Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

Have You Noticed Price Changes at Your Commissary?

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Prices have already started shifting at the commissary under the new variable pricing strategy. Have you noticed a difference? The change began earlier this spring when the commissary tested the new program out in 10 stores.

Now the variable pricing strategy is being implemented across the country. Don’t worry; you’ll still see great savings.

Have You Noticed Price Changes at Your Commissary?

Michelle Hooper, a customer service ambassador at the Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, Commissary, scans prices. Luke won the 2015 Defense Commissary Agency’s Director’s Award for the Best Superstore. (DeCA photo)

If you missed the big announcement, last year the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorized a significant change in how the commissary determines the price of goods. Previously, the commissary set prices at cost plus a 5 percent surcharge. That surcharge money was used to maintain commissary facilities and to build new ones, such as the $38-million commissary at Fort Belvoir.

DeCA, the Defense Commissary Agency, which operates the commissaries, is funded by taxpayers’ money with a budget of $1.3 billion annually. Washington has been trying for years to get the commissary to be more self-sufficient and rely less on federal funding.

This year they are finally attempting to do just that. Variable pricing is one of their strategies. The commissary will also be introducing store brand products as well.

What is variable pricing?

Previously, the products at the commissary were sold at cost plus the 5 percent surcharge. Under variable pricing, the prices of goods will no longer be that simple.

Instead, many factors are taken into consideration when setting the price of products. This includes the market price, cost of obtaining the item, how well the items sell and more.

This isn’t something new the commissary came up with or that those in Washington fathomed. It is how commercial grocery stores determine their prices. The commissary is now embracing a similar pricing system.

Prices have always changed at the commissary based on the cost the commissary incurs for items from manufacturers. Many factors cause manufacturers to change the price they charge, such as weather and their cost of doing business.

Prices will now fluctuate with the market instead of simply with the manufacturers. While some prices might be going down, others might go up. Overall savings at the commissary will not change however.

How much will each region save?

Commissaries are grouped into regions. Market research is conducted in each region to determine the prices goods will be set at. This includes comparing the prices of about 1,000 products locally as well as the estimated 38,000 products that are checked nationally.

The cost of living varies across the country and with that is the cost of food. Researchers then are tasked with comparing the prices of items at different grocery stores across individual regions to determine the best price to set commissary products at. As the cost of living is higher in some areas and lower in others, so too will be the savings level in each region.

These savings will range from 17.6 percent to 44.2 percent over commercial grocery stores depending on which region you are in. Below are the regions and the overall savings expected.

Region            Savings %

New England            21.4%

South Atlantic          19.9%

South Central           18.1%

Pacific                       20.9%

Mountain                  17.6%

North Central           20.2%

Alaska/Hawaii          32.6%

Overseas                    44.2%

Which region am I in?

Now that you know how much savings each region is expected to save, you may want to see which region you are in. Commissaries aren’t in typical geographical groupings, as Virginia is included in the New England region as opposed to the South Atlantic for example.

To find out which region your commissary is in, look for your military installation on this map. Are you in the region you expected? How do you feel about the savings percentage your region is expected to get?

Next time you go to your commissary, check the prices and see if you can tell a difference.

Have you noticed a change in prices at your commissary? Which items did you notice have a price difference? Tell us in the comments section.

Shoppers Call New Fort Belvoir Commissary ‘Amazing’

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I was one of many commissary shoppers excited to be part of the opening day festivities at the new $38 million commissary at Fort Belvoir.

New Fort Belvoir Commissary

The Fort Belvoir commissary certainly has something for everyone.

Located just south of Washington, D.C., Fort Belvoir has one of the busiest commissaries. The former commissary was built in 1981.  It was time for an update and this update was an amazing one.

The new commissary at Fort Belvoir has a sales area of 82,600 square feet. This is a huge increase from the 57,000-square-foot commissary it replaced. I’m sure I was not the only patron to walk through the doors and be awestruck at the sheer size of the complex.

