Isn't it interesting how Congress grills and admonishes U.S. Corporations for reneging on their obligations and commitments to present and former employees, yet exhibits exactly the same bad behavior when it comes to its own military retirees. The package of military retiree benefits promised at retirement includes Base Exchange and commissary privileges as well as Veterans Medical coverage. All of these benefits are systematically being diminished, or dismantled, over time. Military retirees have thus far been unable to stem the dismemberment of retirement benefits thus far and this sends a strong and negative message to our current and future servicemen who serve in the U.S. military.

Alan J. Zulberti
Major, US Army, Ret.
AlanZulberti@worldnet.att.net

I can express my sentiments no better than Major Zulberti.

As I near retirement I feel more and more as a tool that was used and then disgarded...........

I am a military retiree that lives in the south bay. I go to the NEX often and its usually empty during the week and full during the weekends with visitors that are shopping under the ID card of one of thier familiy members (third cousins sisters daughter twice removed). Its obvious that due to the limited number of active duty military in the area that the Moffett NEX is not a money maker. I can agree with the decision to close the store and hope the money saved will be used to better support todays active duty troops. Major Zulberti Travis and Montery AAFES are not that far away. When I joined the military I dont remember them promising me access to nearby on base shopping upon my retirement. It is your choice to live where you now do and if the closest NEX or AAFESS is to far away then I suggest you move closer to one. NEX and AAFESS also do provide online shopping for your convenience.

I am currently in the IRR, and for the next few years the Moffett NEX was a big part of my plans. As I am building my family and trying to establish myself in the OVER PRICED bay area, I rely on the services at Mofett. However I can agree with both arguments, the money saved from operations costs may benefit those that need it more and those of us in the bay area are fortunate to have other choices, i.e. Monterey and Travis. I am only able to go on weekends that I am not working overtime, and I never really have to wait in line behind more than 2 or 3 people. I will just have to adjust to going to travis, which im sure like most, may not be that big of a deal, I will swing by on the way home from visiting my many friends that have moved out that way. Adjustments were apart of everyday military life.....has it been that long.

One note: We haven't covered this very closely, but the military is planning to install a new NEX at Moffett Field as part of the Army's Orion Park project. Nothing is set in stone, but they do seem to want to do that at this time.

As one of the pilots that flew the BRAC committee around Northern California making the rounds on their hit list, it was interesting to note some of the comments being made in the back of the aircraft. As for Moffett NEX, shamefull NEX Management did not engage NASA in a timely and meaningful manner to resolve any facilities issue and continue to provide a benefit to the few in the SF Bay area that have committed a portion of their life to the support of our great country with their military service.
I agee with Major Zulberti. As military benefits continue to erode with no commensurate increase in cash benefits and immediate prosecution with limited legal representation for any perceived misdeed in the Middle East Theater, who will joint fill the ranks of our military in this difficult time?

Schedule closing date.

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