Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

What You Can Do to Help Save Your Commissary Benefit

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It’s no secret that I’m a fan of the commissary. My family has been shopping there since I was a baby and I continue to shop there today! Ironically enough, when my parents were visiting this past week, what did we do? We ran into the commissary for the typical bread, milk and eggs run.

The convenience and cost-effectiveness are the primary reasons military families visit the commissary. But, as the new National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is being discussed in Congress, our commissary budget is on the chopping block, yet again. That could mean more commissary closures, reduced hours and days, among other things.

The House of Representatives approved the fiscal year 2017 NDAA, H.R. 4909, on May 20, which authorizes $610 billion in funding for national defense. Now it’s the Senate’s turn to debate it.

While negotiations are in the works, this is our time to speak up! Although it may seem like military families are alone on this one, there are organizations out there lobbying and fighting for our cause.

Join forces with these organizations and they can help amplify your voice.

Blue Star Families (BSF) is a wonderful organization that provides resources, programs and partnerships for military families. Each year, they release a descriptive military lifestyle survey that indicates the concerns of military families. The best part of the survey is that the right people are reading it and it’s making a difference in influencing decisions.

The 2015 survey results showed that military benefits and pay were top issues for military families. Our commissary is looped into the mix there. To make sure our benefits continue to be in the forefront of budgetary decisions, fill out their 2016 survey. Time is running out, so hurry because the closeout date is May 30!

In addition to Blue Star Families, the National Military Family Association (NMFA) is another fantastic organization that strongly lobbies for military families. They provide scholarships and kids’ camps (i.e. Operation Purple Camps) as well as resources for military family and health care issues.

They are also monitoring the defense budget saga and provide detailed explanations to better understand the situation because let’s be honest, it can get really confusing. NMFA recently broke down the defense budget concerns, including the commissary issue here.

With the backing of BSF and NMFA, military families can have a stronger voice. Keep an eye out for volunteer opportunities and ways to contribute to these organizations.

You can also connect with The Coalition to Save Our Military Shopping Benefits. This coalition is “working to protect service members and their families EARNED commissary and exchange benefits, and the critical savings they provide our military community,” according to its website.

You can also contact your state senator  to encourage their vote in the proceedings. This is when you, as an American voter, can and should get your issues heard. Here is how you can contact their offices (be sure to select the U.S. Senate).

That reminds me, have you registered to vote?

Lastly, I want to encourage you to patronize your local commissary because that will also influence the decision-making process.

Every time you shop at your commissary, it’s counted and every dollar you spend is calculated. If the numbers are there, it’s undeniable proof that the commissary system is beneficial.

Are you concerned about proposed changes to the commissary? What are you doing to voice your concerns?

Putting the Memorial Back into Memorial Day

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When I say the words “Memorial Day” what kind of words or images do you associate with this national holiday?

  • Is it the wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery?
  • Is it the somber echo of a trumpet playing “taps” at a military funeral?
  • Or is Memorial Day simply a day off of work, when you will hit the beach with your friends or go shopping?

We’ve talked before about this growing divide between veterans and civilians in our country. The percentage of Americans who have served in the military seems to be shrinking with every generation. There is a greater number of military kids who are following in the footsteps of their service member parents while fewer Americans know anyone who is a solider, airman, sailor or Marine.

Then you add in Memorial Day, a national holiday to honor all service members that were killed during any war and you feel this division between these 2 communities a little more.

If you watched television commercials this month, you would think that Memorial Day is a day for hosting a barbecue, taking your boat out for the first “unofficial” day of summer and that it’s the best weekend to save money on a new mattress.

The truth is that these typical Memorial Day activities are insensitive to the purpose and meaning of Memorial Day.

The truth is that these activities are insensitive to the grieving Gold Star families.

The truth is that these activities send a message to our children that if you die in service to your country, your sacrifice won’t be remembered.

But we know that simply isn’t true.

The truth is that our hearts do ache for our Gold Star families. We want to show them love and support in whatever way they need it.

The truth is that even if you haven’t had a friend, neighbor or sibling killed in action, you still want to honor and respect that person’s sacrifice to our country.