If you have the opportunity to go, the new commissary at Fort Belvoir is worth the drive.

The selection of products is vast, with more than 21,000 items on the shelves. The fresh produce area is extremely spacious and has a huge selection including organic and locally grown items.

New Commissary at Fort Belvoir

Are you a health conscious person? The Living Well Corner is for you.

There is a sushi bar where trained professionals make sushi right there while you watch. You can get sushi custom made. It is located right by the international delicatessen, which has a huge selection of meats and cheeses. Make sure you check out the freshly made meals and side items while you are there. When your spouse is on deployment, picking up some of these delicious items will make dinners quick and easy.

The Fort Belvoir commissary certainly has something for everyone.

Are you a health conscious person? The Living Well Corner is for you. There are over 1,500 organic, gluten-free, natural and non-GMO items. You’ll find them dry, fresh, refrigerated and frozen.

While shopping at the Fort Belvoir commissary, you’ll be sure to notice how wide the aisles are. They were actually designed to be 3 carts wide to enable shoppers to move through the aisles with ease. Have you ever been stuck while someone stood and looked for the item they wanted? That will be a problem of the past here. With more space, customers will be able to navigate easily through the aisles without a problem.

New Fort Belvoir Commissary

The new commissary, with all of its impressive features is sure to draw an even larger crowd now.

When it comes to checkout time, Fort Belvoir makes it is a breeze with 30 checkouts. This includes 8 self-checkouts. You won’t be waiting in line for long here. Even on opening day, with thousands of shoppers, the line moved quickly.

The Fort Belvoir commissary has an impressive bakery that you shouldn’t miss. Pick up some tasty treats to bring home for the family. Stop by the meat department after that for a nice steak. The meat selection is very good and the prices won’t be beat. The seafood department is just as impressive. If you don’t feel like cooking, pick up a rotisserie chicken.

New Fort Belvoir Commissary

You won’t be waiting in line for long at the new commissary at Fort Belvoir.

The Fort Belvoir commissary was already one of DeCA’s busiest commissaries. It is a leader in annual sales, doing about $97 million annually. The new commissary, with all of its impressive features is sure to draw an even larger crowd now. Many military families feel that commissary shopping is one of the most important benefits. You’ll find plenty of reasons to visit this beautiful new commissary at Fort Belvoir, with its vast selection of items at great prices.

The Fort Belvoir commissary cost $38 million. Not only is it much larger than the one it replaced, but it is also more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. The funding for it came from the 5 percent surcharge that is added when customers check out at commissaries. Your patronage at local commissaries helped make this new commissary possible.

Did you know that the 5 percent surcharge on your commissary bill pays for new facilities like this commissary at Fort Belvoir? Learn more about the surcharge by clicking here.

Don’t Miss the Spring Case Lot Sale at Your Commissary

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It’s that time of year again when the Defense Commissary Agency’s spring Customer Appreciation Case Lot Sale starts at commissaries stateside.

Have you shopped at a case lot sale? May is a great time to stock up on household items you use often.

You’ll find plenty of great deals at the commissary case lot sale to help you fill up your pantry without emptying your wallet.

Case lot sale dates are different for each commissary so be sure to check with the commissary website to see when your local commissary will be having their case lot sale.

Weather can cause the date to change. Call your commissary to confirm the case lot sale is still on schedule if weather in the area has not been good.

Not all commissaries will be having a case lot sale in May. A few had their case lot sales in April.

Eight stateside commissaries will not be participating at all including: Los Angeles AFB, Luke AFB, Davis-Monthan AFB, Patch Barracks, Fort Gordon, Robins AFB, Fort Huachuca and Hurlburt Field.

Military installations that have a case lot sale are only stateside. Overseas commissaries may have sidewalk sales or other promotions that are similar.

What will you find at a case lot sale?

