Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

The Commissary’s 5% Surcharge Isn’t Going Away

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There are so many changes happening at the commissary that many people have questioned if the 5% surcharge will be going away as well. At this point, the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) hasn’t announced that it is considering it.

The Commissary's 5% Surcharge Isn't Going Away

When the commissary was first approved, it was set by law that goods would be sold at cost plus a 5% surcharge. The surcharge covers the cost of maintaining and improving commissary infrastructure.

The government is always looking for ways to save money and the commissary certainly takes a big chunk of the defense buget. The government wants DeCA to be more self-sufficient. If they drop the surcharge, then more taxpayers’ money would have to fund the commissary.

When the commissary was first approved, it was set by law that goods would be sold at cost plus a 5% surcharge. The surcharge covers the cost of maintaining and improving commissary infrastructure. The government funded the rest.

For FY 2018, DeCA requested $1.3 billion in appropriations to cover costs such as: civilian and military labor, labor contracts, transportation of commissary goods overseas, and other general and administrative support. Many new programs have been implemented since to help reduce federal funding.

What has changed at the commissary?

Quite a lot has changed recently.

Have you noticed prices at the commissary aren’t the same? That’s because DeCA moved from set prices to variable pricing. That means that prices are not consistent across the country now. If you live near D.C., you’ll find prices are higher there than at a commissary in Georgia. That’s because the cost of living is higher in D.C. and therefore, items cost more.

Goods fluctuate with market prices as well.

Previously, prices changed at the commissary when the cost changed through the manufacturer. Now they change with the market similarly to how commercial grocery stores handle pricing.

Commissary shoppers are still getting great savings even with the 5% surcharge. In some areas, shoppers are seeing as much as 44.2% savings. You can read more about variable pricing here and see how much your region is saving.

DeCA has made some substantial changes in a relatively short time to start relying less on the government for their funding. The success of these is noticeable in how much money DeCA requested in appropriations for FY 2019. They asked for $123 million less than they did for FY 2018. While you would think the government would be happy about that, they are already asking how much more money they can reduce their appropriations.

From the customer’s standpoint, how do you feel about these changes?

The government wants to save money but DeCA still wants to bring great savings to military families. The commissary benefit is a part of the compensation package and is a great recruitment and retention tool. It isn’t going away.

Neither is the 5% surcharge. The surcharge is one thing that customers ask about a lot.

The exchange doesn’t have a surcharge; so many people don’t understand why the commissary does.

The commissaries and exchanges are two different entities and are funded differently. For now, the 5% surcharge stays in place, but if another change occurs, combining the commissary and exchange, you might see something different. That’s a long way down the road though as a new study just began this month.

What questions do you have about the commissary’s 5% surcharge?

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.

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.

Commissary Surcharge Dollars Fund New Facilities

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There are new and improved commissaries on the way, thanks to shoppers like you.

Your commissary surcharge dollars are hard at work providing the funds needed to build new infrastructure and modernize facilities to provide a better shopping experience for military beneficiaries around the world.

Did you know what the surcharge at the bottom of your receipt is for and the power that it carried for improvements?

The commissary surcharge is not a tax. Many people mistakenly think so, but unlike taxes where money could be distributed in many areas, the commissary surcharge can only be used to build new commissaries or to modernize and maintain the commissary facilities and equipment. Each time you make a purchase at your local commissary, feel good knowing that surcharge will lead to real improvements beneficiaries such as yourself can see in the future.

All commissaries charge a 5 percent surcharge. Perhaps you never noticed the surcharge at the bottom of your receipt. It isn’t something new. In fact, the first surcharge was put into place all the way back in 1879. It varied a bit over time but in 1983 it was set at 5 percent, and remains that way today.

Why do we have to pay a surcharge though?

The government decided that the commissary should be more self-sufficient, and rely less on it for funds. The commissary therefore charges consumers only the cost of the product it sells plus the 5 percent surcharge in order to cover the cost of maintaining and updating their equipment and facilities. Their research has shown that military beneficiaries that shop at the commissary save on average 30 percent over using a commercial grocery store. This takes into account the cost of items and the 5 percent surcharge.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Defense Commissary Agency as well as the 150th anniversary of the commissary benefit. It all began on July 1, 1867, when service members stationed across the country were able to buy food at cost for the first time.

The long tradition continues and a great way to celebrate these landmarks is with a new commissary or better yet – 3.

There are 3 commissaries slated to open this year beginning with Spangdahlem Air Base commissary in Germany this month at a cost of $26 million. Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla., will open its doors to shoppers this summer thanks to $36 million in surcharge dollars. The Fort Belvoir commissary in Virginia is expected to open early next year after spending $38 million. All of these commissaries were built using surcharge dollars.

Construction began in March of 2014 on the commissary at Spangdahlem Air Base. The 7,500 service members, civilians and family members at this mobility hub in the country’s Eifel region will be in for a treat after a long awaited grand opening of their 54,000-square-foot commissary.

There are significant improvements over the current store, which opened in 1985. More space has been added, the aisles are wider, it has been outfitted with modern décor and a larger selection of items will be offered. The number of checkout counters will increase from the current 8 to 13.

Naval Air Station Jacksonville is putting commissary surcharge dollars to good use with a 115,000-square-foot commissary, up from its current 88,000 square feet. This includes a covered drive through for patrons to use when picking up groceries ordered online.

It will also have a raised ceiling, wider aisles, an expanded chill and frozen section and the décor will be modernized. The seafood shop will be larger and the bakery and deli area will be expanded allowing for new items to be sold. This again is all thanks to commissary surcharge dollars.

I am most excited about the $28 million commissary coming to Fort Belvoir. In recent years, Ft. Belvoir has grown by 115,000 people. This new commissary will be able to accommodate the growing population.

The commissary will be constructed to LEED Silver standards, meaning it would utilize sustainable strategies such as using innovative energy conserving techniques. This upgraded facility will offer a wider range of products in a modern setting that is more family friendly with wider aisles and easier access.

There are many great upgrades coming to commissaries across the globe thanks to commissary surcharge dollars.

Have you noticed any changes at a commissary near you? What upgrades would you like to see?