I recently saw evidence of that public support for our fallen service members when I read the news articles about the thousands of people who lined the streets of Coronado, Calif., to pay their respects to Charles Keating IV. The 31-year-old Navy SEAL died in a gunbattle with Islamic State fighters on May 3 in Iraq.

The truth is that taking time for a meaningful Memorial Day activity doesn’t take much time at all. All it takes is a bit of effort and planning.

Throughout the years, I have worked to find a Memorial Day ceremony or parade wherever we found ourselves on Memorial Day.

In Okinawa, Japan, my dedication to a meaningful Memorial Day meant attending a service that remembered the Americans who died on that island during World War II.

In Port Hueneme, Calif., my dedication to a meaningful Memorial Day meant attending an early morning ceremony and listening a Navy captain discuss the noble and courageous efforts of today’s sailors in the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In Gettysburg, Penn., my dedication to a meaningful Memorial Day meant teaching my daughter to place her hand over her heart when the military color guard marched by us at the beginning of the 145th Memorial Day parade (one of the oldest continuing ceremonies in the country.)

But I must confess that last year I didn’t do any of these things. I was in deployment survival mode and was driving to my parents’ house, eager to start the summer with them. I regret to say that I forgot to remember Memorial Day.

Have you ever forgotten to mark Memorial Day in a meaningful way?

I hope I don’t ever forget it again.

Since then, I’ve learned about the National Moment of Remembrance. The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all “Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation.”

Here’s what the Moment of Remembrance founder Carmella LaSpada says about it

“It’s a way we can all help put the memorial back in Memorial Day.”

A moment to remember.

Now that’s something that all Americans – military or civilian – can do this Memorial Day.

What activities do you typically do on Memorial Day?

13 Corporations that Give Back to Our Military

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Charity is a wonderful thing. For those that give back, it offers a sense of involvement. For those that receive, it offers a sense of comfort.

You can ultimately choose who and what you donate to as well. If you find yourself with a few extra bucks or time to spend, it’s common for a lot of people to give back to a cause that is near and dear to them.

I am a strong advocate for helping the military community. I volunteer with local organizations that help families in and around my current duty station. I also do what I can for those that need it outside my area.

As a result, I usually patronize companies and brands that give back to our military and veteran community. There are so many different ones out there that it’s difficult to pinpoint them all!

Here are 13 brands and corporations that stand out to me:

Corporations and Brands that Give Back to Our Military and Veteran Community

Here are a few brands and corporations that give back to service members, military spouses and veterans.

Food, Beverage and Household Goods

  • Frito Lay
  • Purina
  • Kimberly Clark
  • Nestle Waters

In celebration of the grand opening of a new commissary in Jacksonville, Fla., these companies have joined forces to give back to the military community by planning to give away more than 300 prizes. If you’re in the Jacksonville area, be sure to stop by the grand opening scheduled for the last week in July!

When you purchase the military match set from Community Coffee Company they give back that same product to service members that are serving overseas. It’s called their Military Match Program and so far, they have donated 4.2 million cups of coffee.

Did you know that Coca-Cola was a founding partner with the USO? This year, the USO celebrates 75 years of unwavering commitment to the military community. I am continually amazed at the ongoing efforts and support via the USO and it’s great to know that a company as big as Coca-Cola gives back to the military community.

Retail

I discovered Macy’s corporate giving campaign for military veterans while shopping at a local store a couple years back. It was a great surprise to know of their partnership with Got Your 6, an organization that is aimed to empower veterans. Mark your calendars because from May 13-15 when you donate $3 while shopping in-store, you’ll receive 25% off your total purchase.

The company gives back to an amazing organization that helps expecting military mothers called Operation Shower. Since 2012, Babies “R” Us has donated must-have items for expecting mothers from all branches stationed around the country.

Brands

10% of all Sword & Plough sales go back to military service organizations. Sword & Plough is a veteran-owned company that has the mission to bring awareness to veteran employment and bridge the military-civilian divide.

According to their website, this apparel company “exists to support” the Oscar Mike Foundation. Every purchase gives back to the veteran community, particularly those that have been injured during military service.

Starbucks gives back to the military and veteran communities in more ways than one, but their commitment to employ veterans and military spouses is beyond amazing. I’m happy to say it’s becoming a trend in the corporate world and you could check out more companies in the line with Starbucks’ commitment to hiring veterans and military spouses by checking out the Hiring Our Heroes website.

