Commissary And Exchange Privileges

[Kelly]

I have started a petition to forward to our elected officials to urge them to get off their sixs and get this legislation passed. Please sign this petition and let your fellow vets know the petition is out there. Thanks

http://www.petitiononline.com/vetpet/petition.html

[john999]

I don't see that retiree or disabled vets get much in the way of benefits besides a check in the mail. I live close to an AFB. I hardly ever go there because I don't want to wait in line at the gate. I don't want to wait in long lines at the BX. I sure don't want to fly standby on some military aircraft unless it is better than Southwest Airlines. If my DOD ID card got me a 15% discount on gasoline or something then it might be worth a damn.

[jimlane1949]

Allen,

I agree with what you said...."If the law says a "disabled vet", has earned the benefit, be it 100% or 30%. Than they've earned it. "

What I am stating is that right now the comissary benefit, space a travel, and for the most part Post/Base Privilages are military retirement benefits. Congress saw the wisdom to give "away" these benefits to those that are rated 100& or TDIU, causing more eroding of military retirement benefits.

My point is that things like comissary, PX/BX, movies, shoppettes, etc are earned benefits by way of a military retirement.

My point is that those that have not earned military retirement have not earned the right to these benefits

just as those that are not retired have not earned the right to a military retirement check, or to military medical benefits. These are all part of the "military retirement package".

You would not expecte a civillian company to give away retirement benefits to someone who is not retired so why does anyone expect the government to give military retiremet benefits to those who are not retired.

The fact is these benefits are not valuable, in fact they really do little to benefit the retiree. And the truth is that the retiree would not be hurt by non-retiree using these benefits. But this is not the point.

What I would like to see is that disabled veterans work for the good of all veterans., not just a select few. By this I mean find a cause... such as revamping the compensation rates for the disabled veterans. As an example why is there almost $1000 difference between those that are 90% and 100%. Or why is there a $1703, difference between 50% and 100% compensation. And why is it the rates (except for COLA) have not increased since 1973.

Just like the dual compensation, or CRCS, veterans seem to work only for a specife group of veterans and to hell with veterans that do not fall into the same catagory as they do. Veterans cause the division between veteran themselfs. Just like DAV, American Legion, PVA etc.. everyone wants to belong to a certain group and only work for good of that group. Makes more sense to unite, and work toward goals that benefit all veterans doesn't it?

Now these are just my humble opinions and just because I have them doesn't mean I am for shafting veterans, it just means that I have an opinion just like the rest of you, and we will never agree on everything.

There are companies cancelling retirement benefits right and left, what about those retirees whospeaks for them?

[Angela]

Ever heard the term "Divide and Conquer". It works!

I've noticed that vets have been divided along lines such as these (and others) ever since I retired. If they can keep us all divided, we haven't got a chance in stopping the erosion of benefits, much less increasing benefits.

[Testvet]

you get the benefits of using the post facilities at the point your are either retired, medically retired regardless of years worked or when your SC disabilities justify your being awarded the ID cards for MWR facilities, many veterans are disabled by their service and some eventually worsen over time, as in my case, my actual disability started in Feb 1975, it was not SC until Arpil 2006, 4 years after I filed the claim, but even at that I ignored it for the past nearly three decades, until I became ottally disabled and I had no choice, I was an Air Force brat, I have used the "base" since I was a teen ager, then for the 10 years of active duty from 73 - 82, then on drill weeks during NG training, then again for GW1 when I was activated. Have I "earned " my right to use the base facilities, hell yes, I deserve them as much as a 20 year retiree that is not disabled, the base does not belong to retirees, it belongs to the citizens of the US, they fund it, Congress sets the rules on who is and is not allowed to utilize the facilities, contract employees in overseas assignments, hazardous duty stations etc.

Even if the pass standby travel on Space A, how many retirees, disabled vets and even active duty utilize it, not many and I doubt the lines will grow much , unless plane tickets go thru the roof, then the problem is still is there a military aircraft going to the same place or near where you want to go, I have been bumped in Guam decades ago and a one way ticket to LA was 1200 dollars, a 2 wat ticket from Seoul to LA was 599 back then, let me see which one will I risk a 14 day vacation on?

The base is not "club med" the people using it are authorized, spending time being bothered by it, is useless, spend your time changing things you can, like your car's oil, wrote letters to elected officials on why QTC is being paid 400-500 for a C&P exam that takes 10 minutes, and most are written to deprive veterans of their benefits, and then they have to pay for expensive IMO's. I was in the Fort Jackson Commissary the other day, paper products were a lot higher than Sav a lot, milk was a lot cheaper, beef was about half price and better quality, kids cooler drinks were 1 dollar a box for 10, beef jerky was 2 bucks for a box of 16 sticks, etc, it is like anything else, some things are a good deal and some aren't.

I went to a Class Six store for the first time in 15 years, heck ya, look out we spent 42 dollars, wine was cheap and so was Southern Comfort, we now have a years supply. We are not drinker's but yes it was cheaper on post. We have decided we will make 1 or 2 trips a month the post our new home is about 15 minutes away, out here at the lake it's 45 minutes.

The PX gets the grand tour next time, as a disabled vet with 14 years of active duty, I am the same as a medical retiree, have I earned it you bet your sweet bippy I have, did the man who became disabled and got his ID card for 8 months of service is he entitled to use it, bet your sweet bippy again. Now is a vet who did 63 days and was not hurt in the line of duty and drunk in a car accident enetitled to a lifetime of post privileges, no. But like everything else that is my opinion and I don't set the rules, so I guess if I ever meet Rick on base, I will get called some names, and you know what life goes on, and I will still be on the base next month shopping again. It's my right or they wouldn't have given me that little orange card with DAVPRM/E6 on it would they? and it says indefinite for end date. I guess that part is up to god...

[Hoppy]

I would have looked forward to the ability to retire from not only the military but any other type of occupation. Unfortunately, due to a disease I contracted while serving in the armed forces I did not get such an retirement opportunty. I use the base exchange almost every day. When shopping for small items that I use on a regular basis I save almost 30% compared to the local Vons market. I save 10 to 15 cents a gallon on gas. When you consider that my brothers who did the same types of work that I would have done. Or if you consider that I could have continued to work as an aircraft mechanic as I was trained in the military prior to becoming disabled. I would be getting about twice as much from a good civilian retirement plan as I get from VA compensatiion, I think allowing a 30% savings on base is the least that can be done. Not only for military retirees but for disabled veterans.

I have had to live with this bizarre disease for thirty five years. I would trade this disease for a 20 year hitch anytime. I have been in emeregency rooms 20 to 25 times wonder if the doctors would save me. I have a friend who if you could give him back his legs that he lost in Viet Nam would stop shopping in the exchange. Think about it. Disability is for life.

[Moe]

I earned my base/post exchange privileges through retirement but I rarely use them due to their higher prices on things I use. I stopped using the bx and commissary around 92. Ocassionally I go to Ft Polk and Barksdale AFB and the prices are out of sight.

I can save much more on groceries on the civilian economy unless you are into the case sales the commissary has once in a while.

I only say this so those who wish for the privilege will know they aren't missing that much. Maybe if there was a post/base in my area I would buy the gas. But there again the base service station can only undercut the local gas stations by just a few cents.