Commissary employees have just been given the approval to shop at base commissaries. Do you agree with this new policy?
A commissary cashier checks groceries at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Photo credit: U.S. Air Force/Margo Wright
There are roughly 14,000 people employed by DeCA and half already have shopping privileges for reasons such as being a military spouse, family member or a retired service member. That means there is still a potential additional 7,000 people that will now be able to shop at the commissary.
For years, there has been a debate over who should have commissary shopping rights. Do you think commissary employees have earned this benefit?
To be clear on the guidelines, commissary employees will be allowed to shop at the commissary starting at the end of the month, but their families will not.
There is no retirement benefit of continual shopping rights for commissary employees.
Once they no longer work for DeCA, they lose their shopping rights.
Commissary employees will not be able to buy tobacco or any controlled substances. Once wine and beer become available at commissaries later this summer, that will also be excluded.
Robert Bianchi, interim DeCA director and chief executive, said
Ultimately, the department believes that extending these limited benefits will further improve commissaries by giving employees a greater sense of ownership and understanding of the goods and services delivered to the millions of authorized patrons in commissaries worldwide.
I can see the reasoning behind that, but it doesn’t mean I agree with it. From an employee’s standpoint, working for a company and not being able to purchase the products you’re surrounded by would be frustrating.
Could you imagine being a cashier ringing up groceries all day and when your shift ends, you have to drive to a grocery store to buy what you need?
I’m not so much against commissary employees being able to shop where they work as much as I’m frustrated that they are the group that was chosen to receive this right. There has been a push to get the commissary shopping privilege extended to former military service members that some feel deserve the right to shop and have earned the right to do so, but do not qualify for one reason or another. Why are we denying these patriots a benefit but are OK with letting an average citizen have it?
A bill introduced in April known as the Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018 would expand the right to shop at the commissary to Purple Heart recipients, all veterans with a service-connected disability, Medal of Honor recipients, former prisoners of war, as well as veteran caregivers.
This isn’t the first time this proposal has been made. It was shot down before for reasons such as this is an “earned benefit” and where would they draw the line at defining that term.
Also, commissaries are funded with government subsidies. A large portion of that funding goes to pay commissary employees. If the pool of shoppers was opened up to include disabled veterans, then the need for a larger workforce and more infrastructure would cost the government much more money.
These are sound reasons, however, why did those get set aside when the topic came up of commissary employees getting the right.
How have commissary employees “earn” this benefit?
One thing I’d like to point out is that baggers are not commissary employees. They will not be able to shop at the commissary unless they have the right to do so for another reason.
Do you think a shelf stocker or custodian has earned the right more than baggers? Either way, since baggers are not commissary employees they won’t be spending their tip money on toilet paper sold at cost plus 5% at the commissary.
I hope that lawmakers take a serious look at the Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018. If they can open shopping up to commissary employees, they should be able to find a way to make it work for former service members that have given so much and gotten so little.
Of course the employees should be able to shop wherever they work. There are dozens of places where the employees shop and most of these places even give a discount to their employees. Shopping privileges motivates employees to be customer awareness while shopping.
Lets draw some parallels and be reasonable.
At all VA Medical Centers there are plenty of support personnel. (custodial, food services, escort services,etc.)
Additional there are plenty of volunteer organization personnel ( DAV, American Legion…Etc.
Since these people work at the VA Medical Center should the VA provide them with healthcare that will infringe on the quality and waiting time of a privilege that was awarded by self sacrifice not position?
In my opinion , living at Veterans Village of San Diego , 100% PTSD, Vietnam Vet… there are over 800 vets here , 400 with substance issues and 400 in transition. Military Bases only allow you on with a D.O.D. card.
My guess is there are less than 10 actual veterans with DOD cards…
Another example how the VA system fails so many veterans but is abused by the competent
!st off, I worked at 2 separate VA Hospitals and most of all employee’s are federal employed. I can’t say about escorts, where i worked, they were fed employed. Canteen workers are a separate group BUT Health care while working is given for injuries old not regular options for volunteers. The DAV, legions and such most work are veterans and have some level of medical care. Since 1992? Under President Clinton, VA care is open to all HONORABLY Discharged vets and are given a fee based medical classification. We have VA ID for treatment purposes not DOD ID’s to b allowed on a base. I have been going to the VA as a steady patient since 2000 and can tell u that my care is equal to that of civilian drs. There are programs out there now that once approved by VA, u can go to see a outside provider.
