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Your Commissary and Exchange Benefits are in Jeopardy

Recent activities by Congress threaten to eliminate the saving you get when you shop at the Commissary. If passed, these actions could also significantly reduce the money set aside to pay for MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreations) activities for military families.

How could this happen? In an environment focused on reducing the deficit, law makers must cut expenses from the budget before agreeing to pay for new programs. Why does this affect the commissary? Unlike other grocery stores, the commissary does not make a profit. By law, commissaries can only charge consumers 5% more than the item costs to stock the shelves. This unique pricing allows military families to save more than 30% on their grocery bill. This works because the costs to operate the commissary is paid by a subsidy in the federal budget.

Earlier this year, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee voted to eliminate the federal subsidy for military commissaries and recommended the Department of Defense (DoD)consolidate the operations of the commissaries and exchanges in order to pay for the Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act of 2011 (S.277). We strongly believe these families’ health care needs must be met, but we are adamantly opposed to doing so at the expense of other military families. There is still time to act. This bill still needs to be voted on by the entire Senate and then approved by the House, but it poses a very real threat.
Senator Tom Coburn’s (R-OK) “Back to Black” report also calls for consolidating military commissaries and exchangesinto a single, nonsubsidized retail system over five years.
There is growing concern that the $1.3 billion subsidy to operate the commissary will be targeted by the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction or “super committee” tasked to find at least $1.2 trillion in savings over the next decade.

If this bill is passed, prices in the commissary and exchanges will go up in order to make up for the loss of federal funds. You’ve told us how important your commissaries and exchanges are, especially those of you who live overseas or in remote locations, and we’ve shared your thoughts with Congress. You can also tell Congress what you think. Share your story at www.saveourbenefit.com.

If the additional step to consolidate the behind the scenes operations of the commissaries and exchanges takes place, the $300 million earned to pay for MWR programs that support critical quality of life programs could go away. In 2006, after spending $17 million to study the issue, the Department of Defense determined that consolidation was not the answer to budget concerns. It wasn’t the answer then and it is not the answer now.

For more information on the Commissary benefit, we suggest you read Tom Philpott’s article, Commissary boss: Critics overlook the efficiencies. We have also provided a list of important facts on the commissary and exchange.

Important Facts:

Military families currently save an average of 31% by shopping in the Commissary.
Military families save an average of over 20% by shopping in the Exchanges.
The commissaries and exchanges pay $800 million to more than 50,000 military family members employed by them.
Exchanges generate $300 million in dividends which are used to support Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) programs for service members and military families.
For the $1.5 billion spent annually, commissaries and exchanges generate $5.6 billion in savings.

We urge you to let Congress know how much you value your Commissary and Exchange Benefit! Please leave your comment below.

Comments

Thanks for submitting your feedback. If your comment is personal in nature, please email info@MilitaryFamily.org.

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Comment: This is just another slap in the face to those who have served their country and who have paid a steep price for their service. Firstly, VA benefits underwent severe cuts and now this. The wealthy continue to make large investments and shop at high end stores while those who legitimately EARNED their benefits are opted out.weeyed
Submitted by: Granny S on March 5, 2013

Comment: I use the commissary sometimes but it is too far away to drive for basic needs. They should just add money to your retirement and down size hours of operation of the commissaries. Exchange is fine but again too far to drive and you can get good deals on the outside. They need to dwon size and change hours of operation. Their is no clear answer but something needs to be done to save money.
Submitted by: Greg Kennedy on March 1, 2013