They have donated $11 million to military charities since 1987, including the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Fisher House, USO and many more! When I was reading their long history of military support, it’s actually fascinating what support was like in the 1940s. I encourage you to read more about it here.

Institutions

CSU has a “Hero Behind the Hero Scholarship” that gives back to the military spouses and children of active duty service members.

There are so many other companies out there that give back to military-affiliated organizations. Next time you’re shopping, take a closer eye on the store walls or packaging.

Are you more likely to buy a product from a business that gives back to a military or veteran organization? Why or why not?

Remembering Our Fallen Friends on Memorial Day

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Memorial Day is a day to remember those who have lost their lives while serving our country. This national holiday is a day to remember them and their sacrifices.

This loss hits home more often in military families. We have friends who have lost their lives and friends who have lost their spouses. We know people who have received that knock on the door and we know how real Memorial Day can be to the people in our military community.

As military spouses, we might not be sure how we can remember our friends on Memorial Day.

But there are many ways to do so and ways to include our kids. We never want to forget these service members, their families and their sacrifices.

You can plan to attend a Memorial Day ceremony in honor of your friend or friends that were lost. You can take your children with you and explain to them why you are there in an age-appropriate way. Smaller children might not totally understand what is going on but over time, they will.

See what Memorial Day ceremonies are planned in your area by checking with your local newspaper, television station, American Legion or VFW. If you live near a military installation they might have something going on there to honor those who were lost.

While you are at the Memorial Day event you could wear a special shirt or piece of jewelry to remember your fallen friends. This can help make the family feel like they are still remembered and allow you to honor those that have been lost.

Another way to remember your friends on Memorial Day is to keep in touch with their family members, whether that be their spouse, parents or siblings. Let them know that you think of their loved one often and let them know you are thinking of them as well.

You might want to reach out to them on Memorial Day in order to let them know that they are loved and that you are honoring their loved one. When someone in your family dies, you get a lot of support and love at first but that support can stop after a few months. Reaching out to the family, who still might be hurting from the loss is a great idea if you are close enough to do so. Even a simple card sent in the mail can go a long way. You want them to know that you still love and miss your friend and think of them often.

Children can have a more difficult time when a family friend has passed away. Take the opportunity this Memorial Day to talk about this person with your child. Find out how they are processing the death and if they have any questions. If appropriate, you can take the child to the gravesite to leave flowers or another gift. You just want to make sure they know that you are there to talk about what happened whenever they need you to be. If they are quite young, they might not fully understand where their friend went. Talking about the great memories they have had with the friend can help until they are old enough to understand.

Memorial Day can bring up a lot of emotions and feelings, especially for members of the military. Having a plan of how to remember those in your life that you have lost is a good idea, both for you and your children. Whether they have been gone for just a couple of months or many years, grieving can take a lot of time and you don’t want to rush that process.

How do you honor fallen service members on Memorial Day?

What You Need to Know About the VLER Health Information Exchange Initiative

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The Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record (VLER) Health Information Exchange Initiative was formed following President Barack Obama’s remarks on April 9, 2009. The focus of his speech was to outline improvements to the health care system for veterans.

At the time, there wasn’t a system in place that connected a service member’s record from the Department of Defense (DoD) to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for treatment and care. However, during the President’s remarks, he called out the DoD and VA because they,

“have taken a first step towards creating one unified lifetime electronic health record for members of our armed services that will contain their administrative and medical information – from the day they first enlist to the day that they are laid to rest.”

Now, the VLER Health Information Exchange is currently in use for veterans.

Veterans can have their comprehensive medical record all in one place, so VA health facilities and participating health care providers are able to access applicable medical histories.

What Veterans Need to Know About the VLER Health Information Exchange Initative

Have you heard about the VLER Health Information Exchange? What questions or concerns do you have about it?

I was recently chatting with a nurse friend about the VLER Health Information Exchange. The concept is great and really does allow for a streamlined approach for both veterans and health care providers as long as health care providers are privy to the system. She was telling me there is a disconnect with Military Treatment Facilities (MTF) and the VA.

For example, if a veteran wants to seek treatment at a military hospital, he or she still may need to carry all of their documents to show their medical history from the VA to the MTF. Currently, the systems aren’t “connected” per se. The disconnect could lead to delays in treatment and lost messaging.

