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.

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Comment: Pearl Harbor is so important and we need the commissary to help with day to day living in such an expensive place. Remember military does not get the high salaries and the commissary is a necessity not a luxury. It was part of the package that we signed up for.
Submitted by: Cindy on October 26, 2011

Comment: it is ridiculous to keep cutting from the military!! why not cut from elsewhere, like illegal immigrants?! Our men and women who serve and have served deserve to be treated much much better by our government.
Submitted by: kim on October 26, 2011

Comment: Leave our Military and their family members benefits alone! Let our members of Congress go without, give them the pay of our Military and see how the like things taken away from them that let them support their family members.
Submitted by: Marine Corps Wife on October 26, 2011

Comment: Our family is a proud military unit. We didn't enlist our family in the military to get rich. However, at times it seems to be a bit of a struggle to make ends meet. If Congress decides to eliminate our commissary and exchange benefits it will make it impossible to raise a healthy family much less survive. Please do not end these benefits, we are a strong military family but if faced with this, re-enlisted will no longer be an option for us.
Submitted by: Kathleen on October 26, 2011

Comment: Congress needs to start letting go of some of thier pay insted of taking it from our Military, It's sad that they make all that money and wana take benefits from the Military. I think it's funny how they all say they for the Military but look who they always want to make bail them out of thier poor spending. We need the benefits of the Commissary and exchange services they help us Military families survive on the incomes and the rising cost of food, clothing and such.
Submitted by: army spouse on October 26, 2011

Comment: We greatly value our commissary and exchange benefits! It's ridiculous that the benefits we receive for being a military family are in jeopardy. So much for "supporting the troops" huh?
Submitted by: Army Wife on October 26, 2011

Comment: Benefits like our commissary are necessary to offset the meager salaries paid to our soldiers. Our lower enlisted already qualify for federal aid to feed their families. Our servicemen are only paid a fraction of what they deserve. Taking away vital benefits is a sure way to get them to depart in droves.
Submitted by: Cinchouse on October 26, 2011

Comment: Please do not take away these benefits that practically help many families meet their monthly budget requirements.Junior enlisted personnel especially often do not make enough money to afford shopping off-post to meet their families' daily needs. I cannot even imagine living overseas and having to shop in the foreign stores at all times;it will definitely put many on the brink of bankruptcy. Military families patiently give and sacrifice so much on a daily basis, and I think we deserve to know that at least the source of our families' sustenance isn't in jeopardy.
Submitted by: Army Wife on October 26, 2011

Comment: LEAVE OUR BENEFITS ALONE! Military service members (past, present and future) stand up for this country and face hardship and separation. They have and will sacrifice for the right to be free and for others to be free. The same freedom that allows others to protest and speek their minds. We are the few who protect the multitudes locally and abroad. Cuts need to start at the top, those of you on the hill, you work little and are paid alot. Start there. Leave our benefits ALONE!!!!
Submitted by: Farmer - Retired Army on October 26, 2011

Comment: I have a hard time understanding why it's always the military members that have to make the most sacrifices. My question is, do they plan on increasing the pay of our service members? Congress needs to look a little closer to home and see what fat they can cut so that we don’t loose another benefit.
Submitted by: Marine Wife on October 26, 2011

Comment: While the loss of the commissary savings would financially devastate my family, I'm equally concerned about the MWR subsidy. This is the money that makes my local military child care center such a valuable resource. Without subsidies families could not afford the quality care on installation. Many spouses are in positions that would not cover the cost of care on the economy. When my child care expense exceeds my net income I can no longer afford to work.
Submitted by: Marine spouse on October 25, 2011

Comment: I live in an overseas location without a commissary. Our locales change has a few aisles dedicated to grocery items. Pricing is set to cover all costs plus the requied profit for MWR so we pay $5.25 for a head of celery, $3.00 for a small bag of carrots, $5.69 for a 16 slice package of American cheese. We CANNOT purchase fresh meat, everything is frozen. A beef roast, there is only one variety and it is three pounds, is $51.00. Want to celebrate a special occasion? A single steak is $24.99. Hope you have a small family. My monthly grocery expenditures have increased from $600 per month as a loyal commissary shopper to $1500 per month. Factor into this equation that I left an excellent job with extremely competitive pay and a robust benefit package to move to a location where most jobs are reserved for local national and non-US spouse applicants. The lack of a commissary here will leave us in debt for years. With no job and exorbitant prices, we are forced to use credit cards for food. It's wrong, but it will be the norm if Congress proceeds with this action.
Submitted by: Marine wife on October 25, 2011

