Military retirees f---ed out out of base access

Around 121 US military retirees will be directly impacted by the limitations placed on their access to base facilities, including commissaries stocked with American groceries and Army and Air Force Exchange Service locations where they can find familiar American products. Additionally, retirees will no longer have access to the American post office boxes located at on-base post offices, potentially disrupting the delivery of vital medications and hindering their ability to participate in U.S. elections.

Michael, who preferred to be identified by his first name, highlighted the significance of base facilities for retirees, particularly in terms of receiving essential diabetes medication and participating in American elections. The lack of reliability in the Turkish postal system further compounds their concerns, as Michael approximates that only one or two out of every three packages sent through the system actually reach their intended recipients.

Military post offices have been a dependable avenue for retirees to exercise their right to vote, guaranteeing that their ballots are delivered and counted. Nevertheless, the unpredictability surrounding the Turkish postal system leaves retirees uncertain about the safe arrival of their votes.

The sudden decision to withdraw access to U.S. bases in Turkey has sparked doubts among retirees regarding the reasoning behind such a move. Some retirees suspect that it could be an attempt to compel them to return to the United States, as the loss of access to crucial services, including healthcare and American products, severely limits their options in Turkey.

In his memo, Air Force Col. Calvin B. Powell justified the decision by referencing the regulations that govern the status of U.S. forces in Turkey as the rationale behind the access restrictions. However, retirees argue that they have enjoyed uninterrupted access to these installations for an extended period without any security concerns. There is speculation that the move may be driven by cost-saving motives, despite the retirees’ significant contributions to the local economy through their on-base spending.