An image of the Military Star card. (Marisa Conner/Army and Air Force Exchange Service)

AVIANO, Italy — A policy that would have required service members at Aviano Air Base to apply for a military-affiliated credit card to be eligible for fuel discounts was shelved just two days after taking effect, Air Force officials said.

The short-lived policy tied the Forax fuel rations card issued to U.S. personnel in Italy to the Military Star card, which is administered by the Army and Air Force Exchange Service and was intended to be the only payment method allowed for fuel purchases.

AAFES also operates the U.S. military’s global network of base exchanges, convenience stores and gas stations.

Fuel ration cards in overseas military communities allow service members to pay gas prices that vary but are in line with U.S. national averages.

An image of the Forax ration card. (Alora R. Blosch/U.S. Navy)

Without a ration card, a gallon of “super-plus” gas cost the equivalent of $7.45 at the San Marco station in Aviano on Wednesday, according to fuelflash.eu.

On Tuesday evening, the 31st Fighter Wing posted a statement on the Aviano Community Facebook page saying AAFES had canceled the requirement it introduced Sunday.

“The policy change had been recommended after an internal audit examined unpaid debts due to other systems of payment, but it had not been appropriately coordinated before implementation,” the post stated. “We apologize for any confusion or concern that this has caused.”

AAFES, which is headquartered in Dallas, as of Wednesday evening was working on answering Stars and Stripes questions asked Monday about the decision.

In Germany, which hosts tens of thousands of American military personnel, the Esso cards used for personal fuel discounts don’t require the user to sign up for the Military Star card.