I’m. Retired Military Spouse. My husband served over 22 years in the military serving during the Vietnam era. It’s a privilege to my husband earned for all these benefits! As his wife we served too staying home keeping the family together and supporting him and others overseas. Absolutely NO!!! These privileges were EARNED!
I served in the Army during Viet Nam love fest and have worked at the commissary. I stood on the wall while u stayed home supporting us troops? Sorry not the same thing. Unauthorized shoppers will get things from authorized shoppers. happens even with Management. We work part time, during all but 3 holidays, weekends and in bad weather when normal stores would be closed. We come into a closed restricted area so u can come out to get ur hamburger 30 miles away to save a few pennies? come on now. The benefit is no longer valid in this 24/7 grocery store business. Dont hire people if ur not going to give them equal benefits. Commissaries are losing money because younger troops dont see the benefit that the had to drive 100 miles to nearest store in middle of nebraska ways of old. we work 32 hrs a week for a little better then outside stores but it took me 26 yrs to get that big pay. Now its time to get the burger lol
Vietnam Era. Not in country. You got guys that served in Vietnam that were wounded that can’t shop on base. Even guys that were not wounded but mentally scared that can’t shop on base. They didn’t earn the right when so many ran to Canada? Veterans aren’t asking for this. DOD is.
The PX and commissary privileges are just that. A privilege earned by service in the military. Not by being a well fat cat with state department or other government branch. It should be by, for, and exclusively military..
By adding yet another group we are diluting this privilege. The PX and commissary as well as its governing body has lost its way and forgotten who this corporation is supposed to serve. Another feel good social engineering program at the cost of the military.
I agree 100% with the above statement
I don’t agree 110 percent with this idiotic statement.
If you want just authorized military personnel to shop then do not offer the positions to non military citizens. If you have non military persons working, then it’s only fair to offer same benefits to all that you employ. I am a Army Veteran not disabled or retired and am not allowed to shop there back in the day. Does simply being MARRIED to a military person truly say you earned the benefit? Go and work for any company and then be told well you dont get this or that because??? Hmmm
1st off, commissary worker are not just another group to dilute this benefit. A lot of the workers are prior military or military related. We work pt hrs n all but 3 holidays a yrs. To be able to get food for the family and not go out to some other place is just silly. The money goes right back to the MWR programs that support the operations of the store in the 1st place. This benefit hmmm also would make the employee better at the job as they have more personal knowledge of the products.. which one is better sir? I dont know im not allow to buy here. I can tell u about waIf you dont want the peons to show then dont hire them. equal benefits equal pay simply put.
I agree with statement. I don’t understand the overzealous reactions over shopping for food. Especially when they work there. It looks like DOD wants to expand to veterans and DOD to ease the 1.4 billion yearly cost to run commissaries. These secondary patrons cant buy alcohol, tobacco, uniform items plus pay total 10% at checkout for food. Retirees, active duty pays only 5% and not limited. Wow. I don’t see the problem but only selfishness here.
You talk about a well fat cat? Sounds to me plenty of those types in the military. You want to describe other government services as fat cats? You really want to break down high class welfare? Like your on base courses, yacht clubs, bowling alleys. Gymnasiums, swimming pools, commissaries. All over the world in Nice tropical countries with servants all around? A fat cat? Really?
No No No No No!!!!!
YES YES YES YES.. EQUAL BENEFITS FOR EVERYONE…
The benefit needs to be expanded and not simply made more efficient to survive. Purple heart recipients as well as service connected disabled veterans regardless of rating should be allowed to shop at commissaries and exchanges. Not all will if they don’t live near a base it’s not like it will over run the system and drive op cost like some say. In respect to giving DeCA employees shopping privileges well exchange employees already have them. I went to work at DeCA in 2016 and served over 8 years in the military and I am 40% service connected disabled. I think being able to shop will help with employee morale and give us a sense of ownership. Many of us at DeCA are veterans that wish we could shop before being allowed to do it as a DeCA employee.
I agree,it’s a benefit to the job. If you dont want workers to have same benefits then restrict the hiring to those that have the same privilege. Im a army vet, 8.5 yrs svc, worked for DeCA off n on since the 80’s. Never got to shop there but rules r rules then. i had many authorized shoppers ask me if i wanted anything when there were large sales. Behind the back shopping shouldn’t have to be Thank you for service brother
.
