Why not give Aafes Priveledges to Combat Vets?

Question

I understand that Retirees of the Military earned the benefit of life long Aafes access and agree it is the least the country can do for them, but why is a combat veteran who went to war for this country not worthy of that same simple benefit?
What would be the cost? Wouldnt Aafes profit? Wouldnt it be a rather simple benefit to provide? Couldnt Aaafes at least allow online shopping only without the need for those vets to access military bases in person?
This is a TINY thing to provide comparitively to what vets have done for Aaafes. When I was in Iraq I had to pay crazy prices at Aafes. Aafes made a huge profit off sodiers.
How many retirees will respond saying we are not worthy?

Answer 1

Your suggestion would be fine with me, but accounting for those combat vets so that Joe Blow from Fort living room doesn't get through would be a nightmare.

And as far as savings at AAFES? please, you save on taxes but , I heard at one time that certain civilian stores were complaining that AAFES was unfair to them, I wonder what became of that.

AAFES cannot by law make a profit so lots of cash goes into the moral support fund on each base.

Answer 2

Have to agree with the above poster's. Have been in the Air Force almost 19 years and I rarely buy anything at the BX/PX since most items I need are cheaper on the economy. The only benefit the exchange has it tax free, and they do put money back into base functions such as MWR. If you have the time, which most of us do not, you can compare prices outside of AAFES and they are supposed to price match.

Giving them benefits to shop at AAFES would not be much of a benefit.

Answer 3

Well I have been to Iraq too. And I have not seen inflated prices by Aafes there, in fact they seemed pretty reasonable to me. But in order to shop at Aafes you must have a military ID card. That is the problem. By issuing ID cards to former military could be security risk.

But I think that on-line access only would not be to much to ask. But Vets do have more substantial befits than shopping tax free.

Answer 4

If you are released on a medical discharge due to an injury recieved in combat then you are medically retired and allowed AAFES priveleges. Or if you serve for 20 and take a retirement. Otherwise you made the decision to get out of the military and leave that part of your life behind.
I am all for veterans priveleges. I have served in two wars, joined the VFW and continue to buy drinks for vets even if they didn't see combat, but I think you're missing the purpose of AAFES here.
AAFES policy is designed as a benefit for Mil members and their families. An extra "thanks" for serving. If you've been to a stateside BX or PX then you know that 80% of the shoppers there on weekends are Retired Military. Already it's hard enough to compete for a benefit that should primarily go to those currently serving. Example. Last Christmas my daugther wanted a 'Baby Alive" doll. I headed up to the BX to retrieve it and found they had sold out. While picking up other items I noticed that there were many retirees who had gotten there earlier and had already selected this item(presumibly for thier grandkids..I hope!). So I was left without. I had to go to Wal Mart to get one. Now why couldn't the roles have been reversed? Why is it that a currently serving mil member(I was activated at the time) can't get something at a Base resource ahead of a retired member?
Although it may seem from the previous paragraph that I may be anti-retiree NOTHING could be further from the truth!!!! I support Retirees and will join them to fight for thier rights. Just that I think in situations like AAFES and Base Priveleges priority should go to Active Duty Members. AAFES isn't like Target. They arent allowed 50,000 units per store of any item. This is because AAFES buys stock out of thier own pockets and resells it. They aren't a publicly traded company.
Opening the doors would drastically reduce availability for the ones whom the system was designed for. As a result less Mil members would shop at AAFES and profits for MWR activities would go down(although you may tell all vets that they can still go to AAFES few would. It's just easier and cheaper on gas, not to mention time, to go to WalMart. Maybe 10% of all vets would take AAFES up on the offer).
I am a Mil Member currently serving, not a retiree, so here's my response to your "not worthy" question.
Retirees CHOSE to serve until retirement. for that they get priveleges. Anyone who gets out of the Mil prior to that CHOOSES to leave thier priveleges behind. A conscious decision. As with any decision there are pros and cons. AAFES priveleges happen to be the con in this case.

Answer 5

Exchange privileges are for active duty, retirees, their dependents and totally-disabled veterans and their dependents. And military exchanges are non-appropriated activities. That means they get no direct support from any money allocated to the military by the Congress, as does the military commissary system. The profits earned from exchange sales are used for further capital construction and donations to the morale, welfare and recreation funds of the various services.
So, your contention that combat vets don't get exchange shopping privileges is somewhat in error. Those veterans who have been rated as disabled (70% or more) by the VA do get base shopping privileges including the commissary stores.

Answer 6

As one who uses the local base commissary and exchange, I find that not all items are a bargain, and some are higher then at Wall-Mart.
However, the only real good deal is that all shopping is sales tax exempt.
I myself feel that all veterans should be allowed base privileges, but it's simply not that way.
Only retirees, those with 100% service connected disabilities and military contractors can use base facilities.

Answer 7

Veterans have access to the VA Canteen... I beleive that the Canteen is going to link up online to Aafes in the near future. Mind you, this is only for their online catalog, which I don't know if they sell everything in the store. I don't know if true or not, but just what I heard

Answer 8

you extra effective bypass study the guidelines on the famous individual card returned.....you nonetheless have an open account, given which you owe money. That card isn't stable and is to no longer be used.....as a rely of fact you have been meant to inform them interior of 30 days of leaving the militia to establish a clean value plan with them...AAFES figuring out to purchase is an energetic accountability privelege......which retirees save after serving a minimum of two many years honorably.......try against or no longer try against has ntohing to do with it.

Answer 9

Sorry, but I'll have to disagree. As many have already stated, for the most part it is cheaper to shop in town than on base at the BX/PX. When we have been stationed stateside, I went shopped AAFES very rarely! I got better deals at Target!
The BX serves it purpose when it provide goods for those who are deployed to forward operating areas and American items to those of us stationed overseas. As an AF spouse living in the UK, we cannot afford to go downtown shopping for many common items. Hmmm, pay £15 ($32) for a game or pay $12 for it on base. Pay £30 ($65) for a pair of jeans or pay $15.
For those of you who served honorably, thank you. But, you made the choice to leave the service and not stay in for 20+ years. And, as a result, there are some privileges that you gave up.

Answer 10

if prices at AAFES are so crazy, it's not a benefit to the soldier