CONUS Commissaries to Close

As far as cheaper, there are some items that are much cheaper,milk, butter, baby formula and diapers comes quickly to mind. I use to get ticked when I would shop at the commissary and see retirees load up an entire cart, clearing off shelves with these items, because what 70 yr old needs baby formula? The one that is buying it for their grandchildren to help them save money. We use to joke about their carts because they always had 4 specific items and a ton of it.
~ Milk
~ Baby formula
~ Cartons of cigarettes
~ Bacon

The joke was we could not understand the reason for the amount of bacon they would get, my family of 5 couldn't go through that amount in 6 -9 months.
Cereal. On Quantico, I found the Cereal to be significantly less expensive, but otherwise, your list is pretty all-inclusive.

If you don't mind a little bit of a drive, you can do pretty well at Wegmans on 29 if you buy the W brand. That and the new Walmart in Haymarket are the best local options. HT is closest to me but I only go there for the quick pick up of a few items.
 
We do go to Wegman's, it's our date place.:shake:
~~~ For posters that have never experienced a Wegman's, they actually have a wine and raw bar in the store.

We like it for their selection of unique produce, seafood, bakery and deli, but as much as they have unique items, they are do not carry as wide of variety in other items that HT does.

I am someone that buys mainly only the weekly specials and stock up, so for me I usually save at least 40% every week, and if I use coupons during their triple or double up to $2 I save at least 60%.
I.E. This week it was buy 2 get 3 free Coke 12 packs, so for 5 12 packs it cost me $13 bucks, and than I had 2 $1 dollar coupons if you bought 2 12 packs, which were doubled. I got 5 for 9 bucks!
~~~ That soda will last us about 2-3 weeks.

I also will buy Safeway or Giant gift cards to use to shop, which gives me 4 times the points to save money on gas. I literally go through the line 2x within an hour. 1x to buy the gift cards before I start shopping, and the second to pay for the groceries using the gift cards I just purchased an hour earlier. I can get up to 40 cents off on gas, and when you have a Yukon that holds 30 gallons, it tallies up to a nice savings very quickly.

That is my point of why I think many younger retirees or AD no longer see the commissary as worth it. Many of my friends do the same as me.

The only place that I won't shop at for groceries is our Super Target. It is just too expensive on everything and it would be worth it to drive to Quantico or Belvoir for the savings.

I have to say I just can't see them closing all of the Commissaries, I think the outcry would be too loud.

I remember before we retired from SJAFB, the Commissary on Sunday was a social thing. :wink: Everyone after church headed over to the Commissary, and in every aisle you'd bump into someone. If you weren't in line by 1, you would find yourself in a line wrapped down through the meat dept., or iows the length of the entire store. It was worse if it was payday weekend or the holidays. People would actually get in line, while the other person kept going up and down the aisles to finish shopping.

Look at this past October when the govt shutdown, military members knew it was shutting down and the stores looked like an avg grocery store prior to a major hurricane or snowstorm with shelves being emptied as soon as they knew it was coming.

To me that is not a sign of it not being used as a perk by many military members.

I would wonder if closing the commissary would also eventually lead to the closure of the PX/BX too. Many people will do the whole run of going to the PX/BX on the same day since most are now connected. It most likely would lower their sales too.

I am curious if they would lease the commissaries to outside companies, i.e. Giant, Krogers, etc. It would allow them to get a market hold without the major costs of building and creating name recognition in an area that they may not exist already.
~ Back in the late 90's when we did the BRAC, I recall reading in AF Times the success story of a base that closed. The town embraced it, reached out to developers and made it into a gated community as an Adult Community.
~~~ They got medical companies to buy into the hospital, leasing the offices to private docs.
~~~ The hangars were highlighted as a selling point.
~~~ The Movie Theater was purchased by AMC or Lowes.
~~~ The O and E clubs were purchased by the parent company of something like Olive Garden, and renovated to have 2 separate restaurants in each club. I.E. Olive Garden and Red Lobster in one building...turn Right and you go to Olive Garden, turn left in the foyer and you enter Red Lobster.

So on and so forth.