Comment: We need our commissaries for several reasons. The obvious assistance it provides us on our grocery bills. But it is also a camaraderie in the military. Its a community. It helps keep us together and helps us feel connected. It may sound frivolous, but when we are alone (especially in the national guard...with not a lot of military in our community) any connection with people who understand and appreciate our lifestyles is priceless. Please don't take this benefit away from us.
Submitted by: Lansley on October 25, 2011

Comment: This is ridiculous. congress needs to cut their own financial benefits. Our military put themselves in great danger, their life's! They are the reason for our freedom and our safety. If it wasn't for our military congress would be where they stand. Congress needs to realize that. Our military always get the short end of the stick and needs to stop. Military benefits are always getting cut or taken away. Pretty soon no one will want to join our military because benefits aren't any good. That is scary cause NO one in congress will go willingly to go fight for our country.
Submitted by: Rosie on October 25, 2011

Comment: I don't want to hear anything else about more cuts to our benefits until Congress cuts their own benefits, cuts the cut the benefits to those who contributes nothing to this country other than an ever increasing segment of society on public aid, and reigns in the continuous abuses in the banking and economic stimulus giveaway programs. If POTUS and Congress cannot cut the fat there, then We the People will sstart making our own cut, beginning with the 2012 election.
Submitted by: Jean-Luc on October 25, 2011

Comment: Again, Congress looks at taking away a valuable benefit from a group whose sacrifice is far beyond any others; while avoiding to eliminate wasteful spending, earmarks and pork programs. Enough is enough; when they have reduced their expenses and cut all of the waste out of the budget, then they can evaluate MWR programs. Until then, leave this valuable and necessary benefit alone!
Submitted by: HJK on October 25, 2011

Comment: This would be a detrimental and unfair act for military families, often with the sole income of the military member. Please denouce this movement and defend the military me Family
Submitted by: Audrey Story on October 25, 2011

Comment: We value our commissary and exchanges as a way to help fund our MWR, not only are the prices more affordable we need our commissaries to be a able to help us the military families be able to survive on the wages our spouses make. Thank you.
Submitted by: Anna on October 25, 2011

Comment: As a mother of four and guardian of #5, wife of a SSgt and loyal commissary and exchange buyer, I am upset that this is even an option. With 3 little ones in diapers, there would be no way that we would be able to keep everyone clothed let alone food on the table. Must husband has been in for 12 years and still makes much less then someone in his field of computers and IT. You can all say that we get extra this and BAH and BAS - but then you send us to Southern California, with no additional bump in pay, our entire BAH goes to Lincoln Housing office on base even though my husband was promoted and we did not move to a higher rated housing area. Our home never changed, our electical usage never changed, our water usage never changed but our BAH went up and we have never been given the difference. No one has. As a SSgt with 12 years in with 4 children and a wife, this family is elegiable for food stamps, WIC and free lunch at our childrens schools. I must drive my son to high school off base as a bus is not provided UNLESS WE PAY $485 per year (or my husband deploys and then the district pays for it). I clip coupons, we dont eat out, we dont shop at the mall but at garage sales and super duper crazy with coupons low priced sales for clothing, we both have picked up side jobs at the church a few hours a week to cover gas, our 15 yr old son has done the same to pay for his wants... so you tell me; Why should our benefits of reduced prices at the commissary and exchanges go up to pay for health care for veterans that was promised to them when they served their country to begin with? I am truly disheartened by the thought of having one of our main resources tampered with in such an unnecessary way. You may contact me if you wish... 949-366-1442
Submitted by: MrsKerrie Jowers on October 25, 2011

Comment: Keep the COMMISSARY AND EXCHANGE the way it is. My husband is always deployed and hardly see our family which leaves me to become a stay at home Mom. We are strictly in one income and if we can't save some from shopping our goods what even stay in the military. All the benefits are slowly taken away while our spouse fight the war to have our freedom. WHERE DOES ITEND?
Submitted by: on October 25, 2011

