Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

Will Commissaries Be No-Cashier Stores in the Future?

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One afternoon I found myself on post with time to spare. After I grabbed a coffee and checked out the thrift store I wondered over to the commissary to pick up a few items.

We live 45 miles from post so my trips to the commissary are usually scheduled and mapped out to make the greatest use of my time and money. On this day I just happened in, deciding I would stroll through the aisles until something piqued my interest.

As I walked up and down the isles I noticed a larger than normal number of shoppers but it wasn’t until I attempted to check out that I realized my mistake.

It was payday. And as all military spouses know a visit to the commissary on payday can carry the same frenzy as shopping on Black Friday or Christmas Eve.

To help alleviate some of the frenzy DeCA is considering innovative technology that could put an end to long checkout lines.

DeCA Considers No-Cashier Store Technology

Recently Amazon launched, a first of its kind, no-cashier store in Seattle. Amazon Go allows customers with the app to select items and simply walk out.

The technology used can tell when items are removed from shelves and placed in your basket.The store uses cameras, the app and barcodes to monitor shoppers, charge accordingly and automate payment upon the shopper exit from the store.

Shortly after leaving the store, the app charges the customer’s Amazon account and emails the shopper his or her receipt.

DeCA is considering implementing similar technology in commissaries.

This concept could be a valuable time-saver for service members during the post-PT breakfast hour and lunchtime rush. Patrons can quickly select items and head back to work without waiting in long lines.

Busy parents would also benefit from a no-cashier shopping experience. They could quickly purchase last-minute dinner items, after-game snacks or cupcakes for a birthday party.

The no-cashier option is a wonderful alternative to traditional checkout lanes.

Instead of No-Cashier Stores, I Want Grocery Delivery Services

In my opinion, in addition to the no-cashier option, the commissary should consider grocery pickup and delivery services.

If they truly want to eliminate long checkout lines, eliminate the need for patrons to physically visit the store.

In my area, the big box stores offer grocery pick-up. This system allows shoppers to order weekly, monthly or daily supplies online, schedule a pick-up time and pay for items all from the comfort of their homes.

One downfall with this method (in my experience) is the pick-up times are never convenient.

They usually do not have pick-up times available the same day, so shoppers must order groceries a day or two in advance. This would be OK, except for those times when you need milk, bread and eggs in an hour and can’t make a trip to the store.

Related: Dear DeCA, Please Expand the Click2Go Program

My favorite option is grocery delivery. This is an amazing time-saver. I order groceries from the delivery app, select a delivery time, usually within an hour or two and pay for my purchase. Groceries arrive on time and I use my time to take care of more important things like catching up on work or relaxing with a good book.

Oh, did I mention, most services deliver wine too!

There is a fee associated with these delivery services, which I happily pay, considering it a convenience fee.

One downside to grocery delivery service is sometimes store sales and loyalty cards apply to the purchase. If you are an extreme couponer or on a tight budget this may not be best the option for you.

Time will tell if DeCA will decide to implement this technology and/or alternative processes to improve the shopping experience, but I believe they are moving in a positive direction by acknowledging issues and seeking alternative solutions.

If DeCA adopted a no-cashier technology, would you be more likely or less likely at shop at the commissaries?

Finding Answers to Your Commissary Questions

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This year commissaries across the globe are celebrating 150 years of service. They have come a long way since then. In its humble beginning the commissary was merely an officer-only benefit allowing them to purchase goods at cost. Since then it has expanded to an indispensable benefit for all service members, retirees and their families.

You may have questions about this military benefit and finding answers has never been easier.

DeCA, the Defense Commissary Agency, manages all commissaries. They have a newly improved website, commissaries.com, where you can find the answer to many of your questions.

Commissary Locations

Do you know where your nearest commissaries are? Each time you PCS or are on vacation, instead of going to a commercial grocery store, look at commissaries.com to find commissaries near you. You can search by city and state or the ZIP code. There’s an alphabetical listing if you know the name of the military installation as well. You can even get step-by-step directions to the commissary right on the website.

Commissary Hours and Services, Including Case Lot Sales

All commissaries have their own page on the website. You can find store hours and services offered as well as special events such as case lot sales. It’s always a great idea to check their site before you go to an event as weather can cause cancellations.

Do you know about Click2Go? If you are near the commissaries at Fort Lee, Offutt Air Force Base or Travis Air Force Base, they have a special program known as Click2Go. You can order your groceries online and choose the time you want to pick them up. Then just head to the commissary and pay when you get them.