I Know they also did this at RAF Upper Heyford. We actually met a Brit in line for a ride at Disney, and found out how small the world was because they were now living on the block we did a few yrs. earlier. They said that all of the homes sold out on the 1st day, and within hours.
~~ To them they wanted an American style house even if it meant it had not been renovated for yrs. because it also came with American fridges, stoves, washers/dryers and dishwashers...a luxury to them. The fact that playgrounds were literally out the back door, and it came with a Mall, a gym, restaurants, etc. all in walking distance just made it worth every penny according to them. I recall they said they spent 95K pounds in 94 for the 3 bedroom/1 1/2 ba, 1300 sqft ranch we lived in that was on maybe 1/10th of an acre. That was the equivalent of 150K. A lot of money back at that time.
 
Last edited:
I think at some bases, such as Del Rio where there are not many choices on the economy it makes sense to keep them. I can even see it for bases like SJAFB where you have maybe 3 grocery stores for a town of 60K people, but at bases like Belvoir, it makes absolutely no sense. It makes even less sense when you realize in a 45 mile radius, you have Meyers, Meade, Bolling, Quantico, and Andrews too.

Bullet and I have not used the commissary since he retired, because between the drive (20 miles), the surcharge and tipping the baggers there is no real savings compared to us going around the corner to Harris Teeters using our VIC card. We are obviously not the rarity because when you look around the parking lot there are a lot of military base stickers.

The other defenses I can see for it are:
1. The fact many enlisted spouses work there, thus for them it is also about employment, small towns like Del Rio, Goldsboro, Mt. Home have less work opportunities than larger areas, and it would require 2 cars, where they can work on base without having to purchase a car.
2. Many members will live on base, i.e. in the Q's or TLFs. They are there for a short period, but in an apt type living. It is a convenience for them to walk/drive to the commissary instead of getting in the car trying to find the nearest grocery store.

As far as cheaper, there are some items that are much cheaper,milk, butter, baby formula and diapers comes quickly to mind. I use to get ticked when I would shop at the commissary and see retirees load up an entire cart, clearing off shelves with these items, because what 70 yr old needs baby formula? The one that is buying it for their grandchildren to help them save money. We use to joke about their carts because they always had 4 specific items and a ton of it.
~ Milk
~ Baby formula
~ Cartons of cigarettes
~ Bacon

The joke was we could not understand the reason for the amount of bacon they would get, my family of 5 couldn't go through that amount in 6 -9 months.

I don't buy the "small town" argument. Those small towns have how many thousands or service members who shop on base, instead of in town. No wonder there are only a few... the base has a monopoly of 30,000 individuals and their families (I'm making that number up).

There is no reason for this benefit. If service members make so little they NEED to shop here.... then they should either be paid more OR leave and find an employler who WILL pay them more. If it's just a "perk," then it is a waste, and should be discontinued. I can't think of a REAL reason it should exist, CONUS, for service members, their families or retirees.

Heck, close the exchanges and leave a small store for immediate service-related needs and "bookstore" collectibles. That's it.
 