Comment: National Guard families are the TRUE SUFFERERS. My husband with an MBA from an Ivy League University cannot get hired because of the frequent deployments. NO FIRM IN FINANCE wants to guarantee a white collar job. He is staying in because we need health insurance. The pay is not the reason. We need all the breaks we can get. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE AWAY THE COMMISSARIES. YOU will have no qualified military left. THIS IS PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH!!!!
Submitted by: 19 years in and now this! on October 25, 2011

Comment: "Support Our Troops" should mean something to Congressmen and women. Ten years of war, frequent moves, most military spouses can forget about their carriers, and now even our benefits will be gone. How much can military families take????
Submitted by: v on October 25, 2011

Comment: They need to leave things like this alone. The military person doesn't need to worry that their family at home can't afford to go to the grocery store because they have to pay higher prices because someone feels like they need to remove ANOTHER benefit that comes with sacrificing you life and family.
Submitted by: Helen on October 25, 2011

Comment: I can't believe after all the families go through with deployments, separations, anxiety, and many with disabilities caused by their service to country, that you would even consider cutting a benefit. Many military families are already on food stamps to pay for food and you want to up the price. Shame on You!!!! This benefit along with Exchanges and health care are what keep many in the service. Where will this country be when no one volunteers to serve and be torn from their families, what are the benefits of being in the military - besides love of country that I guess doesn't love us back.
Submitted by: Mel on October 25, 2011

Comment: Do not mess with our commissaries and exchanges. You will lose more than you bargain for. You won't get troops to protect this country when you need them!
Submitted by: rocknro on October 25, 2011

Comment: It looks as if it is another nail in the coffin from the socialist left in this country. Destroy the military by taking all the benefits and the country can be taken without firing a shot
Submitted by: Ret E8 on October 25, 2011

Comment: Leave all soldiers benefits ALONE!!! They constantly step up and put their lives on the line for our country. I do not see the public coming off the street and asking to send soldiers homes so they will go fight. I do not at all agree with touching any of our soldiers benefits that they deserve. This is unreal to even consider we should be ashamed to talk of it!
Submitted by: ma on October 25, 2011

Comment: After reading several other comments has given me the chance to say we do have voices of what is being taken away. Active, reserve, retires from all branch services please do your part and write something up that will over flow this survey. I fully agree with everyone who has taken the time to write out their comments. CONGRESS stop taken away more our commissary and PX benefits. The sacrifice my husband has service for 23 years is not in vain. Stop cutting the Arm Service benefits that they worked so hard for day and night, missing birthdays, special events with families. Most of you who sit on the top of hill are at the top of their wealth. Cutting benefits at commissary and PX's would cut into the cost of living for all of us who service. I still can't shop outside base because of the cost of living where we live. Congress cut your checks in half and then start shopping without the benefits and you'll see how a TRUTH service member works hard every day. If appreciation is what we need to show in our commissary and PX benefits, then keep it for those who are keeping us save. (This is a true story). There was a soldier (PFC) who was in line in front of me at the commissary and he couldn't pay for what he had on the counter. He was short of funds; and started call his wife to ask if what they could do without from the commissary because he didn’t have enough money. I made him put back the items on the counter and paid for the rest of the bill. He wanted my address so he could pay me back when he got more money. I told him he sacrificed enough for me and that was one way to thank him for saving me and my family. Go to the commissary one day and stand behind a soldier who can't pay for food because they don't make enough. You might be surprise! Congress appreciate those who are service you and your families.
Submitted by: Retired Army Miltary Wife on October 25, 2011

Comment: The commissary and exchange are two reasons my husband opted to stay in the Air Force until retirement. He is now deceased, but I still go regularly to the commissary and BX. This is an important part of staying within a budget and why military retirees stay near a base that has a nice commissary. Please do not take it away!
Submitted by: Jan on October 25, 2011

Comment: We operate on a tight budget too. We sacrifice daily either be it with our spouses deployed or our spouses being killed. I don't see your spouse going off to be deployed and you penny pinching to make ends meet. The commy and exchange are vital for our lively hood. I am sorry we can't shop at the high end food stores like you since you get paid such a nice salary...Ahhh there is an option lets take just 5% out of your salary along with the rest of our elected officials and see what we get!
Submitted by: Popeye'sGirl on October 25, 2011

