may be relevant to that discussion. I personally don't see a linkage there, but I do not have PTSD and I am not a psychiatrist, so I withhold judgment on the merits of the argument, and leave it at "you'll need to convince me, but I'm open to being convinced."

In the meantime, I understand you are looking for a gym that is a good fit for the veterans who want to continue to "get after it" without being judged and where they may have a sense of camaraderie. I can personally speak to Planet Fitness's non-judgmental atmosphere, but the latter part of camaraderie is definitely lacking. But I would guess - and this is just a guess - that it is kind of like church-shopping. Every time you move, you have to go to a few (or a couple dozen) churches to find one that "feels right." But if you shop hard enough, you *can* find one. Especially if you are in a true city, and not a one-stoplight-town. Which most places that are close enough to a military base that using the on-base gyms is practical , ALSO have a large enough community outside the gate to make gym-searching (or church-shopping) possible.

It is not a problem I have. Since I retired, I have run exactly four times. Two of those something was on fire, and the other two were chasing my stupid dog. But I wish you the best of luck in your search for a good fit.

Response by PO2 Wayne Cooke made Jul 29 at 2023 12:25 PM

2023-07-29T12:25:22-04:00

I knew that we could shop at the Nex online. I had no idea that we could shop in store and at the commissary now. When did that happen? I do see on the Va website that the veteran does have to meet certain criteria. I posted the link with the requirements below.

https://www.va.gov/resources/commissary-and-exchange-privileges-for-veterans/#:~:text=In%20the%20U.S.%2C%20you%20may,and%20were%20honorably%20discharged%2C%20or

VA.gov | Veterans Affairs