I don’t see the problem with them shipping there. Open it up to the DOD employees on the bases as well. You can even give them a card to be able to shop at the base where they work if that will make some of you feel better. Why does it bother some anyways. I shop there and don’t even question or wouldn’t question who is active, retired, dependent, etc. . The way I see it is they serve us so yes they can shop
If you expand it to other DOD agencies, then you are going beyond the scope of this story. As a former DeCA employee with no privileges at the time. This is about equality and for DeCA …money lol
Deca Veteran employees should be given lifetime shopping privileges at base commissaries for life along all honorably discharged veterans. (Like they do now with AAFES). Non-Veteran Deca employees, should be able to shop commissary as long as they stay employed while working on base but not for life.
I agree with statement. I don’t understand the overzealous reactions over shopping for food. Especially when they work there. It looks like DOD wants to expand to veterans and DOD to ease the 1.4 billion yearly cost to run commissaries. These secondary patrons cant buy alcohol, tobacco, uniform items plus pay total 10% at checkout for food. Retirees, active duty pays only 5% and not limited. Wow. I don’t see the problem but only selfishness here.
No no no! If said employee has not earned that right to shop at the commissary, it should not be given. It is a privilege, whether I earned it or I’m a dependent.
Purple Heart recipients and disabled veterans, sure. They have earned it, some by barely escaping that ultimate sacrifice.
It is a privilege for deca employees by virtue of their employement. Dependents have the privilege by virtue of marriage /kinship. I think the former is doing more to earn the privilege to shop versus the later.
Kym, according to your logic all non military affiliated on post hospital employees should have the right to free medical and prescription services then. Also, to compare a deca employee to a dependent is utterly ridiculous. The deca employee feels no affect when the service member is deployed, in the field or out of state training or going to school, etc. To make this comparison is beyond STUPID! Tell the young child who misses their parent when they are gone how it’s all the same or even comparable. The deca employee is also being paid for what they do and after eight hours they go home and are done until they work again. The dependent on the other hand lives with the military day in and day out, there is no end of shift.
JAMES, You ever work at the Commissary? It’s not ft it’s pt 32 hrs, all but 3 holidays are we off, I served in the military during that lil love fest called Viet nam. I stood on the wall looking at the guy with the rifle in hand, slept in fox holes filled with water n cold going thru my body. Going without mail for weeks on end. Authorized shoppers have n will continue to buy food items for those without this so called benefit. It’s a MONEY ISSUE NOW. The younger troops have 24/7 shopping right out the door. Old timers are soon gone. I wore the uniform, why can’t i have a few cheap items on a pt pay? Why have the GOVT finally after 100+ yrs now say it’s ok? MONEY
EQUAL BENEFITS FOR ALL BUDDY. Dont hire if your not giving same benefits. Being simply being married hasnt earned u the right over me.
GEORGE, as a matter of fact I have worked at the Commissary. The one thing I didn’t do is whine like some little girl! You might have served in Vietnam, but my guess is that you were a REMF, probably a clerk of some kind. By the way, I AM NOT YOUR BUDDY!
I see this site is biased in favor of lifers. They don’t post comments or replies that defend Deca employees or other groups. Never seen such whining selfish crybaby px shoppers stuck in their little px kingdom. James Henry takes the pie. Loser.
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To make a comparison with VA medical is clown dumb. Were talking food here. And as far as deployments, endless shifts, you signed the contract. I know you ain’t dumb so that narrows things down.
Wait….what????? Are you saying that a deca employee has earned the “privilege” of shopping at the commissary more than a military spouse? Are you saying that ringing up groceries 40 hours a week earns someone the right to shop in the commissary MORE than a spouse who keeps the family going AND give moral, and emotional support to a service member so he/she can continue to serve and protect us 24/7/365? ARE YOU SERIOUS?????? I hope I read that wrong.
I probably won’t go that far but check out two similar scenarios.
I understand past commissary benefits went to the serviceman family. Not arguing that point. And rightfully so. I have similar flight benefits as does my wife. My dependent.
Check this out. My wife doesn’t work for the airlines. I do. She doesn’t push tin, or anything related to working on planes but she gets priority being a spouse of flying in my priority classification. IS THAT FAIR? This means she can fly before a mechanic or a pilot with 21 years working on planes.
Scenario attributed to military. The man whore full breaded Colonel dumps wife, marries a stripper, from slums of Europe, Asia, South America, never knew a thing about a PX. Now this Colonels love toy shops in PX, meanwhile Deca, DOD, Veterans that have lived, worked, understand, everything about the base and have served, get to watch the little trophy wife once a stripper in high heal shoes loading up her basket. Only in America.
