About Us

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.

Items 151 - 200 of 354

Comment: Everyone talks about how much they appreciate our members of the military who willingly serve knowing they could be called to deliver the ultimate sacrifice, their life, to preserve this great nation. How is taking away their commissary and exchange privileges synchronous with this so called appreciation of our service members. Our soldiers are fighting wars. Look somewhere else to cut the budget.
Submitted by: Evansbunch on November 21, 2011

Comment: I shop almost exclusively at the Commissary for my family as a retiree. I do not shop a lot at the Post Exchange (PX) as I find their prices comparable to off post establishments within CONUS. That being said,and as I had been assigned to overseas location prior to retirement, the PX and commissary were bright stars in living away from home. The PX offered familar items not available off post. The commissary was a life saver and a cost efficient option to off post establishments. We as retirees and those of active duty have taken an oath to protect and defend our country. Our countries officials need to open their eyes to the reality that without benefits, outside of personal pride and honor, what is the drive for service members to enlist or reenlist. Leave our benefits alone.
Submitted by: Retiree 1959 on November 21, 2011

Comment: All you have to do is read through the comments of my fellow military spouses and the service men and women who use the commissaries to hear what an important benefit they are to almost every military family. What costs more--the federal subsidy for commissaries, or the federal subsidies for WIC and other food assistance programs that will be necessary when you stop subsidizing the commissaries? I haven't done the math, but I will wager the latter is much more costly than the former. Think before you act.
Submitted by: NavSpouse on November 21, 2011

Comment: The reason that me and my family value our commisary and exchange stores are because of the savings. My husband is the only one that is working and I am disabled, so we trust in our military facilities to be there for our savings.
Submitted by: Nekia on November 21, 2011

Comment: You take away their mothers and fathers for months and years. They sacrifice thier lives and their health for thier country. Now you plan to take the food from their children's mouths and pull the rug out from their support programs. Have you no shame lawmakers?!!
Submitted by: kdm on November 21, 2011

Comment: Please do not stop the subsidy to the commissary. It is already sad that our junior enlisted personnel can qualify for food stamps. Shopping at the commissary is how they feed their families. Even by shopping at the commissary members are struggling month to month. Seriously how about cutting some of the subsidies to Rich oil tycoons, Huge land owners, and some of these ridiculous corporate bail-outs. Military pay is already a joke. I can not imagine the financial ramifications that this will have on the children and dependents.
Submitted by: USMC concerned spouse on November 21, 2011

Comment: Do NOT take from the military, the families and soldiers are scrapping by as it is! Are You SERIOUS?
Submitted by: Amanda on November 21, 2011

Comment: This is a MAJOR beneifit of the military and one I know a lot of folks depend on in order to make ends meet from payday to payday! Please do not take it away! You already added a surcharge to our commissary bill. That does not need to be increased. Instead of taking our benefits away, you need to manage the money properly and not overspend as you expect us to do on the pittance we are paid.
Submitted by: TPJ SD on November 21, 2011

Comment: After serving our country for 20 years (over half of his life) to retire and receive a very small pension (that is constantly threatened) and try tostart over again in the civilian world and then be threatened with loss of health benefits and loss of commissary privileges is a slap in the face. Please do not continue to threaten veterans with loss of benefits they have earned from being separated from family and sacrificing their lives.
Submitted by: Dawn on November 21, 2011

Comment: We struggle to make it as it is and taking away these benefits will result in our families suffering and more importantly our children. My son has a special diet and without the commissary I will not be able to accommodate his needs.
Submitted by: soldierswifegehling on November 21, 2011

Comment: This is one area where the government gets a tremendous bang for their buck. It would be penny wise and dollar foolish to cut it. In addition to the large savings on grocery for military families (remember the government has a duty to feed its troops) it creates jobs both on the base and the surrounding communities. It is a win win for everyone. Please maintain a long range vision of this issue and do not act hastily to cut this valuable benefit.
Submitted by: Rosa on November 21, 2011

Comment: Please do not take away this benefit! It is hard enough as it is to make the paycheck stretch. This would force a lot of people to eat lower quality food, in turn, making for less healthy people, which drives up healthcare costs. Cut unnecessary spending somewhere else!
Submitted by: Darlene on November 21, 2011

Comment: Army salary is not much. The hard work and sacrifice that the Army families have to endure are huge but worth going through when there are benefits such as the low prices we can only get from Commissionaires.
Submitted by: sarahmanzana on November 21, 2011