Comment: You all complain about how bad you have it. Well truck drivers, sales people and pilots and many others in civilian life are also away from home alot. What congress needs to do, is first restore the draft and pay those who serve under 4 years 1/2 of what is paid now. I see e-6 and e-7 doing jobs that e-2 and 2-3 used to do. The officer corp needs to be cut to no more than 1 officer to 12 enlisted. We need to do away with warrent officers and seeing we have the seaman to admiral program. Too many levels of authority. We also need to put all retired under the FEHB medical program. Plus all dependents as well. We need to do away with giving x spouses military related benefits, including medical and shopping benefits. Plus we need to pay single and married troops the same rate of all pay. The military is the only employer who gives extra. You say a spouse does things so they should get extra, what about others who are in travel status or dangerous work etcc. Who pays people 10-24 such a high rate of pay. Most teens and young 20's are lucky to have a job at minimum wage let alone a high wage. Many in the military say they work for so little, many in the military would get paid a lot less in civilian life. I drove cross country (truck) for 30 years, I was away from my spouse more than any military man or women was. 2 or 3 weeks on the road out of every four every year and year round. You dont have it so rough. Sleeping in the back of the truck, shower at truck stops, meals on the run and clearing about 40k a year before taxes. Cry cry cry thats all you do
Submitted by: former military on February 3, 2013

Comment: I am tired of military complaints. Commissary and exchanges are needed abroad but not in conus. Others have to travel, fight traffic etc to shop. Let Sams club or similar take over these business. I comparison shop and many things cost less off base. Of course many active and retired thinks they are owed. This is a choice you and i have made. I also think military retired in particular should be placed on a federal health plan instead of tricare and pay the same rate as civil servants due. We were promised most benefits on a space avail basis. When I figure gas etc to drive to the comissary most of the savings are eaten up by gas and wear and tare on the car. Comparison shop you can do better off base esp with sales. Stop being so darn lazy and babies. Many in the civilian world earn a lot less and have to worry about health care and layoffs. In every career their are pluses and minuses. If you dont like your lot then get out and find a job in the real world and you will see the employer could care less about you. Also they pay you for work done not bases on martial status. Single and married get paid equally on the outside.
Submitted by: retired sailor on February 3, 2013

Comment: Again decisions about promised benefits are being eroded by men and women in congress who have rarely served and experienced the hardships of military families.
Submitted by: Met vet on January 5, 2013

Comment: If it were not for the Commissary and Military Exchange installations on our armed bases, military families would, without a doubt, struggle to meet the needs of their families. And this does not limit to the families that are serving the military currently, but also to those who have provided service in our armed forces in the past. I cannot imagine how disappointing it would be to see these installations close. They are, after all, largely responsible for making military bases complete communities in which we have everything we need inside the border. Without them, our infrastructure would be unimaginably devastated. It is only just that military families continue to have this leisure, as we sacrifice so much in so many other aspects that cannot possibly be compensated otherwise. Families in the military already sacrifice so much for the well-being of others. Can you honestly justify taking this away from us too? My value for these installations is overwhelming. Keep our commissaries and exchanges open, please.
Submitted by: Lockard on January 4, 2013

Comment: Do your job to run this country right ...tired of paying for your lack of competance...I sacrifice and pay enough
Submitted by: stop screwing us on January 4, 2013

Comment: If there is one thing proven time and time again it is that congress continues to stick its nose into things it has absolutely no understanding of. Military benefits were promised over some 100 years suddenly become expendable. OK You and your assi9ciates in congress complicate in robbing the accounts like SSA are now finding the kick can road at a dead end. Typicality you want to place the burden of payment on the mil pers. Not much I can do other rhan spend every waking moment left to discourage any other young man considering a military career. They must be educated in the absolute inability to trust the US congress. A sad state of affairs isn't it.
Submitted by: swamprat retired 1sgt on December 11, 2012

Comment: As a veteran who has served my country honorable for over twenty years disagree with consolidating the exchange and commissary. The saving military family has earned did not come without sacrifices.
Submitted by: RetVet on December 10, 2012

Comment: This is a benefit that I earned. I took a huge pay cut to serve 20 years in the Army and I don't regret one moment of it. But when you retire at half pay and you lose your housing allowance, it's tough to make ends meet and the commissary is a benefit that I use every week. Please don't do this to us after we have served our country. Go after the slackers who are abusing the disability system, not claiming wages on their income taxes. using Medicaid when they don't need it, etc. I am sick of everyone going after the military benefits.
Submitted by: Christine on December 6, 2012

