Has anyone found a unique, highly beneficial, or useful retirement benefit since retiring?

2015-04-07T08:46:55-04:00

Maybe someone has used Space-A-Travel, military vacation locations, or found military discount programs that were previously unknown or thought to be difficult to use and can share their experience.

Response by TSgt Clarence T Montgomery made Apr 7 at 2015 10:20 AM

2015-04-07T10:20:05-04:00

I did not find out about Armed Forces Vacation Club until after I retired! https://www.afvclub.com/

Military Vacation Deals for families|Armed Forces Vacation Club

The Armed Forces Vacation Club offers affordable Military vacations around the world for Military Personnel and their families*

Response by SFC Collin McMillion made Apr 7 at 2015 10:35 AM

2015-04-07T10:35:07-04:00

I really did not need to find any benefits, just packed a few things and moved to the Philippines. Life is great there, easy, laid back and easy to live on almost any budget.

Response by SSG Leonard Johnson made Apr 7 at 2015 11:53 AM

2015-04-07T11:53:26-04:00

Yes I have found one :-).... I'm a 49-year-old recent medical retiree out here at Fort Carson Colorado from the WTU with over 23 years of service.
I had a couple civilian doctors, I don't think have ever put a pair of combat boots on in their life, who tried to tell me there was absolutely nothing wrong with me and I was over exaggerate my symptoms, and I shouldn't be going through the pain I was. That was June 2013. So of course they tried to have me kicked out of the WTU, which they failed after being overridden by other doctors who basically told these other doctors you're crazier than a football bat. Regardless I still didn't get fixed up and got numerous medical issues going on :-)
so my number one benefit is being retired using my TRICARE for life and my Medicare part B to Social Security and getting fixed up again hopefully. I've had one surgery done so far one of my left elbow, I go in for a rotator cuff surgery on Thursday, followed up by a lower lumbar complete reconstruction surgery later on this summer, followed up by an elbow surgery on my right arm again later in the year, and then finally and hopefully a knee surgery. And believe it or not, this is not what disabled me. It was my cervical spine that disabled me where I cannot maintain balance or I'm in extreme pain 75+ percent of the time :-)............... really I'm not too mad about it........... I want to heal up and be an advocate for other soldiers and other veterans and help them so they don't have to deal with dirt bag doctors like this ever again. If any of you going to the Fort Carson WTU just to let you know chain of command there is awesome battalion level on down. However if you want me to come on for Carson to drop times on names of doctors of who to avoid I have no problem with that at all coffee is on you :-)

Response by MSgt Tobin Shipp made Apr 7 at 2015 2:07 PM

2015-04-07T14:07:23-04:00

Armed Forces Vacation Club. Booked trips to Disney world, Utah and Vegas. Saved a bunch of $$. Book space A for under $400 for 7 days. Nice accommodations. If you don't see what you want online, call them. Agents ate very helpful and have access to viewing additional offers.

Response by SFC Rollie Hubbard made Apr 8 at 2015 1:57 AM

2015-04-08T01:57:10-04:00

Only one I have found is I sleep when I want and wake up when I want LOL

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Apr 10 at 2015 9:11 AM

2015-04-10T09:11:46-04:00

We've used military lodging on a number of occasions. I wrote a Command Post Article with our experiences... There are some great stories about Military lodging by other RallyPoint members as well!
https://www.rallypoint.com/command-post/here-s-another-perk-military-lodging

Here's another perk: military lodging! | RallyPoint

Military lodging is a great addition to your travel and vacation arsenal. Unfortunately, many people aren’t aware military lodging even exists! My wife and I have often taken advantage of military lodging facilities when we travel. These facilities become particularly important when traveling to high dollar areas such as Boston, Washington D.C., and Key West. It is important to understand that many of these facilities are not managed or...

Response by SSG John Erny made Apr 10 at 2015 10:04 AM

2015-04-10T10:04:01-04:00

In Nebraska you can now deduct your disability rating from your property taxes, so if you are 50% then you can cut your takes by half. Nebraska is a great place to live but property taxes are high.

Response by CW4 Jeff Buss made Apr 28 at 2015 6:03 PM

2015-04-28T18:03:10-04:00

The ability to extended the time period for your final move out to five years based on certain circumstances such as kids in high school or disability.

Response by PFC Anthony Muto made Apr 29 at 2015 10:04 AM

2015-04-29T10:04:21-04:00

sir, fighting the va for care or some of the veteran retreats. I went to one in Virginia that was very nice for a short visit.

