DOD Expands Civilian Access to Military Exchanges...

[Holding Pattern]

... but not to CAP yet.

""Every shopper of the exchange helps improve the military community and the benefit for service members and their families," said Patricia "Patty" Montes Barron, deputy assistant secretary of defense for military community and family policy. "We welcome our DOD and Coast Guard civilian employees to take advantage of the convenience and familiarity of military exchanges. Shopping at our military exchanges is a quality of life experience that serves the community in ways no other commercial entity does.""

Perhaps we should have governmental affairs ask if civilian auxiliaries might increase that "every shopper" number a bit?


https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2590000/department-of-defense-expands-access-to-military-exchanges/source/GovDelivery/

[SarDragon]

I think the issue will be base access. The employees are already vetted, and have routine access. Individual exchanges have allowed their employees to shop there in the past on a similar basis - no alcohol, tobacco, or uniforms.

[Holding Pattern]

I think the issue will be base access. The employees are already vetted, and have routine access. Individual exchanges have allowed their employees to shop there in the past on a similar basis - no alcohol, tobacco, or uniforms.

Blast, I forgot to quote the most relevant part of the article:

"Online exchange access will also be available for active and retired DOD and Coast Guard appropriated fund and nonappropriated fund civilian employees by mid-October."

I definitely buried the lede there...

[Spaceman3750]

Other than blues, does Exchange have anything I can't get cheaper/faster on Amazon?

[SarDragon]

Other than blues, does Exchange have anything I can't get cheaper/faster on Amazon?

Brand-for-brand, online, probably yes. For going into the actual stores, almost certainly yes, particularly if there's sales tax involved.

Being able to shop in the exchange, for most customers, is not all about uniform items. It's everything else - clothing, housewares, electronics, etc.

[abdsp51]

Other than blues, does Exchange have anything I can't get cheaper/faster on Amazon?

Brand-for-brand, online, probably yes. For going into the actual stores, almost certainly yes, particularly if there's sales tax involved.

Being able to shop in the exchange, for most customers, is not all about uniform items. It's everything else - clothing, housewares, electronics, etc.

I get better deals off base most of the time.

[SarDragon]

Other than blues, does Exchange have anything I can't get cheaper/faster on Amazon?

Brand-for-brand, online, probably yes. For going into the actual stores, almost certainly yes, particularly if there's sales tax involved.

Being able to shop in the exchange, for most customers, is not all about uniform items. It's everything else - clothing, housewares, electronics, etc.

I get better deals off base most of the time.

Same brands, same items? That is the only fair comparison.

[etodd]

Military exchanges are a .... "benefit for service members and their families."

^^^ Benefits for low paid military families who need every benefit they can get.

That does not, and IMHO, should not, include us "civilian" volunteers.

[Ned]

Here in a high sales tax state (around 10%) I have found the exchange to be a good deal, particularly for higher priced items.  Yes, the brands and models are somewhat limited.  And the service is not exactly Amazon Prime quality.  But particularly these days, 5-10% savings can make it worthwhile.

[JohhnyD]

Military exchanges are a .... "benefit for service members and their families."

^^^ Benefits for low paid military families who need every benefit they can get.

That does not, and IMHO, should not, include us "civilian" volunteers.

And yet if they extended full benefits to CAP, the added volume would increase their profits and allow LOWER prices for the service members - active and retired.

Win - win - win.

[Holding Pattern]

Military exchanges are a .... "benefit for service members and their families."

^^^ Benefits for low paid military families who need every benefit they can get.

That does not, and IMHO, should not, include us "civilian" volunteers.

And yet this news release shows that the DOD policies are in contravention of your opinion as they add "civilian" DOD employees.

[NovemberWhiskey]

Benefits for low paid military families who need every benefit they can get.

Base exchanges are operated on a for-profit basis without really any significant subsidy, other than the tax advantages of being part of the U.S. Government.

Are you sure you're not thinking of commissaries? Those are indeed subsidized to operate on a cost-plus basis.

