PI019: Have Commissaries Reached Their Expiration Date?

Meat Counter at the Parris Island Commissary

Commissaries are grocery stores that sell items at cost to active duty, retirees and dependents.  They are considered a valuable non-pay benefit because they provide a way for military families to put quality food on the table no matter where they are stationed.  In response to mandatory budget cuts, the Department of Defense (DOD) is looking into throwing this benefit out like an expired can of SPAM.

Benefits as a recruiting tool

It’s hard to believe anyone would need more incentive than a pair of Dress Blues to join the Marine Corps but in order to get the most qualified young men and women to sign a couple of years over to Uncle Sam, recruiters use military benefits as a tool to entice people to join.  For example:

* Marines and their dependents receive health care
* Marines receive money for education in the form of Tuition Assistance while they are active duty
* Marines have a GI Bill they can use after active duty
* They have commissary privileges and more

Unfortunately these benefits begin dissolving when the Defense Department looks for ways to trim the budget.

Benefits Evaporating

Benefits have a habit of melting away when the Department of Defense Budget goes on a diet.  For example, when my husband joined the Marine Corps years ago, recruiters promised free health care while he remained on active duty.  If he retired after 20 years, he would receive free health care for the rest of his life.  “Now where else can you get a deal like that?”  His recruiter asked.   Not long after Mike joined, his health care for life benefit morphed into “health care after retirement at a reduced rate”.  Each passing year military health care is scrutinized more and more as government officials look for ways to save money.

Another example occurred in the late 70’s when the GI bill was replaced by VEAP, the Veterans Educational Assistance Program.  The Veterans Administration gave $2 for every $1 contributed up to $2,700.  This gave the service member a maximum of $8,100 for college divvied out over 36 months ($225 a month).  Many service members considered VEAP an inferior program and did not sign up; those who did not, my husband included, did not receive an education benefit.

Fruit Bin at the Commissary

Now the Commissary is on the cutting board

According to a U.S. Department of Defense article dated January 28, 2014 the Pentagon is looking into terminating this valuable benefit.  Here are 7 reasons why Marines and their families should care:

1. The Commissary sells food at a reduced rate, (23.7% or more).  Because the food costs less overall, families can budget their money more effectively by stocking up on canned goods and weekly specials.   According to the DeCA website (Defense Commissary Agency), commissary shoppers can save thousands of dollars a year.

2.  There’s no sales tax at the Commissary.  There is a 5% surcharge that goes back into the Commissary system to pay for upkeep.

3. Each store hires workers who bag and carry groceries to the car in order to earn tips from patrons.  Many baggers are students earning extra money for college; some are spouses or retirees who want a little spending money.

4. In addition to baggers who are paid only in tips, DECA employs 18,000 civilian workers.  So when one looks at eliminating the Commissaries, they also look at getting rid of full-time jobs with benefits as well as part-time jobs for teens and adults.

5. Military families move often; the Commissaries help offset grocery prices in areas with a higher cost of living.

6. Military retirees shop at the commissary.

7. Commissaries offer piece of mind to military personnel who know that even if they are in harm’s way, their loved ones back home are able to purchase quality food in a secure environment.

In addition, without quality benefits, it will be difficult to attract talented young men and women into our Armed Forces.  The commissary is a benefit Marines use throughout their careers and into retirement.  Don’t let mandatory budget cuts hurt military families.  Write to your local representatives and say, “Don’t take away commissary benefits from our military.”