AAFES Access for CAP members

Started by Eclipse, March 10, 2006, 08:06:06 AM

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Nick

Quote from: JoeTomasone on December 20, 2009, 04:55:07 PM
I'm in Iraq; everyone (American) here has access to AAFES brick-and-mortar; I wasn't sure if that extended to the online world though.
There's a whole different clause for "civilians accompanying armed forces overseas".  They typically get full exchange/commissary/MWR privileges.
Nicholas McLarty, Lt Col, CAP
Texas Wing Staff Guy
National Cadet Team Guy Emeritus

JoeTomasone

Quote from: McLarty on December 20, 2009, 05:03:27 PM
Quote from: JoeTomasone on December 20, 2009, 04:55:07 PM
I'm in Iraq; everyone (American) here has access to AAFES brick-and-mortar; I wasn't sure if that extended to the online world though.
There's a whole different clause for "civilians accompanying armed forces overseas".  They typically get full exchange/commissary/MWR privileges.

..So sayeth the CAC card, now that I think about it.

SarDragon

Quote from: PHall on December 20, 2009, 03:44:03 PM
Quote from: Spike on December 20, 2009, 03:27:38 PM
Quote from: JoeTomasone on December 20, 2009, 02:48:24 PM
Apparently civilian contractors are permitted as well.  I just tried and am now happily shopping.  :)

It is up to the Base/ Post/ Station Commander who gets Exchange privileges.

If you have an awesome Base Commnader, your CAP unit can do whatever they want from eating in the DFAC to watching movies in the Theater. 

One stipulation was that I have to "highly recommend" my Members join the Officers club.  It's like 45 dollars a year, and has so many benefits its silly not to join.

Yeah, I bet having CAP members joining the Officers Club will work real nice until one of two things happens.

1. A CAP member gets popped for DUI after attendining an event at the club.

2. A "regular" member of the club (probably a retiree) has a problem with CAP members being allowed to be a member of "their" club.

With the funding crunches that all the clubs are experiencing, I think that won't be too much of an issue these days.
Dave Bowles
Maj, CAP
AT1, USN Retired
50 Year Member
Mitchell Award (unnumbered)
C/WO, CAP, Ret

CadetMurphy

how did DUI come from ordering uniforms?

SarDragon

Dave Bowles
Maj, CAP
AT1, USN Retired
50 Year Member
Mitchell Award (unnumbered)
C/WO, CAP, Ret

ol'fido

Quote from: PHall on December 20, 2009, 03:44:03 PM
Quote from: Spike on December 20, 2009, 03:27:38 PM
Quote from: JoeTomasone on December 20, 2009, 02:48:24 PM
Apparently civilian contractors are permitted as well.  I just tried and am now happily shopping.  :)

It is up to the Base/ Post/ Station Commander who gets Exchange privileges.

If you have an awesome Base Commnader, your CAP unit can do whatever they want from eating in the DFAC to watching movies in the Theater. 

One stipulation was that I have to "highly recommend" my Members join the Officers club.  It's like 45 dollars a year, and has so many benefits its silly not to join.

Yeah, I bet having CAP members joining the Officers Club will work real nice until one of two things happens.

1. A CAP member gets popped for DUI after attendining an event at the club.

2. A "regular" member of the club (probably a retiree) has a problem with CAP members being allowed to be a member of "their" club.
When the 126th ARW(ILANG) was at O'Hare IAP, CAP senior members were invited to join the O'Hare Officer's Club.
Lt. Col. Randy L. Mitchell
Historian, Group 1, IL-006

PHall

Quote from: ol'fido on December 21, 2011, 03:39:13 AM
Quote from: PHall on December 20, 2009, 03:44:03 PM
Quote from: Spike on December 20, 2009, 03:27:38 PM
Quote from: JoeTomasone on December 20, 2009, 02:48:24 PM
Apparently civilian contractors are permitted as well.  I just tried and am now happily shopping.  :)

It is up to the Base/ Post/ Station Commander who gets Exchange privileges.

If you have an awesome Base Commnader, your CAP unit can do whatever they want from eating in the DFAC to watching movies in the Theater. 

One stipulation was that I have to "highly recommend" my Members join the Officers club.  It's like 45 dollars a year, and has so many benefits its silly not to join.

Yeah, I bet having CAP members joining the Officers Club will work real nice until one of two things happens.

1. A CAP member gets popped for DUI after attendining an event at the club.

2. A "regular" member of the club (probably a retiree) has a problem with CAP members being allowed to be a member of "their" club.
When the 126th ARW(ILANG) was at O'Hare IAP, CAP senior members were invited to join the O'Hare Officer's Club.