We do go to Wegman's, it's our date place.:shake:
~~~ For posters that have never experienced a Wegman's, they actually have a wine and raw bar in the store.
Other than AKA next to HT, its about the best sushi around. When my wife gets home from Wegmans, the first thing my kids ask is "did you bring sushi".

We also just discovered the Chuckwagon on Fitzwater. We were skeptical going in, but the whole family gives it high marks.
 
The exchanges are not the same as the commissaries. Exchanges are Non-Appriopriate funded. The are 98% self funded. Including salaries. They return 66% of all profit back to the MWR system. In other words, when you figure out what AAFES puts back into the system, compared to the 2% to get for utility bills, transportation of goods overseas, etc... you realize that AAFES doesn't cost the military or tax payers anything.

As for the commissary and it being a benefit; I've given up totally on the integrity of the government and congress. From the time I started in the air force; until the time I retired; "Entitlements, Benefits, etc." have been changed or taken away. In other words; the "Recruiting" factor people use to say why military members have certain benefits, is in reality just B.S. Lies. Of course, those who never were in the military or those who didn't serve 20+ years in order to receive some of these benefits, "In exchange for what had to be given up in order to serve 20+ years", will never understand the impact.

My advice to anyone considering enlisting or commissioning; "Whether you stay 5 years or decide to stay 20+ years; don't trust or believe anything told to you about benefits or entitlements". Anything told to you could easily change or disappear tomorrow. And all the congressmen and senators; most of whom have never served; will lie in their promises and pledges to military members.

FWIW: There are only about 1.9 million retires collecting traditional retiree pay and benefits. Which only costs approximately $50 Billion per year.
http://actuary.defense.gov/Portals/15/Documents/statbook11.pdf

And please.... Before anyone even thinks that $50 billion is a lot of money, doesn't even compare. The US's annual "Deficit" (Not to be confused with DEBT), is $680 BILLION. That's just how much our politicians OVERSPENT this year. And the interesting thing is, all those who are excited because that number is actually DOWN compared to some past years. We won't even speak of the debt. You all know about the $16+ TRILLION.

Point is; the military is definitely a high cost expense for the American tax payer. So is our Mortgage/Rent payments that most of us pay each month. It's our LARGEST monthly expense for most families. Yet, it's probably the most important expenditure. As a family, we can cut back on a lot of things, but we usually can't cut back on the mortgage or rent payments. Same with the military. Contrary to the touchy feely opinions of many in Washington DC, the military is in fact our MOST IMPORTANT expenditure. Yet, they believe they should treat it like it's a "Luxury" item in the family that can be cut. Like a smaller cable tv bill or eating out at a restaurant less often. The truth is; the standard of living and prosperity of our country, correlates directly to our military. And while I totally believe that the military can find cost savings; mainly through being more efficient and not overspending in contracts; I don't believe that savings should EVER come on the back of the soldiers, sailors, marines, or airmen. Especially the retires.

We only have 1.4 million active duty and 1.9 million retirees. It's bad enough that 85%+ of Americans, WITH SATISFACTORILY Health Insurance had to get screwed over by Obama and his health care law so the remaining 15% of Americans could be addressed. Now; the 1% of Americans; "Active and Retired Military" will continue to get screwed. So social "Dependency" programs that garner "Votes" can continue.
 
First they closed the commissaries and we said nothing. Then they closed the Super Target's and we said nothing. Then they came for the Wegman's.... and all hell broke loose! :biggrin:
 
First they closed the commissaries and we said nothing. Then they closed the Super Target's and we said nothing. Then they came for the Wegman's.... and all hell broke loose! :biggrin:
Around here the only thing that would cause a bigger stir than closing a Wegmans would be closing the Government ... and that's not by much.
 
The exchanges are not the same as the commissaries. Exchanges are Non-Appriopriate funded. The are 98% self funded. Including salaries. They return 66% of all profit back to the MWR system. In other words, when you figure out what AAFES puts back into the system, compared to the 2% to get for utility bills, transportation of goods overseas, etc... you realize that AAFES doesn't cost the military or tax payers anything.

As for the commissary and it being a benefit; I've given up totally on the integrity of the government and congress. From the time I started in the air force; until the time I retired; "Entitlements, Benefits, etc." have been changed or taken away. In other words; the "Recruiting" factor people use to say why military members have certain benefits, is in reality just B.S. Lies. Of course, those who never were in the military or those who didn't serve 20+ years in order to receive some of these benefits, "In exchange for what had to be given up in order to serve 20+ years", will never understand the impact.