A case lot sale is much like shopping at the big box stores, without the membership fee. They are usually set up under tents in the commissary parking lot. Some of the items you’ll find include:

  • Baby products: diapers, wipes, soap and lotion
  • Paper products: toilet paper, paper towels, napkins
  • Cleaning supplies: laundry detergent, dryer sheets, cleaning wipes and household cleaning products
  • Food storage: sandwich bags, storage bags and freezer bags
  • Pet supplies: dry and wet dog and cat food and dog and cat treats
  • Snacks: bulk chips, cereal, popcorn, crackers, pastries and fruit snacks
  • Canned goods: canned vegetables, canned fruit and fruit cups
  • International food: Hispanic, Asian and Italian food
  • Beverages: bottled water, soda, flavored water, sports drinks and juice

How to prepare for a case lot sale

A successful shopping trip to the commissary case lot sale is one where you buy only items that you will use. Don’t get carried away buying things you won’t use just because they are on sale.

Follow these 8 tips to ensure that you are a smart shopper at your case lot sale.

  1. Inventory your pantry to see how much you already have.
  2. Check the amount of space available to store items.
  3. Empty your vehicle so there is space to bring new products home.
  4. Make a list of things you would like to stock up on.
  5. Look for coupons. Yes, you can use coupons. See what is offered on the commissary rewards card and digitally clip the coupons. You can find out more about the commissary rewards card here.
  6. Eat before you go to the case lot sale so you aren’t tempted to buy extra things just because you are hungry.
  7. Look at expiration dates on items before you put them in your shopping cart. Can you use that entire product before it expires?
  8. Take another military spouse or service member with you. If you aren’t able to use all of a product before it expires, consider splitting the products between each other.

Case lot sales are a busy time for commissaries. Make sure you have plenty of time to shop. You can find products on average 50% off.

It is a great time to stock up on items you will use. Make sure to check the dates of your local commissary case lot sale and make plans to attend.

Do you know when your commissary is having its case lot sale? Click here for the list of dates.

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?

Shoppers Enjoy New Jacksonville Commissary

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Wider aisles.

A larger selection of organic produce.

Skylights that provide natural lighting.

Commissary patrons are enjoying their new 64,000-square-foot commissary at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fl. The $36 million facility is twice as large as the older commissary, which means that the aisles are wider and there is more space for specialty products.

The store features “extensive produce, meat, frozen, chilled and grocery departments, an international deli-bakery, a sushi-to-go station, prepared rotisserie chicken and a customer service kiosk with 2 check-outs,” according to a DeCA press release about the Feb. 2 grand opening.

The Jacksonville commissary includes 18 regular checkouts and 8 self-checkouts and a stock assortment of 18,000 line items. Outside there’s a covered drive through area for patrons using Click2Go, DeCA’s online grocery shopping service. Click2Go is currently available at only 3 commissaries.

DeCA Director and CEO Joseph H. Jeu said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony that the goal of the project was to construct a commissary where patrons enjoy their shopping experience.

Here are 3 features that commissary patrons are enjoying at their new commissary at NAS Jacksonville, Fl.

The Jacksonville commissary is the first commissary to have a Living Well Corner.

During his speech at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, DeCA Director Jeu highlighted the features of this new commissary, including its Living Well Corner.

The Living Well Corner, located in the front of the store, features more than 1,500 organic and natural-labeled products. These items include both frozen and fresh products. For shoppers looking for non-GMO, free-range, gluten-free and no-added hormone products, the Living Well Corner offers the products they want at affordable commissary prices.

Cmdr. Billy Bushman, noted that thanks to the commissary’s Living Well Center his wife would have more choices when it came to choosing gluten-free breads, according to a DeCA press release.

“My wife would shop this,” Bushman said. “I’m excited that the choices for gluten-free options have been expanded. This means more options for my wife.”

Commissary shoppers have repeatedly requested more organic and gluten-free options at their commissaries. The new Jacksonville commissary’s expanded selection shows that DeCA officials are listening to their requests and building facilities that appeal to this demographic.

Commissary surcharges financed the construction of the new Jacksonville commissary.