Comment: Please do not take away the benefits of the Commissary and Exchange. The savings from shopping at these facilities has made a huge difference in our lives as we would not be able to afford groceries or items off base living in San Diego. My pay has been frozen due to the low economy and with my husband's pay staying the same throughout the years, we are making ends meet but with the aid of the savings we gain while shopping on base.
Submitted by: E7 Navy Spouse on November 21, 2011

Comment: I think it's ridiculous they are considering this. What benefits do we really have in being military? Missing every holiday home with families. Missing every birthday and anniversary. Were struggling aleady! If you can't offer me a deal, I mightiest well go to walmart! How much money will u save if you don't make any money!?? I hope I find a decent career...because if and when I do, the military is about to lose a really good soldier! What's the point if civilians get more benefits than the one people literally risking their lives!?!
Submitted by: Dory on November 21, 2011

Comment: Please don't take away our military commissary benifits. My husband retired in 1993. We live ina area with a high unemployment rate and he doesn't make a lot. The commissary has made a big difference for my family. Don't take it away.
Submitted by: retired military wife on November 21, 2011

Comment: please do not eliminate this benefit!
Submitted by: Jennifer Juel on November 21, 2011

Comment: When my husband retired in 1987 as an E-8 over 20, he made $1929 a month. Needless to say, his retirement is not enough to live on. Someone retiring today at the same rank/time in service, makes $4691. Believe me, it's not just the young Soldier and their Family that relies on the Commissary. Without it, we'd definitely not be eating healthy. We have alwayws relied on the Commissary to feed our family. The rationale for lower pay has always been that the benefits make up for it. So, now you're going to take the benefits too? Thanks.
Submitted by: PJ on November 18, 2011

Comment: I work for a company who supplies produce for the Commissaries and I am also a new Military Wife. If this were to go into effect my family would be affected on two levels. With one swoop I would lose my job and savings.
Submitted by: Beth on November 14, 2011

Comment: As a military spouse, I sacrificed a well paying job when my wife received orders to transfer duty stations. I have not been able to find a job and cost of living in this new location has really hurt us. We are able to make ends meet by shopping at the commissary.
Submitted by: Manny G on November 14, 2011

Comment: I agree with this on one condition.. that all of congress drops there salary permantly to under $30,000.00 anually.
Submitted by: Canon36 on November 9, 2011

Comment: I only shop at the commissary if it closed I wouldnt know what to do so many families rely on the great prices and convience of being here on base
Submitted by: USMC wife12 on November 9, 2011

Comment: Growing up in military, we shopped at the commissary and exchange almost exclusively in order to make ends meet. When I married an airman (E-2), we did the same, for the same reason. We couldn't afford to shop elsewhere. Throughout our military career, I've watched too many young mothers whip out food stamps at the commissary. There has never been any overtime pay, merit bonuses or merit pay raises to offset the long hours, unaccompanied tours, and deployments. Military families endure a LOT in service to our country and Congress continues to whittle away at the benefits promised when we volunteered to put our lives and families at risk. Stop it already!
Submitted by: ArmyBrat and AF Spouse on November 9, 2011

Comment: When I was deployed to Bosnia, my main concern was that I wasn't there to take care of the day to day needs of my family. commissary and exchange benefits are a way to share the burden placed on military families! Please keep these benefits active!
Submitted by: GSpencer on November 8, 2011

Comment: I shop at the commissary and exchange on a weekly basis. After using coupons at both these locations, my family has popcorn and movie nights at home. We save money shopping at these locations, and without those savings, we would not be able to pack healthy lunches for our children or bake cookies on a Saturday night. I rely heavily on these benefits, and thinking they could be gone scares me!
Submitted by: Cameron on November 7, 2011

Comment: For as long as I have been privileged to be a spouse of a military officer, the opportunity to utilize the facilities have made our time in service essential to our home life. The convenience and savings offered by the commissary and base exchange allowed me the freedom to be a stay at home mom and use my free time to volunteer on base in various capacities. When you are balancing the budget, I ask that you consider the men and women in service and their families and the impact the cuts will have on us. Many are called but few are chosen. Even fewer volunteer to serve.
Submitted by: Madam on November 5, 2011

Comment: I think congress needs to start looking at their own paychecks for cuts instead of taking everything away from the ones standing up protecting this countries freedom. Retirement cuts, commissary cuts, what's next????? There are only a minimal amount of benefits that we receive being a military family if congress keeps going I'm wondering what's gonna be left for us!
Submitted by: Armywife on November 3, 2011