That's because they sensed that there was money in your pockets. >:D

MSG Mac

One of the reasons CAP Officers are invited to join local Officer Clubs is that where it was once (unofficially) mandated that all officers join, that policy has lapsed. So that at many bases there are no Officer clubs they have been replaced by all Ranks Clubs open to anyone with both an ID card and a pulse.
Michael P. McEleney
Lt Col CAP
MSG USA (Retired)
50 Year Member

PHall

Quote from: MSG Mac on December 22, 2011, 07:23:09 AM
One of the reasons CAP Officers are invited to join local Officer Clubs is that where it was once (unofficially) mandated that all officers join, that policy has lapsed. So that at many bases there are no Officer clubs they have been replaced by all Ranks Clubs open to anyone with both an ID card and a pulse.

And they may waive the ID Card part. A pulse and money will get you in. ::)

cpyahoo


ZombieButter

#30
Has anyone tried ordering through AAFES recently? I just talked with them and they said that "You do not have access to our site". When I told them that i wasn't looking to have access to the site, just phone ordering, they just repeated what they said.

Just called again, they said that there isnt an "account" that I can set up as a CAP member. I just call and request to set up an order then im set.

NorCal21

Quote from: addo1 on December 18, 2009, 03:25:47 AM
I know this is an old topic, but I decided to post here instead of starting up a new useless thread. It was mentioned below that we were not authorized to purchase uniforms online.. If that is the case, what is up with the following quote from the AAFES website?

"If you can shop for retail merchandise at your local Exchange, you are authorized to order from the Catalog and Exchange Online Store."

I probably missed something and that is fine, but I was just wondering...

The key to that quote is "retail merchandise." CAP members are not authorized purchasing anything in the Exchange (its no longer AAFES by the way) other than uniforms in Clothing Sales. Many times Clothing Sales will be located within the Exchange, and many times it will be a separate store front or building.

With that being said, most exchanges don't really care if you buy a few small items, but they're going to turn you down if you're buying some uniforms and a 60" plasma and then show a CAP ID.

NorCal21

Quote from: Eclipse on December 18, 2009, 03:50:02 PM
Putting this here as well:  http://hq.group22.net/files/AAFES_cat_scan_Mar_2008_sm.pdf

If the link goes down, PM me.

I had an off-handed conversation with a member last night who says he was told by AAFES that he needed his Commander's approval to buy from AAFES, and we weren't allowed to shop at MCSS stores.

Neither is the case (with the caveat that a local commander could block CAP access to a respective base, seperate from the MCSS discussion).

Here's the thing...

CAP regulations, in accordance with agreements with the USAF, CAP members can shop uniforms items with Clothing Sales. The problem is that the regs don't say that CAP is allowed access to military installations. Even if the regs did say that, its still up to the discretion of the CG whether to allow access in general or dependent on different levels of ThreatCon.

Some bases allow drive-on access pretty much anytime in which the exchange system would be open with nothing more than your CAP ID such as Luke AFB in Phoenix. Others don't allow any access unless you're on a certified list as a member of a squadron that meets on base, and then access is authorized only during the day of the meeting such as Buckley AFB in Denver.

Other bases will authorize DBIDS cards for members of squadrons that meet on base such as Peterson AFB in Colorado Springs and again Luke AFB in Phoenix.

Members of the other auxiliary services usually have it significantly better than CAP.

Coast Guard Auxiliary members can access nearly every Coast Guard base pretty much any time of day, and can use nearly every facility on base within reason of course. They can even take full advantage of the MWR facilities no different than active/reserve Coasties.

Members of the multiple state defense forces usually have easy access to the bases in their states in the respective services (most SDF's are Army based although Texas has Army, Air and Maritime units). For example, members of the Georgia SDF can access all Army, Guard and Air Guard bases with their GSDF ID. They receive CAC cards from their command using a National Guard machine. They are even issued proper colored base decals as well (red or blue).

I'm not too sure on how well the Sea Cadets are treated by the Navy though.

PHall

Quote from: NorCal21 on December 29, 2012, 06:08:41 AM
Quote from: addo1 on December 18, 2009, 03:25:47 AM
I know this is an old topic, but I decided to post here instead of starting up a new useless thread. It was mentioned below that we were not authorized to purchase uniforms online.. If that is the case, what is up with the following quote from the AAFES website?

"If you can shop for retail merchandise at your local Exchange, you are authorized to order from the Catalog and Exchange Online Store."

I probably missed something and that is fine, but I was just wondering...

The key to that quote is "retail merchandise." CAP members are not authorized purchasing anything in the Exchange (its no longer AAFES by the way) other than uniforms in Clothing Sales. Many times Clothing Sales will be located within the Exchange, and many times it will be a separate store front or building.

With that being said, most exchanges don't really care if you buy a few small items, but they're going to turn you down if you're buying some uniforms and a 60" plasma and then show a CAP ID.

Actually it IS still AAFES. They just replaced Post Exchange and Base Exchange with the Exchange. So it's the same everywhere, Army or Air Force.

NorCal21

Quote from: PHall on December 29, 2012, 06:52:14 AM
Actually it IS still AAFES. They just replaced Post Exchange and Base Exchange with the Exchange. So it's the same everywhere, Army or Air Force.

Aw OK. I just read this link http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123222333 which sort of explains it. The parent operation is still AAFES but the stores are referred to as the Exchange to reduce confusion. Yeah, that's not confusing!

