Fort Bliss Monitor

Troop Talk

Troop Talk questions this week came from several sources.

AIT students asked if they could apply for Special Forces and/or Airborne school.

The Special Forces recruiter responded indicating that to apply for the program, a Soldier must be assigned permanently to an installation for one year. Applicants must be an E-4 to have their application reviewed, but can begin preparing their packet while an E-2/E-3. A Special Forces recruiter will soon be available here to answer any questions you might have. Every applicant is different and when interested in any school the Army offers the Soldier should see his school NCO in the brigade where he is assigned.

While waiting for a ride outside the PX, I had time to observe the parking situation. What I saw was several unused parking spaces reserved for the command group, housing mayors, DSOY, Volunteer of the Month and so forth. As it was a payday, I also saw many handicapped Soldiers and retirees parking at remote spots and then walking on crutches or, in one case, riding a wheel chair, to the PX. Perhaps it would be wise for healthy, intact Soldiers/civilians to forego reserved parking that is seldom used to give up their parking privileges so that wounded war veterans and disabled Soldiers have more convenient parking spots?

My staff and AAFES will review the parking plan for the area and determine if we cannot allocate more spaces for handicapped Soldiers and family members.

How does the post exchange, (AAFES) determine the price they will charge for gas on post?

As of last weekend gas prices were $2.89 regular, $2.99 mid-grade and $3.09 for super. Overall, this is lower than several surrounding competitors. Dyer and Fred Wilson are at 2.99 for regular, same at Montana and Airway. This week we are getting 0.058 per gallon (as you see, no profits here). AAFES has a designated price surveyor that at a minimum does weekly surveys (daily recently due to the market) of various locations (usually five) selling motor fuel that are considered the competition, and this survey establishes the AAFES price which equals the lowest price surveyed for each grade. This sometimes means we sell gas below cost. AAFES, as a government instrumentality, is immune from state and local taxes with the exception of motor fuel (Hayden Cartwright Act, 4 USC 104). Accordingly, AAFES pays state and local motor fuel taxes, as well as underground storage fees, etc. The state motor fuel taxes and other applicable fees paid by AAFES are included in the motor fuel price to the military customer. AAFES sometimes sells fuel below cost and has done so recently, sometimes for extended periods of time due to cost and the surveys.

Brig. Gen. Robert P. Lennox
Fort Bliss Commanding General



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	Aug. 10, 2006

	Troop Talk Troop Talk questions this week came from several sources. AIT students asked if they could apply for Special Forces and/or Airborne school. The Special Forces recruiter responded indicating that to apply for the program, a Soldier must be assigned permanently to an installation for one year. Applicants must be an E-4 to have their application reviewed, but can begin preparing their packet while an E-2/E-3. A Special Forces recruiter will soon be available here to answer any questions you might have. Every applicant is different and when interested in any school the Army offers the Soldier should see his school NCO in the brigade where he is assigned. While waiting for a ride outside the PX, I had time to observe the parking situation. What I saw was several unused parking spaces reserved for the command group, housing mayors, DSOY, Volunteer of the Month and so forth. As it was a payday, I also saw many handicapped Soldiers and retirees parking at remote spots and then walking on crutches or, in one case, riding a wheel chair, to the PX. Perhaps it would be wise for healthy, intact Soldiers/civilians to forego reserved parking that is seldom used to give up their parking privileges so that wounded war veterans and disabled Soldiers have more convenient parking spots? My staff and AAFES will review the parking plan for the area and determine if we cannot allocate more spaces for handicapped Soldiers and family members. How does the post exchange, (AAFES) determine the price they will charge for gas on post? As of last weekend gas prices were $2.89 regular, $2.99 mid-grade and $3.09 for super. Overall, this is lower than several surrounding competitors. Dyer and Fred Wilson are at 2.99 for regular, same at Montana and Airway. This week we are getting 0.058 per gallon (as you see, no profits here). AAFES has a designated price surveyor that at a minimum does weekly surveys (daily recently due to the market) of various locations (usually five) selling motor fuel that are considered the competition, and this survey establishes the AAFES price which equals the lowest price surveyed for each grade. This sometimes means we sell gas below cost. AAFES, as a government instrumentality, is immune from state and local taxes with the exception of motor fuel (Hayden Cartwright Act, 4 USC 104). Accordingly, AAFES pays state and local motor fuel taxes, as well as underground storage fees, etc. The state motor fuel taxes and other applicable fees paid by AAFES are included in the motor fuel price to the military customer. AAFES sometimes sells fuel below cost and has done so recently, sometimes for extended periods of time due to cost and the surveys. Brig. Gen. Robert P. Lennox Fort Bliss Commanding General