Comment: Seriously, this could not possibly be a consideration in cutting the deficit. Unlike civilians our military does not receive overtime benefits nor do they receive raises based upon performance. The military is underpaid as it is and our commissaries and NEX stores are many times the only way that our families can keep our heads above water. I would like to see these thick headed congress people try to live on an enlisted personnel's salary while supporting a family. This is foolishness to the ultimate level. I am totally disappointed in our elected officials. Our military personnel place their lives on the line everyday for this country and this is the way in which our government chooses to show their gratitude. As a military spouse I am appalled and totally disappointed in the choices that are being made at the hands of our government. I would like to see congress take pay cuts. I am certain that this would be key in cutting the deficit. The last thing that should be an option in deficit cutting are military benefits, medicare and retirement benefits. The government has to make better choices. Maybe if the Pentagon wasn't donating $1 million a year to NASCAR then they could reallocate these monies into something that is a benefit to society as a whole.
Submitted by: E6NavyWife on October 31, 2011

Comment: Congress can't possibly understand as they only support the wealthy 1% who fill their pocket with donations, not the military personel who sacrifice their lives everyday the freedom members of Congress enjoy. Military personel are underpaid as it is. Maybe Congressional members should live on a miliatry salary for a 1yr and see how long they would last.
Submitted by: Bellefifi on October 31, 2011

Comment: I often wonder why the US Military are selected as the scape goats to achieve savings or social reforms while other government backed programs are left untouched. The Military is the first choice of politicians push for acceptance of gays or pick out the miniscule savings to be had in salary reductions, benefits and entiltlements. When asked why the Congress or Senate does not start with their salaries, staff increases, trips overseas etc., it gets lost in downplaying the amount of savings as being too small to consider. Civil Servents and politicians, with rare exceptions are not being shot at, are not asked to move every three years, are not asked to work under the same conditions or hours, but the military are the target and asked to give more and more. Why!!
Submitted by: Bill Foran on October 30, 2011

Comment: We have worked hard and sacrificed so much, why must you do this? It is a shame on how you treat us and our families. It is a shame on how you treat the families who have lost a spouse/father who need this.
Submitted by: Texas Tarheel Yaker on October 28, 2011

Comment: It is sad to see that many airmen earn such poor wages that as young families they are eligible for WIC. Please consider the strenght of the family behind the servicemen and women who sacrifice. Cutting our benefits at a time when everything is so expensive is ridiculous.
Submitted by: AF Spouse on October 28, 2011

Comment: Please reconsider this! Our military families are already getting inferior medical and dental coverage and have to pay high child care costs or be on a waiting list forever for subsidy that doesn't seem to exist. Our service members and their families put their lives on the line every day for this wonderful country--wonderful because they have ensured our continued freedom! They deserve America's support!
Submitted by: Concerned Marine Mom on October 28, 2011

Comment: Please reconsider this potential budget cut, something that will affect the nutrition and quality of life for our service members and their families!
Submitted by: Victoria on October 28, 2011

Comment: Our family chooses to shop at the commissary and the PX because so many of the items less expensive than retail. It is hard to feed a family of 4 boys on retail rates. My husband and I firgured out we save approx 300.00 a month. The other reason why we shop at the PX and the Commissary is that the money that is made is put back into military progams via MWR. Many of the programs help out various service members with issues dealing and not dealing with deployment and mobiliaztion promblems. I would ask the congress members try and budget for a family of four not using the PX and commissary. Somehow, I think they would fail. Do not penalize the military because Congress can't make and stick to a budget!
Submitted by: army nurse on October 28, 2011

Comment: Making it on junior enlisted pay means we have a strict budget and there isn't a lot left over. Every penny counts and living in an overseas location makes things even tighter. One of the ways we are able to make ends meet is shopping at the commissary. We simply cannot afford to shop off post. Taking away the savings we get at the commissary would catastrophically hurt our standard of living.
Submitted by: MilSpouse on October 27, 2011

Comment: Here we go again, another promise broken! We don't get much as of salary, and these small things like our BX and commisary offset and add to the privilege of serving our country with direct savings on items for our families. I really would like to see our representaitve put up their life long retirement and health care first!
Submitted by: LONRUF on October 27, 2011

Comment: Please save our commissary and exchange benefits! Our junior service members especially NEED these benefits! We sacrifice enough, we need to be able to save somewhere.
Submitted by: CGwife on October 27, 2011