Comment: I live on base stateside. If the commissary and post exchange programs were eliminated it wouldntbe hard for me to go to go to Publix or Walmart. It isn't the convience of shopping on base that makes me speak out to save these programs; having to leave post, fight traffic, shop, and then get back on post is a pain; I speak out because these programs show that the military carrs about us. My husband goes to work and puts his life, physical and mental health in jeopardy everyday so he can go to the fight to drfend our country. It's a hard job and on the job it there isn't a lot of appreciation. So it's nice to know that Uncle Sam cares about the soldiers on the ground. It's the same for the MWR programs. All of it shows that the military will take care of our military families. It's hard enough with family members gone all the time. The families need these things. Please don't us.
Submitted by: Godsmartian on December 6, 2012

Comment: First of all, I think that it is terribly sad that any of our servicemens pay would be low enough to qualify them for welfare benefits/food stamps, etc. I believe that there is dignity in being able to care for your children without government assistance. It is ridiculous that these men get up before 6 am every morning and work far more than 40 hours in a week and many still don't make enough to live without government subsidies. The commissary plays a vital part in our family being capable of living with integrity and without government help. I ask that you do not take this away.
Submitted by: Melissa on December 5, 2012

Comment: Living in a remote area having a Commissary and Exchange on the base makes shopping very easy. If we didn't have them we would have to drive at least 20-30 mins to the nearest grocery store and department store. Please continue to support these very necessary amenities!
Submitted by: Kate on December 5, 2012

Comment: So many men and woman put their lives on the line defending our country, meanwhile the military families back at home are the soldiers support. Why should militaries benefits be cut to make up for the countries debt? There are sports players, singers, and actors that bring in more money for one game, movie, or song than our soldiers earn in a whole year. How is this even right? Soldiers are dying for our country and they still get treated like poop. Maybe instead of always making the soldiers suffer by taking away what help we have maybe you should learn to distribute the money that all the "famous" people earn. There are so many people out there struggling, including military families and then there are people that are "rolling in money", more money than they know what to do with or need. Instead of the president going on expensive vacations all the time helping put our country more in debt maybe he should use that money to help build our country in a positive way. Instead of building more buildings and roads we should look into using what's already there. I'm not saying those in the entertainment industry shouldnt earn anything but I believe that military should get at least equal to what they get, if not a little more. I really hope you will reconsider taking away this small benefit that really helps out the military families. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me. Thank you.
Submitted by: armyRGRwife on December 5, 2012

Comment: I realy dont want the Comissary to raise there prices I understand that it loses money but I ned it.
Submitted by: jane on November 29, 2012

Comment: My son is in Okinawa and my daughter in boot camp. It is simple; the job of the government is to provide for the common defense! They could have saved the tax payers $17 million if they had only read the constitution.
Submitted by: mamaduck on November 26, 2012

Comment: Please Keep Commissary the same. I don't understand how the Senate and President could take away from Military families or schools from the public. What is the point of anyone joining the service if they continuously take away from the men and women. My husband and I live on base in Guam and only go to the commissary because it is way to expensive locally. They have already put a surcharge on the bill which I understand helps build and up keep the building but to add more to the bill would be devastating to a lot of families around here.
Submitted by: Niki on November 25, 2012

Comment: We've already seen the prices go up, we can hardly afford to shop at the commissary and exchange. If these stores/benefits were taken away, the US would be paying out more to feed the poor/unemployed because that's where we'll all be eventually. This is no way to show appreciation to the men, women, and families who give their lives for their country and make many sacrifices! Please do not rob the military of these benefits!
Submitted by: on November 25, 2012

Comment: I am all for higher prices if we get the raise to accommodate for it. Our active duty is well under paid as it is.
Submitted by: militarywife07 on November 25, 2012

Comment: The commissary is the only reason I don't go broke feeding my family, it is a staple to all military families.
Submitted by: Yams on November 25, 2012

Comment: Our military are very important and are way underpaid. Allowing them to shop at the Commissary to save a few dollars is only right to help them because they are underpaid and some eligible for food stamps. Helping them is the right thing to do. Some military are in remote places and need our Commussary and BX.
Submitted by: Naneekris on November 25, 2012