Absolutely, It’s simply a matter of employee benefits. Dont hire person that cant have equal privileges. As you said, just because you married a military person what else gives you the earned status i am a army vet with 8 .5 yrs svc n worked for DeCA. Not allowed to shop. Had many authorized shoppers ask me if i wanted any of the deals. I dont do behind the back shopping lol.
Just because you are married to a military person, how did you earn the right to shop there other then marriage? I am a Army Veteran with over 8.5 yrs in. I got out n worked for DeCA. I was not allowed to shop there back in the day. What about foreign spouses? Many are not yet American citizens. Why can they shop there? If you want only a select group, why allow civilians to work in DeCA? Why not just make it all military workers?It’s a benefit that needs to be given to all employees.
Why not! Hell in today’s America everybody is ENTITLED to whatever the HELL they want regardless of whether or not they actually earned it! With all the whiny ASS SNOWFLAKES out there that complain about anything and everything it’s a wonder that we don’t just go ahead and allow them to have TRICARE and full access to our on post hospitals and everything else that the rest of us had to earn through service in the military. If you want access to the benefits afforded to the military, what few we have left, then join and serve, deploy and put your life in harms way like the rest of us had to do! If not, then get your paycheck from your commissary job and go shop at Walmart, Sams, Publix, etc and take pride in knowing that you are serving those who protect the very freedoms that you enjoy. Many of us have friends that have made the ultimate sacrifice so that you and your families can continue to enjoy those freedoms!
I am a Army Vet, 8.5 yrs and worked for DeCa. It’s about equal treatment for all employees finally. In this case, it’s about DeCA’s budget n losing customers. I did all that you mentioned but yet I should work for walmart? sams? some place else? As a Union steward it was my job to get fair treatment for all employees. This is what its about now
UAL, lol we could be twins.. I am exactly same, down to steward position here in FLAduhhhh. Don’t hire someone if you won’t treat them equally. Just because your married to military member not same as actually wearing the uniform and standing post at 2am mid Dec in Germany under a gun sight lol. We all know unauthorized shoppers (employees n management) have authorized shoppers get food all the time any ways lol.
We do not believe that DeCA employees deserve the privilege of shopping at the commissary. Our benefits are getting eroded. What about TRICARE and other military benefits. What is next?
Many DeCA employees at civilian run Commissaries treat retirees and dependents like dirt. I try to go to an active duty run Commissary since we get treated better and respected. I am appalled at this type of treatment. by DeCA employees. They don’t deserve the right to this privilege. Why aren’t the disabled vets and purple heart recipients given this privilege?
When I was on active duty, I didn’t have time to run to the commissary every week. I was accused of running a dog store, a cleaning business etc. and screamed at saying the dogs ate better than we did. I had to wear my uniform at the local Commissary since I was treated better since I was an officer and not as a dependent. Sad but true.
No, no way. This is a privilege that is earned by those who have done at least 20 years or on active duty. I know others are entitled to this privilege but I don’t think they should be permitted either. Not a big fan of the civilian mentality.
As long as the Commissary offers jobs to civilians, this is now about equality in the work place. Don’t make it
about military only. Other then being married to a military person, how did the spouse EARN this privilege? I am a Army vet, Viet Nam era, wore the uniform with pride but i am not allowed to have same benefits as my co workers? As a union steward, it is my job to get fair treatment for all workers. DeCA workers are dedicated to the military, we do our best to serve and treat all customers with respect. I think DeCA should respect their workers in this small way or not hire civilians.
I think it should still be an earned privilege; a reward for say 3 or 5 years of employment. Most of our store workers are well over than anyway, but I think they would agree. I also think that those with a service related disability should have full privilege. It’s not like they decided to just quit. My own family was lucky, my hubby was over 20 yrs when he was injured so he was medically retired instead of just discharged.
No they should not. They didn’t earn the right to shop there by signing on the dotted line and serving our country.
Im a Army Vet with 8.5 yrs and was in during Viet nam. Did i not earn the right? What has a spouse done to
EARN the right? signing a marriage certificate doesnt count in this case. Its a work benefit now. DeCA for the most part probably did it more due to budget cuts then employee benefits. i worked for DeCA over the years since the 1980’s. I seen it all
Absolutely Not !! My husband earned this privilege,,and NOT from running a register !!