Commissary shoppers often question that 5 percent surcharge found at the bottom of their receipt. The 5 percent surcharge, which has stayed at 5 percent since 1983, is not a tax. The surcharge is a standard rate that every commissary shopper pays and the funds generated through this surcharge pay for facility maintenance and construction.

Commissary surcharges paid for the construction of this $36 million facility. According to the JAX Air News, “shoppers spent nearly $61.5 million at the NAS Jax Commissary in 2016 which includes a 5 percent surcharge.”

The Jacksonville commissary was built to LEED Silver standards.

Facilities on military bases are now built to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. The Jacksonville commissary features 154 skylights and light sensors that will reduce energy consumption at the facility. The facility’s energy-saving features qualified it for a LEED Silver rating.

Jacksonville’s old commissary will be demolished  and turned into a parking lot later this spring. Once completed, this parking lot will have more than 500 spots for Navy Exchange and commissary patrons.

The Jacksonville commissary isn’t the only new commissary opening to shoppers in 2017. DeCA announced that the grand opening celebration for the $38 million Fort Belvoir commissary will be on March 30.

Have you shopped at the new Jacksonville commissary? What did you think of it? Share your opinions in the comments section.

Variable Pricing Pilot Program Kicks Off at 10 Commissaries

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Two big changes will be coming to commissaries around the world thanks to the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Currently the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) receives $1.3 billion in taxpayer funding annually. That funding covers the costs of operating the commissaries. Patrons are able to purchase goods at cost plus 5 percent. The 5 percent surcharge covers construction, equipment and maintenance to improve facilities.

Now the government wants commissaries to be more self-sufficient and not rely on such a huge amount of taxpayer money.

The 2017 NDAA, signed into law under the Obama administration, allows DeCA to start working on this in 2 ways. The first is introducing variable pricing and the second is creating a store brand or private label products. Variable pricing will be the first phase of this move and will start in 10 commissaries.

What is variable pricing?

Instead of the prices of goods at commissaries simply being the cost DeCA gets items at, prices now will be determined through multiple factors. This includes the cost of obtaining the item and the market price to name a few.

Commercial grocery stores use this same strategy to determine their product price points. Prices will shift with the market, but overall savings at the commissary will remain the same.

Under the new pricing model, the prices of products sold in commissaries will be based on a specific percent of savings that the same item would be sold for in commercial grocery stores in that particular region. That means that prices will no longer be uniform across commissaries and will instead vary by region and country

Don’t panic. That does not mean prices are about to skyrocket.

Each region has a specific saving percentage required under DeCA’s regional savings index. Overall, commissaries in the United States will have a 20.2% savings over commercial grocery stores. Prices vary even more overseas, so the total savings globally is set at 23.7%.

Depending on where you live, the cost of living can be higher or lower. To keep shoppers happy and enjoying the commissary benefit, different regions will see different prices, but all patrons will see a savings overall.

There are 36 commissaries in the New England area that will see a savings of 21.4% over commercial grocery stores. The 30 commissaries in the South Atlantic area will save 19.9% while the 33 commissaries in the South Central area will save 18.1%. The South Pacific area is slated for a 20.9% savings and the Mountain region will have a 17.6% savings. The North Central area only has 18 commissaries but they will all have a 20.2% savings while the 9 commissaries in Alaska and Hawaii will see 32.6% savings. Commissaries abroad will have a fantastic 44.2% savings over commercial grocery stores.

How did DeCA come up with these percentage savings?

Each market was evaluated independently and the prices were compared to commercial grocery stores in each area. Local and state food tax was taken into consideration as well as the 5 percent commissary surcharge.

The cost of living index was used to determine prices abroad. Each month all of this data will be recalculated to ensure prices stay on schedule with the appropriate savings over local grocery stores. As many as 1,400 items at each commissary will be compared to commercial grocery stores each month to ensure accuracy.

The list of the first 10 commissaries to use variable pricing has not been released as of publishing time. If we didn’t tell you variable pricing was coming, would you notice the difference?