Response by SPC Carl Foster made May 5 at 2015 11:57 AM

2015-05-05T11:57:34-04:00

http://www.OrderGoldNow.com

Response by SSG Jeffrey Hopton made Jul 28 at 2015 10:39 PM

2015-07-28T22:39:37-04:00

space a travel

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Sep 6 at 2015 7:33 PM

2015-09-06T19:33:13-04:00

Yes Retirement has given me more time to research companies who have filed for release of an IPO. IPO's can be very risky but also very rewarding.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Sep 8 at 2015 5:18 AM

2015-09-08T05:18:15-04:00

Best advice I can offer is to go on a healthy diet & exercise both your mind & body to ensure a good quality of life. And should you have medical issues that are part of the aging process, your recovery will be easier..
Feel free to ask me any questions. I was a Fitness Instructor & Personal Trainer for a lot of years.

I also worked as a Volunteer as part of a Research Study conducted by Stanford's Dr Ghao to determine if diet, exercise, spirituality could replace medications for VA Outpatients suffering with PTSD, Chronic Depression, Anxiety, or Hopelessness. The Diet they recommended was the VA "Green Diet" & exercise included mostly cardio... Spirituality also included Meditation..

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2015 12:41 PM

2015-09-18T12:41:12-04:00

I have found all those wonderful active service perks I never had time for disappeared as soon as I hit retirement. Space A travel, discounts, blah, blah, blah. VFW membership gets you put on credit card, insurance and funeral plan mailing lists- all with inflated rates. Lots of solicitations. Lots of opportunity to be entertained by really bad Elvis impersonators and chunk those hard earned dwindling retired pay benefits into one-armed bandits. USO seldom recognizes retirees.

Response by LTC Christopher Sands made Sep 20 at 2015 9:39 AM

2015-09-20T09:39:00-04:00

The Edelweiss Lodge and Resort offers a vacation retreat designed exclusively for active duty military members, DoD civilians and retirees, complete with everything you would expect from a world-class resort. Long revered as one of the most desirable destinations in the Bavarian Alps and Germany's premiere winter and summer sports center, the Garmisch-Partenkirchen area is an idyllic location nestled at the foot of sweeping Alpine vistas.

Edelweiss Lodge and Resort authorized patrons include United States active-duty military members, military retirees, military reservists on active-duty, national guardsmen on active-duty, current Department of Defense civilian employees assigned to EUCOM, foreign military currently on orders assigned to a U.S. military installation and the family members of authorized patrons.

Response by LTC Christopher Sands made Sep 20 at 2015 9:39 AM

2015-09-20T09:39:59-04:00

Shades of Green Resort -- Orlando, Florida

The Shades of Green Resort is a military-owned resort within Walt Disney World. On the Shades of Green website, you can find information on eligibility and reservation information.

Shades of Green makes the Central Florida vacation experience affordable for those who have stayed there. Shades of Green is walking distance to two of Walt Disney World Resort PGA championship golf courses and a nine-hole executive course. Guests are provided transportation to all Walt Disney World attractions and early entry into select attractions.
You pay a rate based on your rank.

Response by CPO Wilfred lee Pow made Oct 9 at 2015 7:55 AM

2015-10-09T07:55:38-04:00

Space A to Antigua from PAFB FL. but they terminated that route in February of this year. Boomer... That was the only spot in the Caribbean to

Response by MAJ Steven Szymurski made Oct 26 at 2015 2:57 PM

2015-10-26T14:57:02-04:00

TRICARE reimburses prescription drug cost as a secondary insurer after private insurance, or medicare drug plan, reducing out of pocket medical costs.

Response by 1SG James A. "Bud" Parker made Nov 9 at 2015 12:03 PM

2015-11-09T12:03:16-05:00

Interesting question. After careful consideration it seems I've drawn a blank.

Response by 1SG William Svoboda made Dec 8 at 2015 9:34 AM

2015-12-08T09:34:25-05:00

As a retired service member my wife and I travel and of course we use the space available lodging but most recently we discovered the Coast Guard lodging opportunities. There are so many gems out there and of course they are near water but also forested and mountain areas. California as we all know, lost many great installations but check out some of the great CG posts http://www.uscg.mil/top/units/. On a recent trip we stayed at http://www.uscg.mil/petaluma/ and it was fantastic. The town of Petaluma is military friendly and offer many discounts. The base is located just west of Petaluma, Training Center Petaluma is the Coast Guard’s largest West Coast Training Center. Try the food at the dining facility since their cooks are trained there it is a great experience.

USCG: Units

Response by TSgt Anthony Jones made Mar 7 at 2017 8:21 AM

2017-03-07T08:21:09-05:00

Yep, I've used several resources, to include Shades of Green, Space-A travel(to the Philippines), Also, the VA itself has saved me big money just in hearing aids and batteries, also free state park pass for life not to mention all the free dinners from various places.