Who is entitled to commissary privileges

Beginning Jan. Veterans or caregivers with felony convictions, felony arrest warrants or derogatory information related to criminal history or terrorism will be prohibited from entering. Depending on the type of installation, these VHIC-carrying veterans will be able to enroll in recurring access, which lets them bypass the visitor control center and enter through the gates.

A spouse or anyone accompanying them might also be able to enroll in this recurring access if the guest has an identification that supports it, according to a recent Military OneSource news release. The veteran's VHIC or letter will be used at the point of sale. Currently, all honorably discharged veterans can shop over the internet through the Veterans Online Shopping Benefit.

Asked about that, a DoD spokeswoman said in an email that the Office of the Secretary of Defense is providing "ongoing" information to military departments and "recently" distributed some to use in training installation security personnel and resale and MWR personnel. She directed further questions about the processes or timing of training to the particular installation's public affairs office.

The process has not changed since the original policy guidance issued for caregivers registered in the VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers to access commissaries, exchanges and MWR facilities. It is similar to that of VHIC-holding veterans, but caregivers will receive a letter issued by the VA Office of Community Care saying they qualify as a primary family caregiver of an eligible veteran.

To be admitted on base and to purchase items from the commissary or exchange, they will need to bring their VA letter plus one of the types of identification listed below. For a full list, refer to the guidance on page 9. Caregivers have been able to shop at the exchanges online since receiving their eligibility letter. When shopping on base, caregivers will use this letter at the point of sale; since it can't be scanned like the VHIC, the cashier will manually put it into the register.

Currently veterans cannot shop at commissaries they can at the Exchanges but the DoD is currently considering allowing veterans to shop the commissaries. The commissary is just like any other grocery store with the exception of its location. You need your military ID to be eligible to shop but other than that, there is nothing special that you need to do to receive your benefits. Commissaries are incredibly convenient, not only for their ability to help you stay on a tight budget, but as an alternative to leaving base and seeking out a commercial store in a new area.

The stores are operated as a part of the military incentive package, not for their own profit, this insures that they will often have the cheapest prices and the best quality around and in my opinion as a military wife, most of the time meat at the commissary will beat the taste and price of any butcher you can find.

They offer familiar products and familiar faces at a time when everything can be a bit foreign. Service members and their families can enjoy tax free shopping, exclusive access, payment options, basic uniform floor plan so you can find everything you need anywhere you go and priority checkout for those in uniform.

Shopping in a commissary can provide a sense of comfort when you are in a new place. While most places that you will be stationed will be perfectly safe, but at others you may not want to venture to far from home. Being surrounded by familiar uniforms, accents and products will make the transition to a new place as easy as possible. The floor plan of every commissary is basically the same so you should be able to find the items you easily. The best piece of advice that I can give you is to watch the sales.

However, guests are not permitted to make commissary purchases, and authorized patrons are not allowed to make purchases on the guest's behalf. Guest access to the commissary may vary based on local military regulations, and checking these regulations with the commissary management is recommended.

Overseas Commissaries In overseas areas, Status of Forces Agreements or other international agreements between the host country and the United States determines access to commissaries and to the purchase of duty-free goods sold in these commissaries. Overseas military commands publish regulations of commissary access based on the terms of these agreements.

For example, there are limits on the amount of beer, wine and liquor. Rules on who can use overseas commissaries are affected by status-of-forces agreements between host nations and the U. Situations vary by country, and individuals should check with the local U. Customers choose their items online, selects a pickup time, and at the appointed time, head to the Click2Go parking spaces where commissary employees brings their groceries to their car and finish the transaction.

Units can call their nearest commissary to discuss the possibility of hosting an on-site sale. Upcoming sales are listed on the commissaries. They can be shipped anywhere in the U. These are available online, too, as well as at about 40 commissaries currently. Commissary officials are working with Navy Exchange officials to sell them in their stores, too.

The gift cards expire five years from the date of purchase.