That will change on June 1, 2016, when the VLER Health Information Exchange will expand to the Tricare network.

The overall goal is to connect the health care providers that serve military members and their families to their medical record, including lab results, allergies, medications and illness. It would take away the need to carry paper records when you visit a health clinic.

After it was explained to me by my friend, I thought of it as a bridge system that carries accurate information to the appropriate health care provider. Whether you are being treated at a VA facility for one ailment or getting a general check-up at a MTF, your doctors are on the same page to make the smartest diagnosis and care.

Tricare released a handy video that also explains the VLER Health Information Exchange and what it means to military members. The key takeaways from the VLER Health Information Exchange video is that the system is secure, efficient and effective.

It’s secure because only authorized health care providers can access the information. Tricare lists the providers that can see your record as military hospitals and clinics, VA facilities and civilian groups that are part of the eHealth Exchange. From the site, “the eHealth Exchange is a network of exchange partners who securely share clinical information across the United States.”

Efficiency comes into play because the VLER Health Information Exchange would avoid any cross duplication of tests and/or procedures already done for a patient. Because it is a comprehensive health record of an individual, the health care team can assess your current situation to give you appropriate treatment, which highlights effectiveness.

Of course, veterans and family members could opt out of the system. It’s not required to participate, but that would mean none of your medical history will be on the VLER Health Information Exchange. Currently, active duty members must be a part of the program.

Take a look at Tricare’s VLER Health Information Exchange resource site to read more about the initiative to see if it’s something you would want to use or if you would rather opt out of it.

Do you have any questions about the VLER Health Information Exchange? Share them in the comments section.

What’s Wrong with Military Service as a Family Business?

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Government officials are worried that the military is not diversified enough. A recent report showed that the majority of service members are part of what they call the family business, meaning military service runs in the family.

A surprising 80 percent of recent troops “come from a family where at least one parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, sibling or cousin has also worn their nation’s uniform. More than 25% have a parent who has served,” according to a Pentagon report of 2012-2013 recruits.

Military service is a wonderful and proud tradition within many families.

What problem could the government possibly have with military service legacy?

Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee subcommittee discussed this topic recently in length. They are worried that the pool of service members is not as diversified as it could be.

When America had the draft, the military was made up of a more diverse population. At the height of the Vietnam War there were 3.5 million troops. They came for all walks of life, had different religious beliefs, different levels of education, different ideals and different backgrounds.

Now the military has closer to 1.4 million service members. The number of men and women entering the military is shrinking and so is the diversity within it.

If the military continues to mainly be made up of those in the family business, the military will continue to shrink and so will its diversity, or so the government thinks.

The pool of potential recruits is dwindling, which is going to force the Pentagon to think outside the family on ways to recruit new troops.

Lt. Commander Nate Christensen is the spokesperson for the Chief of Naval Personnel. He said the reason behind their worry is

We believe that this limits both the talent pool from which the Navy draws, as well as the diversity of background in our force, and ultimately could lead to a civil-military divide.

The Navy has a long tradition of sailors in the family business as 82 percent of them come from families with other service members.

The Air Force has an even greater number of families with multiple service members.

Eighty-six percent of current airmen have close relatives that have served in the military. The Army and Marines also have large numbers, 79 percent and 77 percent, of those in the family business.

Why do so many people decide to follow in the military service footsteps of their family members?

People make choices based on the life they have led and the people they have grown up with. Service members are likely to influence their family members to either join or not to join the military. Many that do join the military also enter the same branch of service that their family members were in. Fifty-nine percent of Army recruits come from a family that has close relatives in the Army.

The traditional make-up of the military no longer stands however. What was once mostly middle- and working-class men is now diversified with women in many of the positions.

There has been a large influx of women entering the military in the last few years as well. With the military opening doors to careers in fields women were not eligible to go into previously, the trend is set to continue. The military overall is shrinking, but in the last decade, the number of women joining the military has increased.

The government can’t afford to simply count on those entering the family business to keep the military strong. They’re going to have to start thinking outside the norm and recruit fresh blood, so to speak.

There are so many opportunities available in this age that the younger generation is not enlisting at the rate of previous years. The Pentagon is going to have to find a new incentive to get talented people to join the military.

