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This announcement to allow more access to the stores to these groups of people has nothing to do with recognizing their sacrifice to this country. It is purely an attempt to garner more customers and increase revenue, because they have known for years that they operate at a loss and have previously faced the possibility of closure. So now we are decreasing the security of our installations so these failed business models can make money.

While this has something to do with it, many military customers find it difficult to shop on the economy depending on where they are stationed. It's the exact opposite of why I don't use the PX or commissary at West Point. It's a pain to get there and I have something better that's closer.

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In most instances they only carried name brand items, few less expensive generic types.

The commissary has started their own line of generic products, "Freedom's Choice", much of it in canned goods and dairy (cheese) from what I have seen (and expanding the line), and similar to civilian grocery stores with their own name brand items. I find "Freedom's Choice" products comparable to the name-brand ones.

As stated before, shop smart; compare prices.

All that said, I think Brywards is correct - they are doing this to garner more customers and increase revenue. There has always been pressure from Congress to reduce/eliminate the commissary benefit, and they receive massive push-back from the advocates - VFW, American Legion, etc., etc.

I appreciate the availability of the DECA Commissary. However, if anyone thinks for a minute that shopping there is a great deal, they are sorely mistaken. During our 8 years of fulltime RV living, we had the privilege of staying on 27 different Air Force bases (some on multiple occasions)and an assortment of Navy, Army and Coast Guard bases Add to that 21 years of active duty, so I have a pretty good background when I state that the Commissary at Little Rock AFB is near the top of the list of piss poor commissary operations I have every used.

Popular items are often out of stock. The freezer/refrigerators are in very bad condition, with sections being out of service for extended periods, weeks, not days. Prices fluctuate frequently, making it difficult to comparison shop versus local grocery stores. There are many items that buying bulk items is considerably MORE expensive that buying multiple smaller packaged items.

If you purchase too many items to use the Self Checkout lines, you have to use a line with a cashier and then tip the baggers, in addition to the 5% surcharge. Baggers are not employed by DECA, so they only get tips. One lady I know has been bagging there for 29 years.

Shelf stocking must not be done when the facility is closed, becasue most of the time it is difficult to move down the aisles because the stockers are blocking the aisles with their carts.

The Commissary has two of their own store brands now, Freedom's Choice (food items) and Top Care in the "pharmacy " aisle. Both are good, but it seems as if store managers are pushing out National brands, especially in the cheeses.

It’s always interesting to see how many people express the “I’m not interested in that, so no one else should be either” attitude about practices and programs.

I doubt that any veteran with a disability or a Purple Heart Medal has ever ended up living in a cardboard box simply because he couldn’t shop at a military commissary, but if we do not filter our views and opinions based solely on our own experiences and preferences, it should be obvious that this sort of thing can be important to some people.

I don’t believe I’ve so much set foot in a commissary in a quarter century or more, but I do recall that they were very popular with large numbers of shoppers. On a Saturday morning it was usually difficult to even get near them, and if one persisted, checkout lines inside often extended literally the length of the store, and more. That level of popularity may have been limited to certain stores, but it was there to see, at least at one time.

I’m very fortunate that the amounts I pay in sales taxes aren’t a significant burden at this stage of life, but I have vivid recollections of when such small expenses were very important to me—for example when I was stationed in the Washington, DC, area and even after Cost of Living Allowances were provided in such areas, but especially before.

But regardless of what their appeal is to some people may be and whether those people would be better off buying Glocks rather than SIGs, the simple fact is that some people like shopping at military commissaries.

I retired after 28 years in Uncle Sugar's Navy. We moved to an area several hours away from the nearest base. I was a devoted commissary guy, but have found I don't miss it and prices are about the same at the local store.

The exchange stopped being a good deal decades ago. I'm convinced its main role is to rip off our younger service members.

Been a few years since I was in the BX but it never impressed me. I compared the prices for the same items at local stores and there appeared to be little or minimal difference.
Somewhat off topic: I was in full uniform and approached by a BX manager who told me guns weren't allowed in the store.
My squadron commander and the base commander begged to differ...

When I was at Aberdeen Proving Grounds (2008 to 2011), and then later when I was on Fort Lee, VA three or four days a week doing security clearance interviews I used to use the Commissary.

Now it has been a few years but I would get most of my items from Kroger's but I would buy my meat and chicken at the Commissary due to it being considerably cheaper.

If I am offered and decide to take a civilian position at Fort Bragg I will check out the commissaries to see what the prices are like.

This is all about propping up the Commissary system which can't compete when Walmart and Aldi open up their stores right outside the gates of military bases with better prices and service.

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Originally posted by YooperSigs:

I was in full uniform

Police, or military?

I suppose there could be an "all of the above" answer, like MP or SP.

At the time, I was DOD Police. A police type operation that partnered with military police on base. They worked on other Federal properties as well. I had full police powers on base.
It was later explained to me that the manager was confused by my different uniform. I did not buy it and neither did my bosses.

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Originally posted by mrapteam666:If I am offered and decide to take a civilian position at Fort Bragg I will check out the commissaries to see what the prices are like.

I don't think civilian employees can shop there (but you can browse and price check).