Eclipse

Quote from: NorCal21 on December 29, 2012, 06:23:48 AM
Quote from: Eclipse on December 18, 2009, 03:50:02 PM
Putting this here as well:  http://hq.group22.net/files/AAFES_cat_scan_Mar_2008_sm.pdf

If the link goes down, PM me.

I had an off-handed conversation with a member last night who says he was told by AAFES that he needed his Commander's approval to buy from AAFES, and we weren't allowed to shop at MCSS stores.

Neither is the case (with the caveat that a local commander could block CAP access to a respective base, seperate from the MCSS discussion).

Here's the thing...

CAP regulations, in accordance with agreements with the USAF, CAP members can shop uniforms items with Clothing Sales. The problem is that the regs don't say that CAP is allowed access to military installations. Even if the regs did say that, its still up to the discretion of the CG whether to allow access in general or dependent on different levels of ThreatCon.

Some bases allow drive-on access pretty much anytime in which the exchange system would be open with nothing more than your CAP ID such as Luke AFB in Phoenix. Others don't allow any access unless you're on a certified list as a member of a squadron that meets on base, and then access is authorized only during the day of the meeting such as Buckley AFB in Denver.

Other bases will authorize DBIDS cards for members of squadrons that meet on base such as Peterson AFB in Colorado Springs and again Luke AFB in Phoenix.

Members of the other auxiliary services usually have it significantly better than CAP.

Coast Guard Auxiliary members can access nearly every Coast Guard base pretty much any time of day, and can use nearly every facility on base within reason of course. They can even take full advantage of the MWR facilities no different than active/reserve Coasties.

Members of the multiple state defense forces usually have easy access to the bases in their states in the respective services (most SDF's are Army based although Texas has Army, Air and Maritime units). For example, members of the Georgia SDF can access all Army, Guard and Air Guard bases with their GSDF ID. They receive CAC cards from their command using a National Guard machine. They are even issued proper colored base decals as well (red or blue).

I'm not too sure on how well the Sea Cadets are treated by the Navy though.

The Sea cadets have the same issues CAP does. 

I don't know what you are basing the other assertions on.  CAP's access is granted via regulation to USAF bases and reciprocal
regulation to non-USAF bases, always at the discretion of the CC.  See AFI-10-2701.

We have never had any issue with access to MWR up this way.  CAP units use facilities and resources on a Space-A basis
just like everyone else.   I suppose having a Unit, Group, and the LRADO on base doesn't hurt, but that isn't generally even discussed.

"That Others May Zoom"

sardak

Quote from: NorCal21 on December 29, 2012, 06:23:48 AM
Others don't allow any access unless you're on a certified list as a member of a squadron that meets on base, and then access is authorized only during the day of the meeting such as Buckley AFB in Denver.

Other bases will authorize DBIDS cards for members of squadrons that meet on base such as Peterson AFB in Colorado Springs...
Neither of those statements is true. Peterson and Buckley will not allow CAP members access with a CAP ID, but both bases issue DBIDS cards to CAP members whether they are a member of the units that meet on base or not. The DBIDS process doesn't ask what CAP unit a member is assigned to, nor is access limited to just the day of the meeting. The process has not changed since the bases went to DBIDS access several years ago.

Mike

Garibaldi

Just found out that we have to notify Wing 24 hours in advance if we want to visit the MCSS at Dobbins.
Still a major after all these years.
ES dude, leadership ossifer, publik affaires
Opinionated and wrong 99% of the time about all things

NorCal21

Quote from: Eclipse on December 29, 2012, 04:05:20 PM


I don't know what you are basing the other assertions on.  CAP's access is granted via regulation to USAF bases and reciprocal
regulation to non-USAF bases, always at the discretion of the CC.  See AFI-10-2701.


Just on previous experience. Not once have I been allowed access without sponsorship and escort at any base in FL, GA, AL or CO save the USAF Academy with a CAP ID. You are probably right that its mostly due to base commanders setting it up that way though. Who knows.

NorCal21

Quote from: sardak on December 29, 2012, 06:42:27 PM
Quote from: NorCal21 on December 29, 2012, 06:23:48 AM
Others don't allow any access unless you're on a certified list as a member of a squadron that meets on base, and then access is authorized only during the day of the meeting such as Buckley AFB in Denver.

Other bases will authorize DBIDS cards for members of squadrons that meet on base such as Peterson AFB in Colorado Springs...
Neither of those statements is true. Peterson and Buckley will not allow CAP members access with a CAP ID, but both bases issue DBIDS cards to CAP members whether they are a member of the units that meet on base or not. The DBIDS process doesn't ask what CAP unit a member is assigned to, nor is access limited to just the day of the meeting. The process has not changed since the bases went to DBIDS access several years ago.

Mike

OK. You may be right. I was just stating it based on my experience years ago. I hated going to Buckley because of the civilian security. You get an Airman at the gate and no issues. Thanks for the update Mike.