My advice to anyone considering enlisting or commissioning; "Whether you stay 5 years or decide to stay 20+ years; don't trust or believe anything told to you about benefits or entitlements". Anything told to you could easily change or disappear tomorrow. And all the congressmen and senators; most of whom have never served; will lie in their promises and pledges to military members.

FWIW: There are only about 1.9 million retires collecting traditional retiree pay and benefits. Which only costs approximately $50 Billion per year.
http://actuary.defense.gov/Portals/15/Documents/statbook11.pdf

And please.... Before anyone even thinks that $50 billion is a lot of money, doesn't even compare. The US's annual "Deficit" (Not to be confused with DEBT), is $680 BILLION. That's just how much our politicians OVERSPENT this year. And the interesting thing is, all those who are excited because that number is actually DOWN compared to some past years. We won't even speak of the debt. You all know about the $16+ TRILLION.

Point is; the military is definitely a high cost expense for the American tax payer. So is our Mortgage/Rent payments that most of us pay each month. It's our LARGEST monthly expense for most families. Yet, it's probably the most important expenditure. As a family, we can cut back on a lot of things, but we usually can't cut back on the mortgage or rent payments. Same with the military. Contrary to the touchy feely opinions of many in Washington DC, the military is in fact our MOST IMPORTANT expenditure. Yet, they believe they should treat it like it's a "Luxury" item in the family that can be cut. Like a smaller cable tv bill or eating out at a restaurant less often. The truth is; the standard of living and prosperity of our country, correlates directly to our military. And while I totally believe that the military can find cost savings; mainly through being more efficient and not overspending in contracts; I don't believe that savings should EVER come on the back of the soldiers, sailors, marines, or airmen. Especially the retires.

We only have 1.4 million active duty and 1.9 million retirees. It's bad enough that 85%+ of Americans, WITH SATISFACTORILY Health Insurance had to get screwed over by Obama and his health care law so the remaining 15% of Americans could be addressed. Now; the 1% of Americans; "Active and Retired Military" will continue to get screwed. So social "Dependency" programs that garner "Votes" can continue.
I am in agreement with the exception of the mortgage analogy. I know a lot of people that make considerably more money than I do but yet they live pay check to pay check due to their mortgage payment. They bought the $750,000 home because it was nice, they wanted it and they could make the payments but their needs could have been met quite nicely with the $300,000 home. How much does our military need rather than want? I really don't know but I do know they will take every dollar they are offered.

Military members get that tax free BAS that most people don't get. Maybe it needs to be bumped up and most commisaries that compete with the private sector stores closed? Seems a lot more efficient to pay the right/fair wage up front.
 
Military members get that tax free BAS that most people don't get. Maybe it needs to be bumped up and most commisaries that compete with the private sector stores closed? Seems a lot more efficient to pay the right/fair wage up front.

A fair wage is certainly better than subsidizing something. I'm not entirely convinced, for officers at least, that the current wages (especially with the BAH tacked on) aren't already fair.

After I left the Coast Guard in 2011, I had a higher salary but saw less of my money (a good taste of how nasty taxes really are).

It's better now, but that first job out, that was a bit of a shocker.

Here's what we'll see, as benefits are stripped (and many should be), people will make a choice; is it better or worse for me to serve in the military? If the answer is "worse" people will leave. This is compounded when the job market is good, and diminished when the private sector job market is bad. Leadership will see those kinds of numbers and will respond with incentives (this is what the labor markets do). This is why you see the Air Force giving upfront bonuses to pilots or the Army promoting faster a number of years ago. The inverse, when they WANT to get rid of folks, promote slower (like we see now with blood bath promotion boards in the Coast Guard), cut perks like training or benefits, or make actual cuts.

You can already see this thought process in D.C. now (with federal employees). For a very long time federal employment was seen as a very stable prospect. Work for a year and you're nearly invincible. That mindset, with cuts, shutdowns and sequestration, is beginning to change, and the work force will react by "voting with their feet".
 
1) Close all the CONUS Commissaries except those considered "remote" (such as areas Pima and a few others mentioned previously)
2) For areas where the Commissaries would close, increas the BAS for all members 30% to cover the additonal cost of shopping off-base. Offsets the price increases, but removes the cost to run a Commissary for these bases / posts.