In doing so, however, I hope that they don’t diminish the pride service members feel in continuing a family tradition. The term “family business” is being turned into a negative, when in fact it is a wonderful thing. I come from a family with a long line of service members and I married a sailor. I don’t know if our son will grow up and join the military, but I will be proud to have him in the family business, if he decides to.

What do you think of the statement that “military is a family business?”

Is the Military an Easy Target for Budget Cuts?

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Oh, budget cuts. We military families cringe when we hear that in association with the military. Why do we see these cuts happen and why do they have to hurt so much? Why is cutting Tricare, housing and other benefits the best way to handle the budget?

Is the Military an Easy Target for Budget Cuts?

The truth is, only 1 percent are serving and because of that, a lot of people don’t understand what we need.

I have been a military spouse for more than 10 years now and I have seen plenty of other ways to cut the budget instead of cutting where it hurts the most. That makes me wonder, why is the military an easy target for budget cuts?

One reader wrote this in a comment about proposed changes to the commissaries:

This is a reduction in benefits any way you look at it. Another pay cut. The military is an easy target since they aren’t allowed to be political.

Is this true? Is the military an easy target for cuts because the military is not allowed to be political? I think there is some truth to this but it isn’t the main reason.

The biggest reason is because few people in the government have a real connection to the military. You are more likely to make cuts to something you think that a small percentage of the population will actually be affected by.

Although military members themselves can not be political, others who are associated with the military and who care just as much can be. Spouses and those who have served in the past. Those with children serving or with parents who have served. They are people who can get political about the cuts.

Because of this, there has to be more to the cuts than just the fact that those who serve can’t be political.

When my husband joined the military, we didn’t know too many people who were also making that choice. Over the years that has changed as we have met more and more military families. However, when we go home we still feel like the minority when it comes to the military. This isn’t true for everyone of course. Others come from big military communities and have known the military life before they became a part of the service themselves.

The truth is, only 1 percent are serving and because of that, a lot of people don’t understand what we need. They don’t understand that when you sign up to fight for your country, you expect your family to be taken care of in return. That you shouldn’t have to worry that your health care will be cut, that services for your special needs kids will suddenly be taken away or that you have to worry that you will not make enough each month to support them.

If we could figure out a way to make sure everyone with the power to change this knows what military families need and what we don’t, things might change. If they could hear the voices of the military spouses and other family members, maybe they would find another way to make their cuts. If they could truly understand what the budget cuts do to the 1 percent serving in the military, maybe they would do something else.

This means that change needs to come from us, those that stand behind those serving in the military. We need to be aware of the changes that are being made and do what we can to stand up against them. This won’t always be easy and sometimes things will feel like we are not even making a difference, but the more people understand what military families need, the better chance we have for things to change.

Do you agree with that statement the “military is an easy target since they aren’t allowed to be political?” Why or why not?

Wearing Unearned Military Medals Is Wrong No Matter What the Court Says

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When I saw the headline, I thought you’ve got to be kidding me. This can’t be correct. This seems blatantly wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. But the headline isn’t an error. Here’s the Associated Press’ headline:

Court: Wearing Unearned Military Medals Is Free Speech

And apparently (and most appalling to me) this court decision about wearing unearned military medals is in line with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling from 2012.

Wearing Unearned Military Medals Is Wrong No Matter What the Court Says

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision allows anyone to wear a Purple Heart.

In January, a specially convened 11-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the First Amendment allows people to wear unearned military medals, according this Associated Press article.

This decision overturned the 2007 conviction of former Marine Elven Joe Swisher. Swisher was convicted of violating the Stolen Valor Act.

Don’t remember the Stolen Valor Act?

The Stolen Valor Act was signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2005. This law made it a federal misdemeanor to falsely represent oneself as having received any military decoration. You know, a decision that makes sense and honors our veterans.

Then in 2012 the U.S. Supreme Court deemed the act unconstitutional under First Amendment free speech protections in the case United States v. Alvarez. Alvarez falsely claimed he was a retired Marine who had received the Congressional Medal of Honor. Alvarez never served in the military so obviously he didn’t earn any military medals.