Army Vet here, served during Viet nam. 8.5 yrs total service. Worked for DeCA off n on since the 80’s. I ran a register. I came to work while others were enjoying the same holidays as your family. Other then being married to your military man. How did you EARN your privilege? Its simply a work benefit. As a union steward, it was my job to get fair treatment for all employee’s.
That privilege is earned thru service. What is next, tricare? I appreciate Deca employees as I appreciate any other service industry worker, but it is simply not a right that they’ve earned by being employed by the company, it is bigger than that. It is right earned by service and sacrifice. This privilege is not to be taken lightly, this is a slap to all men and women and their families that have sacrificed and put their lives in harms way to defend and protect a way of life. The simple fact that Deca employees provide 20-30 hours of work a week can not be compared to what men and women in uniform do to serve our country.
I am a Army Vet, served during Viet nam, worked for DeCA so your saying now simply because i only work 30-40 weeks. I shouldn’t be given fair treatment as my follow workers? Most workers are spouse of a military member who never served nor wore the uniform that you say gives this privilege. Civilians working for the commissary should be given the same equal WORK Benefits as all others. Its about time to do away with class privileges.
I hate to tell you but as of the printing of this article, commissary employees now have the right to shop at the commissary. As a military spouse and a commissary employee, I do not agree with the employees getting the ability to shop before eligible veterans did. This frustrates me that people who never served a day in military receive the benefit before others who have served.
May i ask… have you served in Uniform? I have.. 8.5 yrs Army Vet during Viet nam. I also worked as a sales
store checker off n on since the 80’s Back in the day, authorized workers would ask me if i wanted anything
when there were good deals, back then, i’d say no ty, im not authorized. rules r rules. Now as a union steward,
we are talking simply about fair treatment of all employee’s. Dont hire people that you arent willing to give
equal status to. Besides i truly think this benefit is being given now due to budget issues. hmmm lol
Commisary prevledges should be for military, dependents, retirees, and other vets who have earned the right. Disabled vets, Purple Heart, and Medal of honor awardees have earned that right in giving there body and blood to preserve the freedoms of America and should be extended the right. Dod, Afee, commissary, and exchange employees have not served and have not earned the privaledge to do so. Keep the commissary system as a incentive and priveldges for military, vets and their families. These privileges are earned and we’re a part of the incentive for my for my retirement. I had a desire to serve my country and would have done so even if I did not retain my priiledges,but I like so many others sacrificed to earn those rights…. months separated from families, Christmas in July….. the whole family sacrificed and earned the price ledges.
In regular stores with a 35 to 200% margin, where the store gives a discount to employees that comes our of the profit line the Commisary does not have a profit line and the 5% surcharge goes to the military recreation departments. Let’s keep it that way. If we start adding other not only will that be an added cost to tax payers …. but states will want a make up for lost taxes as we are now an open system that supplies to rhe community.
One caviot the previledge should be extended to those US citizens that work over seas, while they are working over seas.
Overseas Deca employees do have the shopping privileges. You say you deserve the right to shop there simply because you CHOSE to marry a military person but never wore the uniform? I served in the Army for 8.5
yrs during that lil pesky thing called Viet nam. I also worked for DeCA but i was never allowed to buy anything
As a union steward, it was my job to make sure that all workers are treated equally. Dont hire someone if your
not affording them the same benefits. As for the timing here, I think it probably is more about the budget loss
then treating all employees fairly and equally. .
It is a toss up with me about letting others shop at the commissary and have the employees shop there then I do think they do have a some what of an advantage over the regular patrons since they would know what and when big sales will happen and so forth.
I think the upper level of the commissary are grabbing at straws to try to generate money for the stores. I did not and will not the store brands especially the way they rolled out them.
I do think that are better ways to trim the budget than doing store brands and letting the employees shop in the stores.
First off, i believe this is more about budget then actual fair treatment for all DeCA employees. I am a former
DeCA employee and can tell you a few things. One, many changes have actually jack up some prices based
on locality Two, store brands I tried are pretty good but same as any store brand, research item n u will see
that it comes from same company that supplies major name items. Three, for the most part, store
employees are not allowed to shop prior to that of other patrons. We can not put items away for those
special sales. We can only shop during our lunch time and or off the clock. either way, all bought items have
to leave the store after purchase. FINALLY, shopping privileges should be given to all employees if some are
receiving them no matter how those privileges are given As a former union steward it is my job to ensure
that all employee’s are treated fairly and equally. Also i am a army vet served during Viet nam and had 8.5
yrs before i went civilian. I stood on the wall but now since i didnt retire or get disabled enough to be
allowed equal treatment? Dont hire people that you cant give equal treatment to. .
