Personal financial benefits of military service
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There are several personal financial benefits of military service. Some are matters of public policy enacted by governments, and some are issued by private companies or organizations on their own accord. In Canada for example, members of the Canadian Forces as of 2004 on high-risk or moderate-risk operations are entitled to a tax exemption on their first $6,089 CDN earned per month . Active, reserve and retired United States Uniformed Services members and their dependents can shop at base exchanges (BX), also referred to as a post exchange (PX) on Army installations. Exchanges sell consumer goods and services and most (but not all) sales by exchanges are free of local sales or VAT taxes. Exchanges also supply gasoline at prices roughly approximating those in the U.S., normally on a rationed basis, to overseas personnel for personal use, since fuel prices in most foreign countries (where U.S. military are stationed) are normally much higher due to local taxes. British military personnel have access to Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes which sell goods to servicemen and their families. The Australian defence force has a Defence Force Privilege Card scheme, DefCom, designed to give ADF members, their families and former members of the ADF the opportunity to buy a wide range of goods and services at discount rates.
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