Kirtland commander stands behind restrictions

ALBUQUERQUE — Kirtland Air Force Base installation commander Col. David Miller is aware of complaints from retirees about being prevented from shopping at the commissary and base exchange during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Miller said the restrictions in place at Kirtland are in line with those at other military bases around the country, including Cannon Air Force Base, near Clovis.

It may be July before those restrictions are lifted, Miller said.

“I’m fourth-generation military. Making this kind of decision is difficult,” he told the Albuquerque Journal, saying it was like restricting his father and grandfather, who both served in the Air Force.

But as the installation commander, Miller said, he had to protect the missions on the base from the spread of coronavirus.

“We’re not targeting retirees,” he said. “We’re trying to reduce the footprint of people coming on base.”

About 27,000 retirees live in the Albuquerque area, which means the base serves one of the largest groups in the country.

Jason Riley, a 24-year Army veteran, said he was angry about the decision.

“It sends a message that retirees aren’t valued,” he said. “They’ve got a lot of folks very upset about this.”

“He cut us out totally,” 20-year Air Force veteran Brian Collins said. “I don’t think it’s fair at all.”

Both Riley and Collins said being able to shop on base helps veterans who are struggling financially.

“For a lot of veterans who are not as financially fortunate, this helps them get through the month,” Riley said.

“For veterans living on a limited budget, it’s a big savings,” Collins added.

Miller said that the savings available on base are “actually minimal,” and that some items are cheaper off base. Miller hopes the federal stimulus payments from the CARES Act are helping to offset increased costs veterans are experiencing shopping off base.

Riley questioned the reasoning behind the restrictions, because retirees are still allowed to use the pharmacy on base. But Miller said the decision to allow access to the pharmacy was made to reduce the number of people using the medical group’s pharmacy off base near the Veterans Affairs hospital.