“Though few might find (Alvarez’s) statements anything but contemptible, his right to make those statements is protected by the Constitution’s guarantee of freedom of speech and expression,” Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote for the majority. He wrote that the First Amendment

“protects the speech we detest as well as the speech we embrace.”

In light of the Supreme Court’s decision, Congress revised the Stolen Valor Act making it a crime to “financially profit by lying about military service.” President Barack Obama signed the revised Stolen Valor Act into law in 2013.

A Christian Science Monitor article explains the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision like this:

“…Swisher’s case overturns a prominent provision of the 2013 Act, legally allowing anyone to wear a Purple Heart.”

Anyone? Yup, anyone. You, me, that guy down the street, that woman in the parking lot. Anyone.

That idea is insulting.

But there’s more.

“The value of a military medal lies not in the materials of which it is comprised, but in its message,” 9th Circuit Judge Sandra Ikuta wrote in the majority opinion. “Wearing a medal without authorization, therefore, generally communicates the false message that the wearer is entitled to such recognition and gratitude…. Wearing a medal has no other purpose other than to communicate a message.”

Those last 3 words irritate me – “Communicate a message.”

Yes, a military medal does “communicate a message.” It communicates a personal sacrifice for our country. It communicates loyalty to the Armed Forces. A military medal communicates an action that went above and beyond the average actions of other soldiers, Marines, sailors or airmen.

Wearing military medals should be limited to those who earned them. Those soldiers, airmen, Marines and sailors are the ones who deserve to wear military medals.

Not Swisher.

This Idaho man was honorably discharged in 1957. Court documents showed that Swisher served in the military and that he didn’t receive any military medals.

Yet, he was photographed wearing a several military medals and awards, including the Silver Star, Navy and Marine Corps Ribbon, Purple Heart, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with a Bronze “V,” according to the Associated Press article.

When you wear unearned military medals, you are a liar.

And that’s the truth.

Now it’s your turn: What do you think of this decision? Should wearing unearned military medals be a protected right under the Freedom of Speech?

Should Commissary Privilege Go to All Veterans?

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Shopping at the commissary is a great benefit of being part of the military community.

Not all veterans are authorized to shop at the commissary however.

Should the Commissary Privilege Be Extended to All Veterans?

The commissary will not allow anyone to shop there without proper ID.

There are certain qualifications that must be met to be granted access. It isn’t up to the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) to decide who can shop there.

The Department of Defense Instruction 1330.17, DoD Commissary Program outlines all authorized patrons to include: active duty, Guard and Reserve members, military retirees, Medal of Honor recipients, 100 percent disabled veterans and their authorized family members.

The DoD exercises close scrutiny over patronage of military commissaries to ensure the continued effectiveness of military commissaries as an integral part of the military compensation package.

This privilege is also extended to USPHS Commissioned Corps, the NOAA Commissioned Corps and its predecessors, cadets and midshipmen of the Military Service academies and Wage Marine Personnel. There are certain categories of retired military that also are granted access.

These categories include: all military personnel that are on the official retired list, whether active or reserve, who retired with pay, were granted retirement pay for a physical disability or are entitled to retirement pay even if this pay is waived or pending due to the age requirement. Enlisted men and women that are transferred to the Fleet Reserve of the Navy or Marine Corps Reserve after 20 or more years of active service are also allowed to take advantage of the commissary privilege.

Another group that is also granted access to the commissary includes: officers and crew members of vessels, lighthouses keepers and depot keepers of the former Lighthouse Service that retired. This group includes retired civilian employees of the Coast Guard who were lighthouse keepers of the previously named Lighthouse Service and who retired as civilian employees of the Coast Guard as lighthouse keepers or who were on lightships or other vessels.

Retired wage Marines, including retired noncommissioned ships officers, and those who were on NOAA are also able to utilize commissary benefits. 100 percent disabled veterans who were honorably discharged that have a 100 percent service-connected disability or those that are 100 percent unemployable can use the commissary as well.

Families that are able to shop at the commissary include: dependent children and spouses, serving family members and unmarried former spouses. These benefits are also extended to DoD civilian employees and their families when stationed outside of the United States and outside of its territories. Official DoD organizations are able to purchase goods from the commissary as well.