I am not sure how I feel about this. I do know one thing. The baggers at one post are all dependents. You can not be a bagger without a military ID. So your information is wrong on that. As for the employees I am not sure about shopping there. The men and women who sacrifice their lives for our country have earn their rights for that privilege.
Actually all bases pretty much have same rules for baggers. .Military ID are required base commander can if so
wishes allow a request by a civilian. Not often approved but could be with special conditions. As for employee
shopping. I believe it is more about store income over being kind to the civilian employee without the privilege
before hand. I am a former DeCA employee and a army vet (viet nam era) but could not buy anything other
then lunch n break drinks. all that had to be consumed before return to work. Many spouse never served or
wore the uniform and yet they have privileges simply by the marriage certificate. separation of family due to
military operation of the spouse doesnt give a higher privilege status simply because im a civilian now. Dont
hire someone if you cant offer same benefits to all.
Not all baggers have ID cards. I’m at a base that is mostly retired military. The reason for allowing commissary employees to shop there is because the sales are down and they are losing money. Either way the employees will shop at the commissary anyway. Most just did it when no one was looking.
!st off, I worked for the Commissary on several occasions over a 13 yr period. MONEY not benefit for the worker is the MAIN SUBJECT HERE! I don’t know of any base that allows a bagger not to have a military ID. YES, non authorized persons working at the Commissaries have been offered by authorized shopper to pick up ahem items for them. WHOLE shopping carts! Management does the same way even though it’s a no-no. People travel long distances at times to shop there. When u add up the time, wear n tear on the vehicle, bad weather, possible accidents and whatever and then have the svc charge added on. IT”S NOT A SAVINGS! IF u stock up monthly maybe yes. The old timers WW2, Korea and some Viet Nam era personnel but younger troops can go 24/7 right out the door at a civilian grocery store. Most of all jobs minus Management are basically 32 hrs. We are open on all holidays but 3 for the most part. New Yrs, Thanksgiving and Christmas. I wore the uniform during Viet Nam. Stood on the wall looking at the East Germans, Had separation tours from family, no internet, none of the new perks like today. So y not allow that employee have a few burgers to take home? Riding the coat tails of ur spouse doesn’t EARN you the right more then me.. SIMPLY DON’T HIRE PERSONS THAT YOU NOT GOING TO TREAT AS A EQUAL IN THE WORK PLACE. We all are looking for a job. with benefits.
No I don’t feel they earned the privilege,and by allowing it you taking away the importance the pride,and respect that was earned by the men and women who served their country.
I am a army vet (viet nam) also a former DeCA employee. So just because i didnt do 20 yrs or get disabled
while in. I can’t be treated same as my authorized co workers? This is more about budget then being generous
to the few that cant shop there. Would you not allow a co worker the same benefits that you have? Its simply
about fairness. Dont put the carrot in the face of a starving man. lol
Unless you live on or very near a base the commissary saves a person very little.
I agree with Karin’s post: Karin says
June 22, 2018 at 4:22 pm
No no no! If said employee has not earned that right to shop at the commissary, it should not be given. It is a privilege, whether I earned it or I’m a dependent.
Purple Heart recipients and disabled veterans, sure. They have earned it, some by barely escaping that ultimate sacrifice
Most spouse’s have not worn the uniform and simply earned the privilege by a marriage certificate. If you
worked someplace and was told sorry you cant have equal treatment simply because your not …. whatever..
Its a simple fact, equal treatment under the law. The government is actually breaking that but hiring a non
authorized shopper and then refusing same equal benefits… Dont dangle the carrot in front of the horse lol
Let me get this straight. If I get shelled by the enemy and shrapnel finds its way to the man next to me he gets an instant commissary shopping privilege when I had to continue in harm’s way, while he gets to go home on medical? So because I got lucky, no scratches, the purple heart guy earned commissary privileges, VA medical for life, free tolls, free national parks year round? So screw the veteran that survived combat without a scratch?
No! It is an earned privilege given to those who serve their country.
I served during viet nam but didnt retire nor get totally disabled and work for DeCA. Why would you hire
someone if you not going to give same equal benefits in all aspects. Hire just military spouse then. Most
spouse didnt wear the uniform and got their privilege by marriage.
Yes and so have those that you mention will be cover by the proposed legislation.