[JohhnyD]

I think the issue will be base access. The employees are already vetted, and have routine access. Individual exchanges have allowed their employees to shop there in the past on a similar basis - no alcohol, tobacco, or uniforms.

We, on the other hand, get uniforms but nothing else.

[etodd]

Are you sure you're not thinking of commissaries? Those are indeed subsidized to operate on a cost-plus basis.

Good point. I'm confusing the two.

[SarDragon]

Exchanges are non-appropriated fund activities, and as such, must be self-supporting. If increasing the customer base to all the folks who work on the base helps that cause, why not? The "profits" go to fund Recreation Services activities on the bases, and many bases allow the civilian workers access, for the same reason.

[Eclipse]

I think the issue will be base access. The employees are already vetted, and have routine access. Individual exchanges have allowed their employees to shop there in the past on a similar basis - no alcohol, tobacco, or uniforms.

We, on the other hand, get uniforms but nothing else.

Untrue.  CAP members who meet, have facilities, or participate in activities on military bases have
access to purchase just about anything from an exchange (except alcohol and tobacco).

See AFI10-2701, page 12.

I've also never seen anything at an exchange that wasn't cheaper and more easily attained
at normal retail establishments like Walmart, (and these days Amazon) which are often right
down the road, and that includes fuel, which is mandated to be commensurate with the prevailing
price in the area to insure fair competition with local gas stations.

Sure, if you're mid-encampment or mission and need something quick, or lunch, the exchange
can be handy, but otherwise, assuming gate access isn't a hassle it's just as easy to run
down the street and get what you need.

Nothing beats the mil-spec Flowbees for a quick haircut, though.

[abdsp51]

Other than blues, does Exchange have anything I can't get cheaper/faster on Amazon?

Brand-for-brand, online, probably yes. For going into the actual stores, almost certainly yes, particularly if there's sales tax involved.

Being able to shop in the exchange, for most customers, is not all about uniform items. It's everything else - clothing, housewares, electronics, etc.

I get better deals off base most of the time.

Same brands, same items? That is the only fair comparison.

Yep. 

[SarDragon]

Not my experience in my part of the world (SoCal).

[etodd]

Yes, you can buy most anything cheaper on Amazon. So can we be honest here? How many just want to put on their uniform and be able to walk around on a base?

[Holding Pattern]

Yes, you can buy most anything cheaper on Amazon. So can we be honest here? How many just want to put on their uniform and be able to walk around on a base?

ONLINE access. I suppose some people put into the uniform to use it, but that seems overkill to me.

[N6RVT]

And yet if they extended full benefits to CAP, the added volume would increase their profits and allow LOWER prices for the service members - active and retired.
Win - win - win.

As a retired Captain, I totally agree with you.  The only exchange anywhere near me is El Segundo and it seems to be offering less & less, most likely because it doesn't have the business to support it.  And the only reason I ever went there it because it was between my home and KTOA.

Most of the little independent shops that were in the same complex have closed too.

For that matter Clothing Sales was pretty lame.

[abdsp51]

Not my experience in my part of the world (SoCal).

Part of why I left the less than golden state.

[abdsp51]

And yet if they extended full benefits to CAP, the added volume would increase their profits and allow LOWER prices for the service members - active and retired.
Win - win - win.

As a retired Captain, I totally agree with you.  The only exchange anywhere near me is El Segundo and it seems to be offering less & less, most likely because it doesn't have the business to support it.  And the only reason I ever went there it because it was between my home and KTOA.

Most of the little independent shops that were in the same complex have closed too.

For that matter Clothing Sales was pretty lame.

Considering that LA AFS is mainly GS and Contactors hardly suprising. 

[Jester]

Considering that LA AFS is mainly GS and Contactors hardly surprising. 

With Space Force adding LA AFB as a location, I wonder if they'll expand it at all. 

[Mustang]

Military exchanges are a .... "benefit for service members and their families."

^^^ Benefits for low paid military families who need every benefit they can get.

That does not, and IMHO, should not, include us "civilian" volunteers.

By that logic, it shouldn't include officers and senior NCOs since they are not "low paid".