3) Retirees? Well, I'm with LITs on this one. Its a luxury the US can no longer afford. I'd place a higher priority on seeing our current troops have enough funds to train for combat than for making sure our retirees can get enough Pampers and Smokes for their whole family....

I know, I'm dreaming if I think the Congress would actually do any of this....
 
As for the commissary and it being a benefit; I've given up totally on the integrity of the government and congress. From the time I started in the air force; until the time I retired; "Entitlements, Benefits, etc." have been changed or taken away. In other words; the "Recruiting" factor people use to say why military members have certain benefits, is in reality just B.S. Lies. Of course, those who never were in the military or those who didn't serve 20+ years in order to receive some of these benefits, "In exchange for what had to be given up in order to serve 20+ years", will never understand the impact.

My advice to anyone considering enlisting or commissioning; "Whether you stay 5 years or decide to stay 20+ years; don't trust or believe anything told to you about benefits or entitlements". Anything told to you could easily change or disappear tomorrow. And all the congressmen and senators; most of whom have never served; will lie in their promises and pledges to military members.

FWIW: There are only about 1.9 million retires collecting traditional retiree pay and benefits. Which only costs approximately $50 Billion per year.
http://actuary.defense.gov/Portals/15/Documents/statbook11.pdf

And please.... Before anyone even thinks that $50 billion is a lot of money, doesn't even compare. The US's annual "Deficit" (Not to be confused with DEBT), is $680 BILLION. That's just how much our politicians OVERSPENT this year. And the interesting thing is, all those who are excited because that number is actually DOWN compared to some past years. We won't even speak of the debt. You all know about the $16+ TRILLION.

Point is; the military is definitely a high cost expense for the American tax payer. So is our Mortgage/Rent payments that most of us pay each month. It's our LARGEST monthly expense for most families. Yet, it's probably the most important expenditure. As a family, we can cut back on a lot of things, but we usually can't cut back on the mortgage or rent payments. Same with the military. Contrary to the touchy feely opinions of many in Washington DC, the military is in fact our MOST IMPORTANT expenditure. Yet, they believe they should treat it like it's a "Luxury" item in the family that can be cut. Like a smaller cable tv bill or eating out at a restaurant less often. The truth is; the standard of living and prosperity of our country, correlates directly to our military. And while I totally believe that the military can find cost savings; mainly through being more efficient and not overspending in contracts; I don't believe that savings should EVER come on the back of the soldiers, sailors, marines, or airmen. Especially the retires.

We only have 1.4 million active duty and 1.9 million retirees. It's bad enough that 85%+ of Americans, WITH SATISFACTORILY Health Insurance had to get screwed over by Obama and his health care law so the remaining 15% of Americans could be addressed. Now; the 1% of Americans; "Active and Retired Military" will continue to get screwed. So social "Dependency" programs that garner "Votes" can continue.

It's important to remember that the interest is the added cost with your mortage, because you're building equity in the house. It's a big purchase, but you also retain the value (unless you bought in 2005-2007.... then uh oh).

Our debt is $17+ trillion.... only off by a $1 trillion (how scary is that?). And then we take on unfunded liabilities and your heart stops.

But let's be honest, there are a nuber of military programs that are social "dependency" programs, that garner votes. It's just another pawn in play. Yes, there was service to largely justify the programs, but you don't think old vets aren't worked up by the American Legion, VFW, DAV when something that will affect their entitlements is on the chopping block? Sure. And it affects votes. I don't think there's anything surprising. Give someone something, tell him he's entitled to it, and see how quickly he is willing to give it up.

The benefits weren't given to the military out of the goodness of someone's heart. I wish that's how it DID happen.

Now you want to talk about the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare?) Individuals are going to feel the unintended consequences of the change, yep. "Yeah LITS, but my employer pays most of my insurance, so I'm OK." Ah! I recommend you start researching the "excise" taxes that start to kick in. If you think you're safe now, that's what's really going to hurt. They start a number of years out, and there's a chance that Congress could make changes to the law by then, but that's when it's REALLY going to hit the fan.


What's the lesson? A 500+ group of politicians who have little to no specialty knowledge, surrounded by staffers with stale or no private sector knowledge making narrowly minded decisions that have VAST implications, long-term, can ABSOLUTELY destroy a country. It will take longer than a World War, or disease or a meteor, but the kind of decay that can be brought inching that line of "the government knows best for you" can set in. It has in the past, in countries that were relatively more powerful and thousands of years of existance longer than ours.