I a veteran that served the army for 9 years and went to Iraq, I was always from home almost 2 years. I left the army because my kids were sick and I have to stay home with them I didn’t have no choice. How a employee have the privilege to shop in the commissary and I don’t? Somebody explain that to me. Why? You should think about the veteran first and then the people that work in the commissary. That makes mi sad that you people always think about others beafore the veterans and we support to be brothers and sisters and take care of one another and I don’t see that. My sacrifice and the sacrifice of other veterans dosen’t mean anything to nobody. PS the army was everything for mi but my children were first and I don’t regretted because 3 years ago I lost my oldest son and I would lost that time we him if I stayed in the army.
First off, sorry to hear of your loss of your son. He is now your guardian so he is not far away from you. I too am
a army vet of 8.5 yrs during viet nam. i worked for DeCa many yrs ago and didnt have shopping privileges. This
is more about the budget then about privileges. BUT it is fair that this decision is long in coming. Dont hire any
person that you are not willing to give same benefits to. Hire strictly military family. problem solved. Since the
govt hires civilians then they are required by law to follow same rules. But as i said its not about the employee,
its more about budget.
I don’t say that we choose give the privilege to the workers, what I say that they choose think about others veterans beafore they think about the workers. Is not fair I sacrificed for my country and i don’t have the privilege to shop in the commissary it make mi sad, angry and is very frustrated to see other that did not served have the privilege beafore the ones that did.
I strongly agree with James Henry, if you want the few benefits left, put in the time in service to your country. We EARNED our entitlements through service and sacrifice not bagging groceries.
The problem is that many of those who can shop at the Commissary, do not. If you look up the information that is given out there you will see that the Commissary sales are dramatically down. Part of it is outside competition, part of it is lack of industry support to the mission and part of it is indeed customer service and patron respect. There is a lot of misinformation out there, one of it is the “work your 40 hours and go home” comment. Unless you are management then you are likely not to be full time and get full time benefits, 80 or more percent of the stores are part time roughly at 24 hours a week. These positions if you are a provider are not enough and require working 2 to possibly 3 jobs to provide. After insurance and taxes, you are looking at positions that are pretty equal to the pay on the oustide of the agency. This is why the store brand items were brought in to generate funds, provide customers with a cheaper product and to force other companies to give better prices for their products. Giving employees the right to shop was just another way to increase sales but also an incentive to retain employees as the agency is going through a high turn over rate.
I have had several friends and family work for the agency at one time or another and the top 3 reasons why they left were these.
1. Better opportunities, pay and less responsibilities at other agencies or on the outside.
2. Lack of respect for workers and what they go through by the customers broke them down. Getting yelled at and talked down to by customers because of their “military rights” instead of being treated like a human being was one of the biggest reasons why my friends left. Even though they were military kids, grew up with their parents being gone all the time and trying to make it out there in life with this job. They were forced to sit there and take a lashing by customers who told them, “you dont know what it is like and youre just a civilian who hasn’t earned this or that.” What many tend to forget in one way or another most civilian workers have a connection to the military whether they were military brats or prior military but considered civilians now.
3. Lack of support by the system, the military and civilian outlets.
I used to work for the agency myself. I can remember my dad missing out on several of my birthdays, christmas, thanksgiving and sports stuff that I was in. I can remember having to pick up and move, having to meet new friends and adjust to a new life. I got a job there to pay for school and be part of a system to give back. I new that once I turned 23 I would lose my ability to shop but that was ok. I couldnt go in the military like I hoped because of an injury that prevented me from joining but this was the next closes thing I could do to help out similar people like me.
Then one day during the sequestration where I was required to report to duty being a necessary agency employee only being paid 16 hours a week because my hours got cut freaking out how I would make it with my bills. I was already about 30 hours in to the week because the store and the customers needed us to keep the mission going and providing them what they needed. We were out of a certain product, our distributor did not have it in. I had to tell a lady that we did not have it. She looked at me and I will forever remember this, “What you can’t do your simple job of getting my stuff that I need here? This is why we shouldn’t hire civilians to do a military persons job, you guys are just lazy and we pay you too much. I bet that is the reason you are so fat. Do you know who my husband is? I bet you don’t, I bet you don’t know what it is like to be in the military because you wanted a lazy fat check job like this. I pay your wages, and you can’t even do your job right.” I do not know what was going on in that lady’s life to react to me like that. But after that day, I did my hours and walked out, I was so so broken by this encounter and several others like this through the years that I just did my time and got paid. I wasn’t going to do the extra anymore. And eventually I left and moved on.