Next time you shop at the commissary have a look around at prices and see if you notice a difference. Perhaps your commissary will be one of the first 10 to try out variable pricing.

What are your concerns about variable pricing at commissaries?

DeCA Introduces Nutrition Guide Program

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Every week, I sacrifice the desire to sleep in for the early morning trek to the commissary. They say the early bird gets the worm, but we all know when it comes to shopping at the commissary, the early bird gets the best selection and avoids waiting in long check-out lines. If you’re anything like me, you scurry through the produce section and down every aisle trying to find all the best deals.

At the same time, I am fretting over whether I am making healthy choices for the sometimes-finicky-but-always-hungry brood at home. Meal planning has become a requirement for stretching our food budget, and now thanks to a new program from the folks at DeCA, I can get my shopping done in record time while still ensuring I’m making smart choice about what we’re eating.

In addition to the recently launched Out of the Box recipe program that offers quick and healthy meal options, commissary shoppers can now find some of the best healthy products to add to their baskets just by looking for the new color-coded shelf tags.

The Nutrition Guide Program or NGP for short, highlights the following 6 food categories:

Green = Organic: As certified by the USDA.

Dark Blue = Low Sodium: For those folks looking to watch their salt intake, these labels can help you quickly identify products with 140 milligrams or less of sodium per serving.

Ruby = No Sugar Added: As you probably guessed, this label indicates food items in which no sugar was added during production. This doesn’t mean these products are sugar-free. Look for this label on products like applesauce or baby food.

Brown = Whole Grain: These products are made with whole grains and must contain at least 8 grams of whole grain to earn this label.

Light Blue = Low Fat: With lots of rules about what can be considered low-fat, these labels are a great way to quickly find truly low-fat options. All products indicated by these labels contain 3 grams or less of total fat per serving. Additionally, for meal or main dish options, like in the frozen food section, foods must have 3 grams or less of total fat per 100 grams of the product.

Sand (Light Brown) = Good Source of Fiber: You’ll see this shelf label on products that contain at least 10% or more of the daily value for fiber per serving.

These easily-recognizable shelf labels are derived from ingredient lists and nutritional panel values as well as guidelines from the FDA and USDA.

Shoppers will also notice some shelves marked with a thumbs up symbol. Products on these shelves are specially marked as highly nutritious foods good for high performance. These “thumbs-up” products align closely with the DOD’s Go for Green and the Marine Corps “Fueled to Fight” dining facilities nutrition education programs.

Most shoppers find it easy to recognize healthy options in the produce section, but the prepackaged and frozen food sections can sometimes be a little harder to navigate. Currently there are more than 600 “thumbs-up” products, making decisions about what to buy easier.

While you won’t see the NGP shelf labels in every department, you will see them for the following products: organic baby food, chilled meats, baking goods, condiments, beverages, bread, frozen foods, organic candy, canned goods, grains, pasta, and side dishes, cereal and breakfast foods, snacks, soups, and whole grain cake mixes.

The DeCA website points out that these shelf labels are not meant to be a substitute for consumers reading food labels. If your family has special dietary restrictions or allergies, it is still important to read food labels.

They also suggest that by the time you make it up to the checkout line your basket should contain lots of fresh produce, lean meats, eggs, and foods rich in healthy fats like fish, nuts, seeds, olive/canola oil and avocados. The remainder can be packaged items, but try to use the thumbs up symbol to identify those food items high in nutritional value.

It’s OK to splurge on that favorite flavor of ice cream or something from the cookie aisle, but those foods should be an exception to your daily eating habits, not part of your normal diet.

For more information about DeCA’s new Nutrition Guide Program, visit the Nutrition Guide Program FAQ webpage.

Military Exchange Online Shopping Opens to Veterans

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Nearly 20 million honorably discharged U.S. veterans will soon have the opportunity to shop online through the Army and Air Force Exchange service. This change in policy comes after years of pressure to open shopping to all those honorably discharged men and women.