Comment: Seriously why punish the hard working men and women of this contry along side with the families by cutting these great benifits that they get! You take this you give the lower ranking and some higher ranking militray people a reason to say forget this and get out then your left with people that just don't care like the ones that left due to the benefits were taken away that made it so they could live on the meager saliers they make . Please look at the congress, senets pockets for this money seeing that they make more in one month then even a E-7 would with 10 + years in stop trying to short change out military .
Submitted by: Katie on October 25, 2011

Comment: The benefit of the commissary is one of the key benefits for military families and RETIREES struggling to stay within budget. Providing the food needed to sustain a quality military force and adequate nutrition for military families...particularly babies and youth!
Submitted by: Diana on October 25, 2011

Comment: This is bizarre! Cut the crap inside the beltway, leave your defenders of freedom alone!!
Submitted by: Derick on October 25, 2011

Comment: Congress needs to stop making ask these cuts towards our military who keeps their butts safe every day and start looking at their own benefits and pay and make cuts there. I'd like to see how they would react if someone cut their pay and said "deal with it, you don't deserve it anyways". They'd go nuts. All the benefits we receive come with a sacrifice and a constant reminder that everytime our loved one goes to war that we may not have that benefit for long. I'm so sick of everyone saying the military gets it so easy and our pay is too high. If it was then why is there such a high percentage rate of military families on financial assistance?
Submitted by: Navywife on October 24, 2011

Comment: Keep our Commissaries and Exchanges. Many active duty and retired military depend on them.
Submitted by: Bridget on October 22, 2011

Comment: So many people have touched on the monetary reasons for saving the commissary and exchange system. There is another reason to keep them: The safe feeling of community. When you are moving every two years to places you may have never heard of before and you don't know a soul, you can sigh with relief when you pass onto the base. You can feel safe in the parking lot with your children while the spouse is deployed because chances are just about everyone there has been through what you are going through and are sympathetic and helpful. Military support in the civilian world is cyclical, and we are on a high right now, but that is not always the case and the sense of security provided by this benefit is not something that should be taken away lightly. Proud Navy wife for 20+ years.
Submitted by: j.ingrid on October 22, 2011

Comment: Stay away from our benefits!!! We send our husbands, wives, sons and daughters to save your tails while you draw enormous salaries and benefits and fight for tax breaks for the wealthy. Saving at the grocery stores are the very LEAST you can do.
Submitted by: Liz on October 22, 2011

Comment: I don't even care about so much about using the commissary or exchange myself; I'll tighten our families budget. Our family is still economically better off then most. The majority of our soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen are not better off then most; especially those responsible for a family. I've seen these families shopping in our commissaries and PXes and using WIC. Yes, you are considering reducing a benefit that is used by those already on welfare; these same people who ready to lay down their life for an entire nation of people. These are the families who have sent off husbands wives, moms and dads to Iraq and Afganistan these past 8.5 years knowing that they may have to survive the rest of their lives with the loss of their loved one. We are a nation willing to live off the sacrifice of a very few - lets not feed off of them too. Are we willing to demonstrate to the world and our own people how selfish we as a nation of hundreds of millions of people we have become? That the elimination of this subsidy is even being considered had made me heart broken for servicemen but despondent for the state of our nation. Surely, Congress with it's wealth of resources and education can figure out how to fix the budget without attacking such a giving population.
Submitted by: Military wife on October 21, 2011

Comment: Dear Congress, I am a military spouse. Becuase of my husband's frequent PCS moves I have been unable to excel in my career field as I would have had we not moved. Please understand, I support my husband and his career with pride and I am happy to make those sacrifices for our country but we make them at a cost. After nearly 20 years of hard work in my career, I am only making 1/3 of what I would be making were the situation different. If it weren't for our Commisarry and Exchange benefits, there would have been times over the years and in the future when we would not have been able to make it on our salaries. Please remember this and the other notes you have received when you look for places to implement cost saving measures in the budget. Thank you.
Submitted by: Navy Wife on October 21, 2011

Comment: During my early years of being a military spouse and mom , the commissary and exchange was my only way of feeding my family that we could afford. Being married to an enlisted sailor didn't bring in alot of money. I remember most of my friends actually qualified for public assistance (WIC)while their husbands were in the military because they were so poorly paid. Taking away the small benefits that some of these young men and women need so badly is such a smack in the face to both of them for serving their country so proudly! Think about that before you vote. I bet you couldn't qualify for public assistance while working your job!
Submitted by: Military Wife in Va. on October 21, 2011