Wow interesting comments here, and quite shameful. I am an honorably discharged veteran of the USMC. I served 1982-1985. I am not a Purple Heart recipient nor am I disabled, nor service connected I seldom ever used the commissary except for only beer and cigarettes I lived in the barracks, used the chow hall. Working DOD contract, I had an I’d card with privileges in commissary and on base overseas use only in red lettering. Again, only used for booze and smokes. I used the exchange for toiletries and medicine. Bottom line. The question is not wheather I earned the right to shop on base as a veteran, but…DO I WANT TO? If given the go ahead? I don’t live near a base for starters, and honestly, I live in the land of the big PX. USA. So much competition and many stores like Sam’s and BJs offer veteran membership discounts. As far as Deca employees shopping on base? I believe they were just picked to shop on base because they work there and the commissary is losing money out the yang yang. It’s just a matter of time before other veterans shop there. Commissary takes 1.4 BILLION dollars a year hit to the taxpayers. Times are changing, the economic demographics are changing, retirement systems in military changing. It’s either deal with these secondary patrons on base or deal with civilians off base if the commissaries fail to adjust. They may shut the commissaries down. This is a reality. You should be glad Deca employees are able to shop there. They have families too, many are veterans, and it should be a work fringe benefit. It’s not any reason to get over patriotic or overzealous about.. it’s just dollars and cents. It was decided by DOD, not them. Leave those guys alone. I don’t really have a dog in this fight. I’ve told you my extent of commissary un-use. If it gets down to all honorably discharged veterans, great. If not, it doesn’t matter. I’ve been eating fine for last 25 years without the priveledge I see a lot of fat people around here, none using the commissary. Haha…it’s a shame to see people here blocking one another from commissary use. Who should or shouldn’t shop there. Treating one another like sub-humans. I would hate to shop in a place with this kind of hate in the air. “He didn’t get a Purple Heart, he didn’t earn it. He’s a civilian, shouldn’t shop here. He didn’t do 20.”..?. Pick your poison. Deal with the secondary patrons or deal with civilians off base when they shut down the commissary. Secondary patrons will save the commissaries from what I’m reading.
I served in the UNITED STATES MARINES 1982-1985. Honorable discharge. I also worked DOD contract abroad for years. I’ve had PX/commissary privledges and understand it well. In order to save the commissaries, they will have to extend membership. DOD civilians, and contractors working on base, Deca employees, military disabled and service connected veterans, eventually all honorable discharged veterans. This is going to happen. I know retirees feel rifted and devalued but, this is the reality. Would you rather have this happen or commissaries shut down? Retirees will pay 5% less at check out still, and booze, smokes, uniform items still all yours. Not for secondary patrons. Do you think most veterans will still feel it worthwhile shopping there? You better hope the answer is yes. If you wish to preserve little kingdom on base. Simper Fi Mac.
As you said you don’t have a dog in this fight, so just shut the hell up!!
Only a frail lifer, or a frail dependent comes off with a comment like this. What a bird. I don’t have a dog in this fight because I really don’t care what they do with the little PX kingdom on base.
Twerp lifer. You haven’t got the balls to try and make me.
As a former DeCA employee, I tried to get this approved yrs back. I’m glad that they have this benefit now even if its just till they retire or transfer out of DeCA. Service Connected Disability personnel should get it not just the 100% veterans. DeCA Contractors working in Deli, Bakery and Seafood should also get it first before ON BASE DOD employees. Most important thing to remember is BASE security, so it cant be a all for nothing service unless u move the stores off base..
Well. DOD employees overseas always had the privilege to shop on base. I was a DOD CONTRACTOR and could use bases overseas only. I had a DOD ID card. I was surprised they weren’t allowed to use it in CONUS. But I see why. They live in the land of the big PX. Many options off base. Not bought on that Deca over DOD workers for base shopping. Many DOD employees are veterans too. DOD employees overseas could join Navy Federal Credit Union. (Now after 31 years after joining, they now allow all veterans to join and their families. Here is how they should do this for secondary patrons in order. And aside medically discharged, disabled, service connected veterans.
1. All honorably discharged veterans working on base wheather Deca or DOD, including DOD contractors. Service connected or not. Privilege for life based on veteransip.
2. All honorably discharged veterans wheather working on base or not. Privilege for life based on veterans.
3. All civilian, non veterans Deca, or DOD including DOD contractors working on base only. Privilege limited to while employed on base.