As of Veterans Day, November 11, 2017, all honorably discharged U.S. veterans will be able to shop the exchange online.

This new privilege will only extend to online shopping however, not shopping in the physical exchange. Through the website, veterans will be able to purchase any items except for uniforms, alcohol and tobacco products.

The exchange estimates that this could bring in between $226 million and $1.13 billion in annual sales. An increase in sales also means an increase in funds for MWR programs.

Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) receives the majority of its funding from exchange dividends. The more sales the exchange has, the more programs MWR can offer. MWR programs are in place to support the “readiness and resilience for Soldiers and Families.” Programs include child and youth services, libraries, entertainment, sports and fitness, automotive skills, crafts and more.

Recently, exchange dividends have been low and MWR has not had the funds to support their usual programs. The Army has had to use some of this money to improve its daycare centers since budgets have been cut so much. The low sales have been due to the decline in the active duty force and base closures as well as the ending of tobacco product discounts and smaller profits from cheaper gas being sold. Opening online sales to all honorably discharged veterans is expected to quickly solve this problem.

Veterans will enjoy saving on average 20 percent over commercial stores while those families with base access will be enjoying better MWR programs. It’s a win-win situation for all.

This has been a two-year effort to open online shopping up to honorably discharged veterans. In the fall of 2016 the Defense Department’s Executive Resale Board voted unanimously to open online shopping to veterans and the Deputy Defense Secretary approved it.

AAFES has been preparing for the expansion of shoppers by improving the website, call centers and warehouse and distribution systems. They are working with the Department of Veterans Affairs and Defense Manpower Data Center to determine a way to verify that exchange shoppers are in fact honorably discharged veterans.

Shopping will only be available to veterans online and only for the exchange.

There are currently no plans to open shopping at the commissary up to honorably discharged veterans. This is because the commissary is run differently than AAFES. The Defense Commissary Agency receives a $1.4 billion operational subsidy annually that is funded by taxpayers. An increase in shoppers at the commissary would result in a higher cost for taxpayers in accordance to the current system. DECA therefore, is not considering adding veterans to the list of eligible shoppers.

Honorably discharged veterans however are excited to able to shop at the exchange online, even if they can’t also shop at the commissary. The Army and Air Force Exchange service has received outstanding support for this program and is anticipating a huge turnout of veteran online shoppers on Veterans Day.

You can keep up with announcements as the date for launch of this program approaches and learn how you can establish your identity as an honorably discharged veteran through their website.

What do you think of this policy change for the military exchange shopping privilege for veterans? Are you a veteran that will be shopping online this Veterans Day?

3 Commissary Myths that Need to Be Busted

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For the past 2 years, there’s been a lot of talk about possible changes to the commissaries. The talk has come from all directions. There was talk about possible changes from Congress. There was talk about possible changes from the consultants hired by the Defense Commissary Agency. There was talk about possible changes from commissary employees and shoppers.

Now commissary shoppers may be asking themselves which (if any) of these commissary changes are happening. Here’s a little hint: only 1 of the proposals is scheduled to happen in 2017.

What about the other possible changes? For now, these recommendations move to the land of myths and rumors.

Here are 3 myths that you may hear commissary shoppers talking about.

Commissary myth #1: DeCA is merging with the military exchanges.

If you thought this was happening, it was because the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission presented a proposal with 15 recommendations to modernize the commissaries. One of those recommendations was a proposal to combine the commissary and exchange systems into a single defense resale organization. This proposal was intended to reduce the overhead costs of operating the commissaries and exchanges separately.

When MilitaryShoppers wrote about this proposal nearly 2 years ago, readers said that this proposal was a terrible idea. Repeatedly, readers wrote this comment:

“Do not combine. We would lose our privileges.”

For now, the commissary and exchange are not combining.

The statement that DeCA is merging with the exchanges is a myth, according to DeCA officials. They also said

“DeCA leadership continues to explore different levels of cooperation with the military exchanges. To the extent the Defense Department plans to implement any of those options in future, DeCA is committed to ensuring that employees are well-informed and equipped with information to understand any potential impacts.”