Some service members will leave with a short time to maintain their commissary benefits. A member that is involuntarily separated from active duty can use the commissary for 2 years after the separation. This also includes members of Select Reserve of the Ready Reserve that are separated and granted access to the commissary for 2 years. Service members that receive sole survivor discharge can shop at the commissary for 2 years after service ends.

Should the Commissary Privilege Be Extended to All Veterans?

A commissary cashier checks groceries at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. (U.S. Air Force/Margo Wright)

Employees of DeCA can purchase goods at the commissary for immediate consumption, such as for lunch while at work. Other civilians that are allowed to shop at the commissary include DoD presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed officers and their families that live on a military installation that has a commissary. DoD civilian employees who are stationed TDY overseas can also use this benefit. Some military personnel of foreign nations can also use the commissary.

In overseas areas American National Red Cross and United Service Organizations (USO) can also take advantage of the commissary privilege. The Armed Services Young Men’s Christian Association can also shop at the commissary overseas. Emergency access may be granted to others overseas.

This is a very extensive list and a few more civilian personnel that can shop at the commissary can be found here under the DoD Instruction. Further information can also be found on this site.

Military service that does not continue through retirement are not allowed to use the commissary. This means even if you served in war and put your life on the line, you cannot use the commissary unless you stayed in until retirement.

In regard to disabled veterans, if the disability is less than 100 percent previous service members cannot shop at the commissary.  Those on delayed entry into the service cannot use the commissary either.

You can contact the Pass and ID office on a military installation to ask if your situation grants access to the commissary or not. The commissary will not allow anyone to shop there without proper ID that specifically states commissary benefits.

What do you think? Should shopping at the commissary be available to all veterans?

When I Remember 9/11

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I was in my last semester of college when 9/11 happened. I remember that morning well, all these years later. I was sleeping because I was on the West Coast. I remember waking up and wondering why President George W. Bush was talking about a plane crash on the radio. Doing so seemed like an odd thing to do. I got up, turned on the TV and was in shock.

How I Remember Sept. 11, 2001

How do you choose to remember 9/11?

9/11 was when the world changed although we didn’t really know how at that moment.

I didn’t know how that morning would change the rest of my life. I had no idea.

At the time I was dating my husband. We were not engaged yet but knew we would get married. He was in the IRR (Individual Ready Reserve) at the time. That meant that he could be called up if something big happened. I think 9/11 would count as “something big.”

That was the first time I ever thought of myself as being a military spouse. A war bride. Someone who waited at home while her spouse was off at war. I thought he could get called up. That was in the back of my mind the whole day.

In the end he did not get called up but in 2005 he did join the Army and I became a military spouse. He has been deployed 4 times, to either Iraq or Afghanistan. The wars that started on that day in September.

The day that changed everything. 9/11/01, a day we will never forget.

As a military spouse I have deep and emotional feelings about 9/11. We found out that people could hurt Americans on that day. That we were not safe just because we were on the other side of the world from people who wanted to do us harm. The terrorists spent a lot of time, money and manpower to pull what happened on 9/11 off. They surprised us. They shocked us in a way we never could have imagined.

Because of what happened that day, our country fought back. We went to Afghanistan and Iraq and my husband was apart of that. It is weird to think about an event like this changing your own life in a personal way. When the tragedy first happened, I knew life would change things but I didn’t know how.

On that morning, I went to my classes at my college and that is all we talked about. Because it was so early and social media was not around back then, some students didn’t know about what had happened until they got to class. That morning was very strange. I don’t remember the words that were said in my classes but I do know we needed to talk about what happened.

That early we didn’t even know who was responsible or what the U.S. was going to do because of what happened. All we knew was that terrorists had come over to our country and killed a lot of people.

On that day in September, everything changed. From the way we get on an airplane to the way our U.S. military is handed. You hear people talk about the “Pre- 9/11” years in the Army and they are very different then what we experience now.

New York was never going to be the same. America was never going to be the same and military families were never going to be the same.

Every year we think about 9/11.

We think about the people who didn’t make it. The heroes. We think about the babies born around that time who are now teenagers and have only heard stories about what happened in their birth year.

We think about the soldiers, the airmen, the Marines and the other military members who fought for us after 9/11 who were lost in battle. We think about all of them because now, in 2015, what happened that day is something we can’t ever forget. It is something that will always be with us.

How do you choose to remember 9/11?