Don’t forget your coupons. You can see the weekly flyer online and clip coupons. Once you’ve picked up a Commissary Rewards Card at one of your nearest commissaries, you can go to commissaries.com and register it. From there you can clip digital coupons and have them added right to your Commissary Rewards Card. There’s no need to print and cut coupons any more. Simply have the cashier scan your card at check out.

Not sure what to make for dinner? There is a recipe section on commissaries.com. There is even a section with recipes specifically tailored for kids. Save a bit more money by choosing a recipe under the “Thinking Outside the Box” section. This page has recipes that use ingredients that are on sale that week.

Getting Your Commissary Questions Answered

There is a huge section for frequently asked questions on commissaries.com. Want to know how pricing works? You aren’t alone. You can read about how prices are determined, how they change and how savings are determined.

Many patrons have questions about the surcharge. You can find your answers at commissaries.com. The money is used to maintain and improve facilities. You can see a list of commissaries slated for construction as well. Fort Belvoir and NAS Jacksonville recently held ribbon-cutting ceremonies for new commissaries at those military installations.

Did you know commissaries will be introducing a private label soon? You can stay on top of the latest news and changes with the commissary at commissaries.com.

While you’re there, you might want to read about the variable pricing test that is happening at 10 commissaries. The Department of Defense is always looking to improve your commissary benefit. Make sure you keep up to date with these changes.

Have you checked out DeCA’s improved website, commissaries.com?

MilitaryShoppers’ Readers Split on Medical Clinic Pilot Program

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Soon you may be able to get walk-in medical care at your commissary! The Navy is planning to test a new model of clinical health care in Jacksonville, Fl., with a walk-in clinic located in the commissary there.

This program is based on similar walk-in clinics available at big box retailers like Walmart and pharmacies like CVS. Details about specific services available are still being worked out by the Navy. However, the plan is to have the pilot clinic and any future clinics staffed by Navy corpsmen.

When we shared the proposal of this plan and ways that we thought it could be best used, MilitaryShoppers’ readers had strong reactions!

Many people had very positive reactions. An almost equal number of commenters had strong negative reactions. A few had neutral views on the issue.

On the positive side, several readers noted the convenience of one-stop shopping and medical care.

“I would definitely go to a clinic at the commissary,” commented Gena O’Neal. “Save me time and get shopping all at one time.”

It certainly could save many service members, veterans and their families from long drives and wait times for simple procedures.

“(H)aving the flu shots at the commissary in the fall could help ensure people would be up-to-date especially if there are short waiting lines,” wrote Willard Bauman. “Many times the lines in the hospital or clinic are long and the kids really can be unruly.”

This program could be used to expedite already common medical issues, like daily sick call.

“This sounds like a good idea,” wrote Edward J. Hermann. “Under certain circumstances I could certainly see using such a facility like a sick call operation.”

Currently, many service members, veterans, retirees and their families are experiencing long wait times to be seen at a military treatment facility. Sometimes they are visiting the local ER for more serious concerns or when they need a same-day diagnosis and treatment plan. This ties up ER personnel.

“It could cut down the use of the ER, especially on weekends, for those runny noses, colds, sinus, aches, etc., that many times plague the waiting rooms,” Bauman further commented. “The ER personnel could concentrate on true emergencies.”

Others commented on the expanded training capabilities and broadening of experiences for medical personnel.

“As a former Army medical member the idea of a clinic in the commissary sounds great,” Joseph Moorhouse wrote. “The medical personal would receive experience in a broad area of patients and an outpatient clinic in the store would be very convenient.”

Readers Question Food Safety

While many on the positive side cited increased convenience and access to timely medical care, others questioned the wisdom of having these clinics where we buy our food.

“Honestly, I don’t think that would be an appropriate place to see sick people. Why in heaven’s name would one allow germs around the foods that we have to eat?” wrote Dee. “I can’t see anything good coming of that idea.”

Many others echoed her thoughts. Some voiced support for the clinics as a place for vaccines.

“As a place to get a shot, I would have no problem with that,” commented Ken Myrick. “I really do not want to have to be around people who have infectious diseases around my food sources.”

Duane Schneider would completely avoid the commissary if walk-in medical care was added there.

“I would not go to the commissary for medical,” he wrote. “In fact, I would quit going to the commissary because it is crowded enough now without the traffic (of) sick people.”

Alternative Suggestions and More Questions

Some readers offered solutions to the concern about food safety. Several readers suggested opening a storefront in the commissary or exchange complex.

“I do think that the exchange venue would be a better alternative,” wrote Janet J. Bamford. “If the idea really ‘took off,’ it would be another step in the right direction. They are found within the military communities, and usually have longer operating hours. Furthermore, it could be an easier program to implement, if you began with a few shoppettes around the country. It’s unlikely that the corpsmen would be deluged with patients, especially if more than one shoppette in the community is staffed.”