It has taken us 250 years to slow (yes, global growth has also slowed), but we have become more and more dependent on a system that requires less and less "skin in the game" while providing government band-aids that will do nothing when the real pains begin.

I've tried to be more positive over the past few months, in the way I think, but I am honestly worried about the long-term financial strength here. And, while it would be easier to pass it on to our kids or their kids (as we love to do, all while pretending we care)... I think I will live long enough to see something worse than 2008. We've brushed our teeth. The government has continued to pass us Motrin, but at the end of the day, if the tooth is rotten, no amount of government toothpaste and pain medication is going to keep it from falling out. All it will do is blind us to the true condition of that tooth. We have a $17 trillion rotten tooth with $50 trillion of rot stacked on we can't even see. It has me worried because I hate the dentist (but he's also good to see).
 
You've made my point. They'll hash on commissaries, military retirement, benefits, and entitlements...... even though the cost is insignificant and the number of individuals affected is small........ Instead of concentrating on the things that truly tax our resources and have a lot more waste in it. The military budget; active and retired; is not the largest expenditure in our government. But because our government WANTS a socialized system, they want to gain more power of the citizens, and because the areas that do spend the most are social programs with more votes attached to them; it's the military that will take the largest hit. They always have in the past and they will continue to.

obama-work-harder-the-people-on-welfare-are-depending-on-you.jpg
 
Since we're on the subject of retirement costs, let me throw a little gasoline on the fire.

I suggest that if you retire from the military and take a job with the same employer (Uncle Sam) your retirement pay stops and you simply begin accruing more years for when you actually stop working. That's how every private company handles it. Why not government? :zip:
 
Stores

Just give the stores and rights to a major grocery chain (CONUS and OCONUS). They won't charge the taxes and will find a way to make a profit. Commissaries were always touted as one of our benefits - just as free medical if you retired. However, I am not adverse to a commercial entity taking them over.
 
A fair wage is certainly better than subsidizing something. I'm not entirely convinced, for officers at least, that the current wages (especially with the BAH tacked on) aren't already fair.

After I left the Coast Guard in 2011, I had a higher salary but saw less of my money (a good taste of how nasty taxes really are).

It's better now, but that first job out, that was a bit of a shocker.
http://militarypay.defense.gov/mpcalcs/Calculators/RMC.aspx

On fair wages, officers with engineering type degrees would do somewhat better in the private sector, other majors would do equal or somewhat worse in the private sector.
Enlisted with 5 years straight out of high school makes a bit over $50,000 (E5). In my area, I don't see many young people making that within 5 years if they have not invested in education of some sort to learn a skill.

It seems to me that wages + tax free BAH and BAS is competitive with the private sector. Others from other parts of the country may come to different conclusions
 
http://militarypay.defense.gov/mpcalcs/Calculators/RMC.aspx

On fair wages, officers with engineering type degrees would do somewhat better in the private sector, other majors would do equal or somewhat worse in the private sector.
Enlisted with 5 years straight out of high school makes a bit over $50,000 (E5). In my area, I don't see many young people making that within 5 years if they have not invested in education of some sort to learn a skill.

It seems to me that wages + tax free BAH and BAS is competitive with the private sector. Others from other parts of the country may come to different conclusions

That totally depends on your AFSC. For some, the military is a competitive wage. You are correct however that the 17 year old right out of high school will probably do better in the military than in the civilian world. My daughter, who graduated college at 21 years old, was making $40K plus at her first job. 4 years later, she's making over $50K.

Not dogging different AFSC's, but my "Peers" made a lot more than me in the civilian world than I did in the air force. Even with my BAS/BAH included and any tax breaks. When I retired and walked into my first job on the outside, I more than DOUBLED my FULL pay with BAS/BAH. Actually, I almost tripled my pay.