Comment: We are a family of five, and the commissary enables me to provide healthy meals for my children at a price that doesn't destroy our budget. Many of the junior marines and sailors depend heavily on the low prices provided by the commissary to feed their families with their small income. If you consider how much these young men and women are willing to give to this country (their life, if necessary), you will see that providing them the ability to provide affordable food for their family is not too much to ask. Please consider these requests to protect our commissary, exchange, and MWR benefits.
Submitted by: Jess on November 25, 2012

Comment: We have 4 children and shop at the commissary weekly. If it wasn't for the commissary, there would be times we'd struggle to feed our family. With prices rising every day, military families need all the help they can get considering how little we are paid to begin with.
Submitted by: JRosinsky on November 25, 2012

Comment: We live in Okinawa, if it wasn't for the PX and commissary we wouldn't be able to afford to live. We have a 2 year old and a 1 year old who love to eat and stuff out here is not cheap as is. If it wasn't for the commissary, things would definitely be tough.
Submitted by: lmrunnels on November 25, 2012

Comment: If it wasn't for the Commissary and Exchange, my husband and I could not afford to be stationed overseas where we were tasked. I'm thankful we have the privilage of these benefits when you cant always choose where the military will send you.
Submitted by: lacypearl on November 25, 2012

Comment: We live overseas and without these benefits we could not afford to live here, the japanese prices and food selections are aweful. The BX and commissary have been the only things that have kept some money in the account and brought a little bit of home to our lives. Please do not take these benefits away from us!
Submitted by: Overseas AF Wife on November 25, 2012

Comment: Please do not take away our benefits like this... we need them. Our families sacrifice enough as it is, don't do this too.
Submitted by: on November 25, 2012

Comment: When there are already so many active duty families who have to use food stamps and things like WIC in order to make ends meet, why would our government want to take this away? It's bad enough that these men and women have to deploy and sacrifice, some with their lives, and then worry about what the government is going to take from them next. Right now, we have to worry about our healthcare, our housing benefits, everything is being threatened...why not leave the commissary and exchanges alone? Give your military members something to appreciate.
Submitted by: USAF wife on November 23, 2012

Comment: We need to find compromises somewhere. I could live without the commissary and PX if it meant saving more important benefits.
Submitted by: Poprocks on November 21, 2012

Comment: I am not military, but a retired educator. I cannot imagine taking ANYTHING away from military families who give so much to their country. Congress can and should do better!
Submitted by: jan on November 20, 2012

Comment: Do our military families not sacrifice enough to deserve a break at the grovery store? I hope you will not punish hard working brave Americans by passing this bill.
Submitted by: Brandnita on November 20, 2012

Comment: I am sooo sick of being ripped off by the commissary and the PX that at this point I would agree to close them. If they are failing it is because of their greed and taking advantage of military families.
Submitted by: Colleen on November 20, 2012

Comment: The commissary and Exchange are not only place for military and dependents to shop and save money but also they provide jobs for dependents and civilians. Without these benefits to military lots of people will be hurting for jobs especially overseas and in remote areas. Please rethink this.
Submitted by: Mrs Payne on November 20, 2012

Comment: I am the spouse of a 3 time combat veteran.. It would be absolutely ridiculous to cut our benefits!!
Submitted by: Mortar family on November 20, 2012

Comment: If there are no benefits....what's the point in staying in the military? I think we deserve all the benefits we get since my husband is fighting for our country.
Submitted by: Military Wife on November 20, 2012

Comment: I love shopping at the commissary, I am currently living with family away from a military base and I always talk how much I miss shopping at the commissary and the exchange. I constantly compare the prices of the commissary to Walmart, the commissary has better prices and I love how everything is organized at the commissary! Military families sacrifice so much, so I believe we deserve the benefits we currently receive. Why is it the military that always has to be the first to be looked at when it comes to budget, why not other government programs such as welfare??
Submitted by: Army Wife Bix on November 20, 2012

Comment: We have given up so much being a military family and now you want to take away what little we do get! Being a family that is stationed over seas it would be almost impossible to survive.
Submitted by: AF Fam on November 19, 2012