Comment: Military families already sacrifice enough for their country. Many of the lower ranks need the savings that they get at the commissary. You want to raise prices at the commissary and the exchange, then how about giving us a pay raise that actually does something for us! When you have a significant percentage of your "employees" (active duty military) and their families eligible for food stamps and WIC I think it is shortsighted and stupid to take away some of our benefits. You want to cut someone's benefits how about looking at your own, congress, before looking to cut someone else's. We have the greatest all volunteer military in the world, but part of the reason that people come into the military is for the benefits. If you take all of them away, who's going to volunteer?
Submitted by: keyspouse on October 27, 2011

Comment: Changing military benefits such as cutting costs in the Commissary and Exchange will adversely affect military families. We already sacrifice enough with long deployments and the added expenses associated with these family separations. Money to fund the Camp LeJeune Veterans Act must come from another source (how about Obamacare or Planned Parenthood?) and NOT our Exchange and Commissary benefits. Legislators who have no experience as military family members should not be imposing a new business model for the Commissary and Exchange system, especially when it is done without any input from military service members and their families.
Submitted by: Army Family on October 26, 2011

Comment: The commissary is a great benefit that helps us stretch our paycheck while helping us put food on the table. I was in shock recently when I went to a grocery store and saw the prices! I know that it would be much harder to feed my family within our budget if there wasn't a commissary. Please don't combine them and take away one of our important benefits!
Submitted by: Asailor'swife on October 26, 2011

Comment: This is the way Congress thanks the military and their families for their sacrifices? Please don't penalize the military and their families for Congress' inability to spend money wisely. A lot of families rely on those savings in order to survive.
Submitted by: irishclover on October 26, 2011

Comment: Please keep the Commissary and Exchange Benefits available to our military families! This was a very valuable resource to our family when we lived on base.
Submitted by: ywrmom on October 26, 2011

Comment: If taking away the only true savings we have left to make up for federal funds elsewhere you will have more than a crisis on your hands military families will be forced to get food stamps instead to feed their families as if this country doesn't have enough people currently receiving benefits from welfare.As if it wasn't bad enough that Obama cut their pay he will be out of office in 2012. Lets look at the big picture how about congress and the president take a pay cut and still work to defend our country the way our active duty family members are expected too.
Submitted by: Mrs.Richter on October 26, 2011

Comment: Military families are bearing the brunt of America's wars. Please do not balance the budget on the backs of us who have already sacrificed so much for our country.
Submitted by: Dawn on October 26, 2011

Comment: Please do not let them destroy the military families ability to save on our groceries. The Comissary is my life saver!! I have been out of work for 6 months due to our recent PCS move and if I had to pay more than I am now for groceries there is NO WAY we would make it through til my next job kicks in and even after that this is such a VALUED service that helps SO MANY families. Please keep the Commissary program the way it is.
Submitted by: Mel Whitney on October 26, 2011

Comment: Leave our Military and their family members benefits alone!
Submitted by: marlinhoops on October 26, 2011

Comment: Keep taking from the military...great idea!! The president and all his pee-ons need to take a salary cut!Lord knows military doesn't get paid enough! Unreal!Way to show how appreciative the government is for all the sacrifices the military goes through not to mention their families as well!
Submitted by: Fed up on October 26, 2011

Comment: As if the below minimum wage pay isn't bad enough, now this? My husband is retired and we shop mainly at the commissary even now because we cannot afford the public stores solely as our food source. The only time we shop in the regular stores is if the commissary doesn't carry any item(s) that the public stores do. If not for the commissary we would need to seek assistance with food, which, in turn, will cost the government more in the long run. There is little to no incentive left for our wo/men in uniform and given that they give up their freedoms so that others may have them, one would think that our government would help support those they employ and deploy to defend our country. I'm disgusted!
Submitted by: RetiredNavyWife on October 26, 2011

Comment: I am a military spouse and know how helpful the benefits of the commissary are. It is hard enough living on a military salary, not to mention all the sacrifices our soldiers and military families have to make such as frequent moving due to PCSing, deployments, separation, lose of family member due to training and combat. Taking away the benefits of the military will put more strain on the families due to financial adjustments, not to mention job losses. Not only that, but in order to consolidate the exchanges and commissaries, you will have to spend even more money. I truly believe that health care is a big concern, but taking money away from people that actually deserve it is not the solution. Taking money away from people is not going to help the economy nor pull the government out of debt. I know plenty of people out there that receive government benefits such as unemployment, wick, medicare, etc, that do the bare minimum, so they can keep their benefits, when they are actually capable of doing more. Maybe it is those benefits that need to be reevaluated. Please do not pass this bill.
Submitted by: Emily on October 26, 2011

Items 151 - 200 of 354