My point was that I've conceded the fact that nothing the government tells me is fact or the truth. No, I didn't get free medical for me and my family after I retired. "No, I won't discuss if tri-care is cheaper than my current employer's health care plan". The point is; they said it would be FREE, and it isn't. My point is, I never planned to "RELY" on any benefit or entitlement the government says I'll have. Cynical? Yes. I don't trust them. For all I know, they'll cancel my military retirement tomorrow or when I turn 65 for all I know. They'll get rid of the commissaries. They'll get rid of tri-care. They'll get rid of Social Security. etc... They wouldn't have any of these problems or any deficit/debt problems if they had a balanced budget amendment. But they won't ever do that, because certain "Pet Projects" and "Wasteful spending" is how they pay off people for votes. And votes, power, and control is all that matters. You don't honestly believe that deep down inside, our politicians truly care about the citizens? Do you??? The only time the government will give anything to the citizens that "MIGHT" benefit them in some way, is if the politicians can in return can more votes, power, and control. That's what it's all about. The truth sucks,
 
Brand new recruits probably not so much, but Reenlistees do care and if you were a junior NCO with 2 or 3 dependents you would see this as a pretty good benefit because it is definitely cheaper to shop there than it is off post. I find it interesting that most of the people talking about what a bad deal the commissaries are , either shopped in them as junior officers with no dependents or one college graduate working spouse. But there sure are an awful lot of folks shopping in those commissaries considering how "bad" they are. (BTW IMHO Retirees don't get a vote on where a commissary is or isn't and shouldn't- the commissary is a convenience if it is near by, but virtually no retiree that I know see them as a promised life time benefit- unlike medical coverage). But rather than a bunch of officers talking from their personal perspective- let's exercise a little bit of that leadership thing and start thinking like your people and put yourself in their shoes. You want people to reenlist- (and the pay is just ok for a junior NCO but with benefits it is a lot more reaonable), yet many on here seem to have no problem in whittling down the benefits that make military careers attractive, even though far more of those soldiers (certainly far more do than their peers of 25 years ago)- whom we rely upon on to form the backbone of the service- have dependants and virtually all of them have one or more deployments to a combat zone.
And just to forestall what I predict will be some righteous swell of conservative budget cutting howls from some members of this forum ( some of whom refuse to see what a huge benefit it is that they aspire to benefit from or have benefited from)- If you really want to cut costs- lets cut the commissary right after you start charging tuition and room and board to the service academies. I mean after all- why should we be giving a benefit like that annually to 14,000 pretty pampered college kids (3x DOD SAs plus CGA plus USMMA) every year when you are guaranteeing them a job when they graduate? Instead the folks on this forum who lived in that fairly pamprered stratisphere want to balance the budget on the back of the lowest paid yet MOST NEEDED folks in the pyramid? And that is what you are doing by talking about the commissary as an unneeded benefit that you can just blythely dump.
Do I think we should do the above? Nope I don't because I recognize that the SA's as well as ROTC scholarships and stipends are important tools in maintaining an effective and attractive volunteer military. But I do think that many of you don't seem to think about things from any perspective other than your own- "I didn't find this all that attractive so nobody else would either" while ignoring that your circumstances are not universal in the organization.

We are products of our experiences. Granted NG is different from the active duty, but when I did retention counseling sessions recently, "benefits" were not keeping soldiers in.
 
Could private merchants take over commissaries?

Most of this discussion seems to be East Coast focused...But consider the joint venture "Freedom Crossing" on Ft. Bliss...The Commissary and PX are joined at the hip by the Mall/Food Court and Multiplex...I believe the entire complex is run by (if not owned by) AAFES...We are talking Game Stop, Baskin/Robbins, and Buffalo Wild Wings, etc. The commissary could be converted to any chain grocery with a signature on a lease...
Meanwhile there are multiple Walmarts, Target, Costco just a couple of miles outside any gate. Yes, you need a car to get to them...You need a car to get to the commissary or even some of the DEFAC's on post as well...They disbanded the post shuttle service in February, 2012 to save money...
Obviously, the bigger question which is still being debated today...Are we ready for the open posts that the private companies will demand to set up shop? DOD Commissaries don't have to justify their sales numbers to the stockholders...
 
All of the companies you listed are public companies with stockholders. Why couldn't a Kroger operate, but a Burger King could?
 
Just give the stores and rights to a major grocery chain (CONUS and OCONUS). They won't charge the taxes and will find a way to make a profit. Commissaries were always touted as one of our benefits - just as free medical if you retired. However, I am not adverse to a commercial entity taking them over.

Ding Ding. This should be the way ahead. I don't pay taxes at my on post Starbucks.

Keep the CONUS commissaries for Fort Irwin, Herlong or Barstow Logistics Base and similar remote locations.
 
Back
Top