Comment: The commissary privilege is one of the major perks that cause people to even WANT to join the military! By taking away this valuable benefit, you may end up removing one of the major incentives for joining the armed forces. Do you then propopse that we go back into FORCING people to serve? I don't know about you, but I don't think I'd feel very safe alongside somebody in a trench who doesn't WANT to be there in the first place. Service men and women - as well as their dependents - earn such low pay that most of them qualify for food stamps. The average military family can save around $400 per year shopping at the commissary - and especially for those serving overseas. The familiar American products from "back home" on the shelves help make the transition to another culture easier, and saving 31% on their grocery bill certainly helps keep their heads above water. Take away the commissary benefit and you risk lowering the morale of the troops - and to do that would be downright UN-American! LEAVE THE COMMISSARY ALONE!
Submitted by: Tamara on November 19, 2012

Comment: Please do not cut commissary funding. For many military families shopping at the commissary is a necessity. We can save on groceries which helps when our spouses have not seen raises in years. You continue to cut benefits to those that put their life on the line for their country yet, want to say "We support our military"? Please support our military and their families. Do not cut commissary funding as this will adversely affect the families and their ability to survive in a challenging economy.
Submitted by: Military wife on November 18, 2012

Comment: I am not in the military, but think that Commissary and Exchange benefits are well worth the cost to tax payers. We ask far too much of active duty and their families, we owe them so much more than what we give.
Submitted by: Sarah L on November 16, 2012

Comment: We served our country, we sacrificed for many years, please don't take our benefits away!
Submitted by: Retired navy family on November 16, 2012

Comment: The commissaries and exchanges are one of the most significant benefits to our military families, both AD and retired. It appears to be one of the most efficiently run too. Please spare this benefit and eliminate some of the ridiculous R&D projects, i.e. studying fish and democracy, not to mention many others. The young AD and retired military families are on limited incomes and depend on this benefit to make ends meet in these desperate times.
Submitted by: Nurse B on November 16, 2012

Comment: Military families already live just above the poverty level. Many are eligible for food stamps and WIC services. Any reduction in benefits will adversely affect a military families quality of life. Considering the immense sacrifice these families have made repeatedly over the past decade, decreasing their benefits would be offensive!!
Submitted by: Tamarion33 on November 16, 2012

Comment: Losing our commissary savings would be devestating to many military families. It is a slap in the face to those who have sacrificed so much for the past 11 years.
Submitted by: jamiewyn on November 16, 2012

Comment: we are doing so much with so little that a lose of any kind hurts. Everyone says our hero but as soon as the fight is over they just want to put everyone out to paster.
Submitted by: sarge on November 16, 2012

Comment: Commissary and Exchange benefits are essential to service members and their families to make ends meet, find employment, and to enjoy the programs and activities offered by MWR. Cutting them would be devastating to service members and their families, and would severely impact recruitment and retention. If these benefits are cut, then their salaries will need to increase to offset the loss of these benefits, or service members may be forced to seek help from other government sources, such as food stamps or welfare to feed and clothe their families. It would be a terrible shame on our government to deny our service members,who bravely defend our freedoms and our way of life, the benefits upon which they rely greatly to support their families.
Submitted by: Blissful Spouse on November 16, 2012

Comment: Commissaries and Exchanges are very important to the military families who are able to utilize them. Not only do military families save money, but the convenience and safety of shopping on base is always a factor. For most families, it would be harder to stretch in between paychecks if not able to use these benefits. Please do not take this away from the people who have EARNED this benefit!
Submitted by: Stephanie on November 16, 2012

Comment: These are great benefits. Military really does not make that much compared to the cost of living and these benefits help me to make it pay check to pay check. Please do not mess with this. We need it and after all our Service Men and Women do, the least that can be done in return is that they get a little bit of a break and money savings.
Submitted by: Tamtam on November 16, 2012

Comment: This change will do more harm than good: PLEASE leave the Commissary and Exchange Benefit as it currently stands!
Submitted by: Lebagirl on November 16, 2012

Comment: I totally appreceate my Commissary here in Germany.The prices are affordable. Thank you for that support. I would love to keep it.
Submitted by: patricia on November 16, 2012

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