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o Private companies build and manage the housing, which is free to military families.

This is one of my all-time pet peeves, ranking right up there with reporters who say:

"the military pay no taxes"

"Food at the Commissary is free"

To set the record straight. Military housing is not free. Service members receive a housing allowance as a part of their overall compensation package. When a service member lives in government quarters, they forfeit this housing allowance - this is, in effect, their "rent". Not free.

I'm glad you said it, because I was going to.

The AAFES (PX,BX,NX) is another sore spot with me. Sure, they sell products with a minimal mark-up. The O-5 and O-6's control the exchange, inputting their desires. As a result, they sell top of the line products (White stag, Members Only, Dell computers) well out of the reach of the average enlisted man.

The enlisted folks buy at Wal Mart, K-mart, and Sams. Lesser quality but fits the budget.