Commissary myth #2: DeCA is exploring a privatization pilot program.

Privatization is happening, right? Wrong, according to DeCA officials.

“Upcoming pilot programs will not be exploring potential privatization (i.e., a private sector company taking over DeCA operations). Privatization was not a part of the changes proposed in the 2016 NDAA and is not planned for DeCA at this time.”

The proposal to privatize the commissaries was discussed repeatedly over the course of the last 2 years. At one point, several large unnamed retailers were approaching DeCA and expressing their interests in running the commissaries.

Like the recommendation to merge the commissaries with the exchanges this idea was met with many vocal opponents. They argued that privatization is not the answer to Congress’s budget concerns. Skeptics argued that privatization wouldn’t save the taxpayers money and would lead to price increases for commissary patrons.

Privatization is off the table. For now.

Commissary myth #3: DeCA’s mission is changing.

“DeCA’s mission has always been to offer the right products at the right prices as a critical benefit to its patrons,” DeCA said on its website.

One proposal, a private label brand, is happening and DeCA is confident that is program will “offer more flexibility in how DeCA delivers that benefit, and positions the agency to be more cost-effective, efficient and better able to protect the benefit for future generations of patrons.”

Congress wants DeCA to be cost-effective and efficient. Veterans want to keep this military benefit without increasing the prices or surcharge. Military families want groceries at a competitive price compared with civilian grocery stores.

We all want the same things for our commissaries. Will the private label brand be enough to save the commissary benefit without raising prices or reducing the benefit?

We’ll just have to wait and see.

Are you hearing any other rumors about changes to your commissary? Tell us in the comments section.

Commissaries Will Offer 400 Private Label Items Starting in May

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For the first time in its history, private label items will be found in your military commissary.

Commissary shoppers know (and often complain) that generic products aren’t available at the commissary.

If you want ketchup, you buy Heinz.

If you want oatmeal, you buy Quaker Oats.

If you want cola, you buy Coca-Cola or Pepsi.

The same quality for a lower price product often referred to as a generic brand, like the Best Value brand found at Walmart stores or the Market Pantry brand in Target stores, isn’t an option at your commissary. There isn’t a store brand for DeCA.

Soon that will change.

The Defense Commissary Agency selected MDV SpartanNash LLC to be its first private label supplier.

“We are excited that DeCA has selected us to support this important initiative, and to provide commissaries with private label products for the first time in their history,” said Dennis Eidson, SpartanNash CEO and Chairman of the Board in a press release.

“This partnership will provide military families with quality options and the opportunity to stretch their food budget. Many of our active duty and veterans are on a limited income, and their military benefit provides savings which are key to meeting their families’ food and household needs. Patriotism is one of our core values, and we are extremely proud to serve our nation’s service members, their families, and military partners around the world,” Eidson said in the press release.

Starting in May, commissary shoppers will see private label items on the shelves in their stores. DeCA officials said the plan is to introduce an initial assortment of 400 items in commissaries worldwide in May 2017. The amount of private label products will be gradually increased with the goal of 1,000 available at commissaries by the end of 2017.

DeCA’s director and CEO Joseph H. Jeu said he is excited to bring private label products to military families.

“They are smart, savvy shoppers who know that private label products are cost-effective alternatives to national brands. We’re excited to help them save more at our commissaries,” he said in a press release.

DeCA reported that 60% of commissary patrons said they would be interested in a DeCA private label.

“Our customers have been asking for private label for a long time,” Jeu said.

Customers aren’t the only ones asking for private label products. Congress had a hand in this decision too.

The 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) nudged DeCA to explore the option of private label products. DeCA has been researching ways to keep the commissaries open with less federal funding. The private label brand is only option out of many that DeCA is exploring in the next year.

What do you think of DeCA’s decision to have a private label brand? Would you buy private label products if they were available at your commissary?