An attempt by Congress to combine the commissary and exchange systems under one, big umbrella store is dead for now, I report over at Military.com today.
The measure would’ve put an end to all the different exchange systems and the commissary agency (DeCA), and instead opened one military wide exchange like store.
The biggest concern about this idea was that it would raise prices for everything, including groceries, at least seven percent – and make shopping on base stateside pretty much pointless.
Lawmakers had talked about giving active duty families a $400 per year grocery stipend to make up for the extra cost, but organizations who were against the issue, including the National Military Family Association, pointed out that such a small sum would barely even touch the extra money current commissary shoppers would have to spend on groceries. They said a family of four saves about $4,400 a year shopping at the commissary – not $400.
So, rest easy spouses – the commissary as we know it is around for at least a little bit longer.
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Comments
SUCH great news! So happy to hear that this idea is dead, at least for now.
Great news Commissary is fantastic benefit, and saves us money, especially overseas!
I love the commissary and have been using it since 1968. This was back when I used to get tuna out of cardboard boxes at Fort Bragg. The prices have gone way up but everything has gone way up.
I would like to see the arrows back on the floors and the kids in the day care.It is so annoying to shop with a bunch of kids screaming and running thru the store. Parents need to start watching their kids and we need to start checking the ID cards at the door too. It is up to the base commander to make the rules so I am told.
Everybody and their mother and sister goes in their now.
Maybe some one of authority will see this and think about changing things for the better to the best benefit we have.
I'm glad to hear this idea is dead for now. But I still have a question….what would they do for the retired military who shop at commissaries? Would we also get a $400 food stipend since most of us are on a fixed income as in my case(unable to work to suppliment my income from military benefits)??