Comment: The commissary is probably the best thing to ever happen to my family. We were recently stationed at ft sill Oklahoma, and the only option for groceries is walmart, and with almost 9% sales tax in town we would never be able to afford it. We have recently moved to Florida with family while hubby is at AIT. and I will drive an hour and a half north to McDill AFB to support the commissary. I have never met an army spouse that isn't grateful for their commissary, and now that were headed to Germany in march we will need more than ever!! Itsa privilege so is MWR!!! and will never be taken for granted!! The idea of losing them makes me really sad and angry
Submitted by: Mrs Jackson on October 21, 2011

Comment: I am a Family Readiness Officer for the United States Marine Corps. One of the biggest issues I see and assist with is the financial shortcomings that our military families deal with every day. If Congress takes away the savings that our families have today by shopping at the commissary YOU will have created issues far greater than the ones you have already created with the deficit. The out of control spending our current and past Congress have enacted can not be solved on the backs of the military that you ask every day to do more and more with less and less. Stop the insanity and balance the budget through real and well thought out reforms.
Submitted by: Kevin Schulte on October 21, 2011

Comment: I am not currently living near a commissary or exchange. I miss them terribly and can't wait to get back where I can take advantage of their availability. Costs are much cheaper and I enjoy the continuity of those stores. They make moving much less stressful.
Submitted by: Military Spouse on October 21, 2011

Comment: I just do not understand how the life a military family lives can be compared to any other family situation in the USA. Therefore why do we keep looking at toturching military families further. All Congress can do is look at taking away any positive benefit military families have. As the cost for everything to survie goes up let's pay the military less and take away the one benefit to feed military families. The private companies can raise prices for food to make a profit military families will not be able to even eat the same type of meals as other families. What other job would one of your parents have been deployed for a year at a time every other year.
Submitted by: Serving on October 21, 2011

Comment: Having lived in multiple duty stations - I do have to say that some commissaries are used much more than others. I do not see how military families living overseas could survive if only purchasing groceries from the local economy. The US dollar is much too weak for people to lose money immediately upon exchanging it to the local currency, and then expect buy adequate food for their families. I have been in some locations though where the commissary was barely used. In places like Quantico where there are a large number of grocery stores where you can find better deals, it seems that not having a commissary would not make much of a difference. I strongly believe that if any cuts have to be made, the overseas commissaries should be exempt.
Submitted by: Military Spouse on October 21, 2011

Comment: As a spouse in Okinawa, we do 95% of our grocery shopping at the commissary because it is so expensive to shop out in town. That being said - prices at the commissary are still expensive compared to our grocery bills in the states. In the states you have many different options, such as shopping at Aldi, that allow you to buy off-brand items. Yes, we do save 30% off of items, but we could get off-brand cereal at a cheaper price to begin with. We already had to adjust our budget to allow for spending more on food at the commissary when we arrived in Japan. If we have to adjust it again, we will really be hurting.
Submitted by: Military Spouse in Okianwa on October 21, 2011

Comment: Were this to pass, and we lose the benefit and value at our commissaries, life would be dramatically different for military families. Especially those of us serving overseas. Prices are VERY steep out in town, especially with the yen rate being what it is. Prices in the commissary are already high...I cannot imagine what we would do if they charged more. I'm so disappointed that our government is showing such a lack of support for us.
Submitted by: J Sanders on October 21, 2011

Comment: We solely rely on the commissary for our groceries here in Okinawa Japan. If you take our commissary away, where would we shop. We are a 18+ year military family, stateside or overseas we've ALWAYS shopped at the commissary. Please don't take it away.
Submitted by: CFrancis on October 20, 2011

Comment: Military families require the savings that the commisary and exchanges provide. With incredibly small salaries, most military families also operate on a single income-- it is nearly impossible for spouses of military personell to find employment with so many moves, so few opportunities, and so much strain on their familes. As the spouse of a member of the armed forces, I find it appalling that Congress would consider further stretching military families who have already sacrificed so much.
Submitted by: Katie on October 20, 2011

Comment: As a military spouse, I am absolutely appalled at the lack of compassion and care that Congress shows towards our military families. We live barely above the poverty line yet, you are cutting the discount for us to put food on our tables. You should be ashamed of yourselves.
Submitted by: Alyson on October 20, 2011

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