Readers also raised concerns about who would be allowed to access these clinics.

“That sounds like a nice idea,” commented Catherine B. “Would they also treat veterans with commissary and exchange privileges?”

This pilot program is still in the planning stages and the Jacksonville, Fl., test clinic has not yet been opened.

It’s not too late to express your opinion on the Navy’s medical clinic pilot program! Share your thoughts in the comment section.

Two Commissaries in Germany Will Close Their Doors This Spring

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In a never-ending drive by the government to cut the military budget, the Pentagon has proposed to cut the commissary budget for 2017 by $221 million. How would this budget reduction impact the every day consumer?

Commissaries will be closing. Not all commissaries; no need to panic. Stateside commissaries are safe for now. Those in Europe, on the other hand, are on the chopping block.

The first 2 commissaries slated to close are in Germany; they are the commissaries at Sembach and Illesheim.

In 2015, Sembach sales were $3.8 million and Illesheim was only a mere $2.5 million. Both of these commissaries have been in operation since the 1960s. They are small stores, with only 4 checkout lanes each. This puts them at the bottom third of commissary sales. There are 240 commissaries and these two just aren’t holding up to standards others are setting.

Officials are quick to say that closing these 2 commissaries isn’t a big deal for customers since they are within a 30-minute drive of 2 larger commissaries from Sembach and a 35-minute drive to the next commissary from Illesheim. Shoppers from Sembach could make that commute if they wanted to shop at Vogelweh or Ramstein Air Base. Those at Illesheim would have to drive to Ansbach for their next closest commissary.

A 30- or 35-minute commute might not sound like much to government officials in Washington, D.C., but it can be significant for families living abroad.

The commissary’s slogan, “it’s worth the drive,” might just take on a whole new meaning. This holds especially true for single service members who are use to just popping into their local commissary often.

If you are using either of these 2 commissaries as your main source for purchasing groceries, note that Sembach closes April 29. Illesheim’s commissary will close on March 31.

One good thing at least, there are sure to be great sales as they try to move inventory off the shelves.

Don’t make a sigh of relief yet if you’re stationed in Germany, but not near these 2 commissaries. There are more commissaries slated to close. The Defense Commissary Agency plans to meet budget cuts by consolidating down to one commissary per military community. Grafenwoehr and Kaiserslautern will be the only exceptions to this.

That means commissaries in Stuttgart will be part of the plan to close stores in Europe in 2016. Those at Patch, Kelley Barracks, Robinson Barracks and Panzer Kaserne will all see their final days this year.

A new commissary on Panzer is being built to compensate for this. Construction hasn’t begun yet and these commissaries will remain open until the new one is ready so you still have time to shop at your favorite commissary before the doors close for good.

The saying “you can never go back” keeps playing in my mind as I write this. I lived in Germany for 5 years. I truly will never be able to go back to Robinson Barracks where my family shopped regularly when we were stationed in Stuttgart. It’s a 20- to 30-minute drive from Robinson Barracks to Panzer for those that live in the area.

There is always a constant worry about losing military benefits and talk of commissary closures are a norm. This is one instance that rumors are true.

Hopefully families and service members that shop regularly at these commissaries will be able to adjust their routine grocery shopping trip accordingly knowing ahead of time that their stores are closing.

Are you concerned more commissaries will close? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section.

Proposed Changes to the Commissaries in 2016

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For the last 40 years the commissaries have been put on the chopping block only to come out strong.

Last year the Senate and House debated privatizing the commissaries over the next several years to save money. They wanted to cut the $1.3 billion annual Department of Defense subsidy for the commissary system. Luckily, this proposal didn’t make it through.

Don’t relax too much thinking the commissaries will be safe now. This year the politicians are at it again.

The House and Senate have come together on a new plan for the FY 2016 Defense Authorization Act. This consists of:

  • reducing the FY 2016 commissaries budget cut from $322 million to $30 million;
  • they scrapped the idea of privatizing the system and are now requiring a DoD plan to make the commissary and exchange benefit “budget neutral” by the end of 2018;
  • authorized DoD to conduct pilot programs to evaluate ways to achieve commissary and exchange budget neutrality; and
  • specified that these must maintain high levels of customer satisfaction, provide high-quality products, and sustain the current level of savings for customers.

What does this mean for the average shopper at their local commissaries? The most notable change would be prices. Some patrons would notice their prices going up while a select few might find them going down.

How could this be?

What lawmakers are considering here is variable pricing. Currently, prices are set at commissaries across the board. Under this change, commissaries would see price changes based on location.

Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., a brigadier general in the Army Reserves chairs an Armed Services subcommittee that lead the hearings recently on overhauling the stores. He says commissaries could improve how they sell products and become more efficient if they utilized a variable pricing method. Following commercial grocery stores strategies, prices would be set by the market.

For example, prices at commercial grocery stores are higher in New York then they are in Alabama. Just reading this proposal, Fort Drum patrons will be balking at the idea, whereas those at Maxwell AFB may be more open to it since they would be the ones possibly seeing the lower prices.

Heck hopes this plan will help get commissaries to a break-even plan. He says that they currently lose money on every sale.

If that doesn’t do the job, the other plan proposed is to create a commissary brand, much like commercial grocery stores have. Selling items under a Defense Commissary Agency label was part of a consultant lead study that was presented to Congress last fall. This is likely to be the main topic of discussion on the Hill this year.

The worry here for most people is that the quality of the products might not be the same as the commercial brands that are currently being sold at commissaries. The study claims that the products would be at the same level and patrons would still save money over local grocery stores. To match that quality however, there would likely be an increase in prices.

If either of these proposals get enough lawmakers to support it, they could be added to the National Defense Authorization Act, which is a huge bill that shapes military policies and takes most of the year to work through.

Will commissaries see changes this year or are they safe, at least for another year?

Only time will tell, but if the last 40 years of failed proposals to cut the DoD subsidy have a standing basis then maybe things won’t change.

Once the presidency changes, initiatives might as well. Everything is a big “if” for the moment and commissary patrons will be watching closely to see if one of the greatest nonpay benefits for service members will see a big change.

What do you think of these proposals to make changes to the commissaries?

Commissaries Set Recycling Record

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Did you know that every year the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) sets a recycling goal for commissaries around the globe?

Programs are in place to make sure that all commissaries reduce the amount of landfill waste by recycling appropriate items. It’s dependent on the management of each commissary location to work together to fulfill these goals.

DeCA announced that their commissaries achieved an 83 percent recycling efficiency rate in 2015 compared with 75 percent in 2012. Wondering what that equals in terms of tonnage?

It is 60,000 tons of cardboard, 1,900 tons of plastic and 108+ tons of paper. That is pretty awesome!

There are 245 commissaries worldwide, so you can imagine the amount of diligence it takes to implement change on that level. It’s evident how important is it to help the environment to DeCA because of the hard work they put in from the commissary level.

According to DeCA’s press release, they even had 7 commissaries achieve net zero status through their organic contracts. That means they were successful in turning their organic waste material into compost!

A big congrats goes to the Hawaii commissaries in Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hickam Air Force Base and Schofield Barracks. The other 2 commissaries that did net zero status are Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington and Los Angeles AFB in California.

DeCA doesn’t stop there. They have a food bank program that has been helping with their environmental efforts as well as making a local impact. More commissaries (from 110 to 134) participated in the food bank program than last year. As the commissaries rotate out food that is still edible, they were able to donate the items to more food banks (from 77 to 117!) than last year too. Their press release quoted the deputy director of DeCA’s logistics directorate, Randy Eller and he said,

Our food bank program resulted in just under 2.4 million pounds of food diverted from ending up in landfills and being used to feed the hungry.

I love his comparison in pounds. It puts things in perspective.

Your family can jump on the bandwagon and become efficient recyclers like the commissaries too! My husband and I try our best to recycle when we can.

Here are some small ways that helped us manage our disposables:

Separate!
We have separate receptacles for our paper and plastic items. Our housing area has large bins that we place our paper and plastic trash. Separating from the beginning helps us efficiently throw away what we don’t need anymore. Don’t forget to recycle your electronic goods. There can be some harmful material in old TVs and laptops. Also, batteries can be recycled too.

Reuse!
If we need a plastic bag at the grocery store, we save it for additional use. A great example is that we use the plastic to bag up litter from our cat. Also, we use the plastic bags to collect trash from our rooms too. Local commissaries also have plastic recycling bins. Before you start your shopping trip, you can drop off used bags there.

You can also go one up and utilize reusable bags for your grocery shopping! My hometown actually has a plastic bag ban. If you do want to use plastic bags, you pay a fee.

Buy Recycled!
There are goods out there that are made from recycled materials, so buy those items when you can. You can buy recycled paper, plastics and batteries (that’s why don’t forget to recycle them!).

Also, repurposing items are a great way to reduce waste. If you can’t repurpose, donate what you don’t need anymore because your trash can be a treasure for someone else (we’ve heard that before, right?).

See if your family can set a new record with your recycling this year!