HomeMy WebLinkAbout021925 - Expansion test of DoD CommissariesALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
All civilian employees with DoD identification will be authorized to shop at one of the 16 commissaries participating in the piloted program
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NewsFlash
The Department of Defense (DoD) will test an expansion of commissary shopping privileges for DoD civilian employees <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fcorp.commissaries.com%2Four-agency
%2Fnewsroom%2Fnews-releases%2Fdod-pilot-expansion-commissary-benefit-military-civilian/1/010001951f03faa0-9efcf92f-7e25-444a-a58a-6d1d452433c9-000000/yIlMOgNlNV8Eph7rxni_wcTD5kmNG-fM5YV-tgf0rRg=392>
at select Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) stores located in the continental United States for 120 days. The 16 stores selected for the pilot are at the following locations:
* Alaska: Eielson Air Force Base
* California: Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake and Fort Irwin
* Georgia: Marine Corps Logistical Base Albany and Robins Air Force Base
* Maryland: Naval Air Station Patuxent River
* Oklahoma: Altus Air Force Base
* Texas: Laughlin Air Force Base
* Virginia: Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, Joint Base Langley-Eustis (Fort Eustis and Langley Air Force Base commissaries), Fort Gregg-Adams, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort
Story (Little Creek Commissary), Naval Base Norfolk, Naval Air Station Oceana and Norfolk Naval Ship Yard (Portsmouth)
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DoD expanded commissary shopping privileges in the U.S. effective 1 January 2020 as part of the Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018 <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:
%2F%2Fcorp.commissaries.com%2Fextended-eligibility/1/010001951f03faa0-9efcf92f-7e25-444a-a58a-6d1d452433c9-000000/gaSZx1Xdpr2v_W2rusrM3GYN_EMLxSXppYgDKHAAM9k=392> , included in the John
S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019. This lifelong benefit allows honorably discharged Veterans of all US Armed Forces to shop online at any and all (AAFES
<https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.shopmyexchange.com%2F/1/010001951f03faa0-9efcf92f-7e25-444a-a58a-6d1d452433c9-000000/hZBZs0kLvYsOTBIC6_000P3zwnssKZ9GOahtg5IpRdI=392>
, NEXCOM <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.mynavyexchange.com%2F/1/010001951f03faa0-9efcf92f-7e25-444a-a58a-6d1d452433c9-000000/DT1xBS3bL8TP3lQKY1nzzSGqg6UNj41nEcj1avIUAFc=392>
, MCX <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.mymcx.com%2F/1/010001951f03faa0-9efcf92f-7e25-444a-a58a-6d1d452433c9-000000/y--IEzFMqLQD03Zip4zLAWBACOOm_Hy0hkYXjzt8UMU=392>
and CGX <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fshopcgx.com%2F/1/010001951f03faa0-9efcf92f-7e25-444a-a58a-6d1d452433c9-000000/PS0YiBw96B5n8OoCDLZFUO8pKwcMs0hVNymCZ3HM0JU=392>
) of the exchanges. VetVerify is a shared verification service <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.vetverify.org%2F/1/010001951f03faa0-9efcf92f-7e25-444a-a58a-6d1d452433c9-000000/OW
hQTpBxOOXkLOHPIRM5kjC43c_pGy8DlVLOMXfem-U=392> of the four military exchanges that supports the Veterans online shopping benefit by verifying Veterans who cannot be authenticated by
the exchanges alone <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.vetverify.org%2Fmissinginfo.xhtml/1/010001951f03faa0-9efcf92f-7e25-444a-a58a-6d1d452433c9-000000/HiHb-ZQx2w1xpupf6yJHJEZvzp4F
KaLx2I2YFoYCfRQ=392> . VetVerify is used solely to verify eligibility for the online shopping benefit and no others.
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➤ NewsFlash <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.mirecc.va.gov%2Fvisn20%2FNewsflash%2Findex.asp/1/010001951f03faa0-9efcf92f-7e25-444a-a58a-6d1d452433c9-000000/JUS-gDdo3R2ICx6K4nApX7wI
3iJlHbwjXz2oZ3x2DB0=392>
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➢ Adaptive Sports <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.mirecc.va.gov%2Fvisn20%2FNewsflash%2FAdaptiveSports.asp/1/010001951f03faa0-9efcf92f-7e25-444a-a58a-6d1d452433c9-000000/epDKKlW
Z2GQEPNVDZvPuAtGNTLsUvwR7-ghfVBA0xDk=392>
➢ Financial Readiness <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.mirecc.va.gov%2Fvisn20%2FNewsflash%2FFinancialReadiness.asp/1/010001951f03faa0-9efcf92f-7e25-444a-a58a-6d1d452433c9-000000
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ZSpCf-gWhhZ4BWahX9X2_-uNkHwLRs=392>
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0000/R3Q8MOdivCgXPce5mAfUfNiSdf8YbHzzcvk2x2rjiE0=392>
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6N1QMenegg2p646ftYnlWbCgwJE0wM=392>
FORWARD MARCH: The MILITARY STAR card and its benefits <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.myecp.com%2FHTMLPages%2FCP_MilStarCard/1/010001951f03faa0-9efcf92f-7e25-444a-a58a-6d1d45243
3c9-000000/tTq2_Ttd2b5EgIupUQ63EOpZhS2-6wMyJp-s3sRSLQw=392> are exclusively available to military personnel and their families, DoD Civilians, Purple Heart recipients and Disabled Veterans
and Veterans who received an Honorable or general under Honorable conditions discharge have online shopping privileges. The Exchange Credit Program (ECP) operates the MILITARY STAR
program on behalf of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines Corps and Coast Guard <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.myecp.com%2FHTMLPages%2FCP_MilStarCard/2/010001951f03faa0-9efcf92f-
7e25-444a-a58a-6d1d452433c9-000000/FlY7L_ZlYa4y0duMVPDgo2OvpCsAst5ZVzMscG7tECY=392> .
New DOD process makes base access easier for eligible disabled veterans seeking to use commissary, exchange, certain MWR benefits
Lt. Col. Matt Cox with the US Army and Air Force Exchange Service <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fnationaldefenseradioshow.podbean.com%2Fe%2Fus-army-and-air-force-exchange-service-at
-ausa-conference%2F/1/010001951f03faa0-9efcf92f-7e25-444a-a58a-6d1d452433c9-000000/s-I_E-_EFVadCswS4d-JXnLDIybAZOvoka8Q6bXQniY=392> recently discussed the exchange benefit with the
National Defense Radio Show. As of November 2024, disabled veterans who do not have a VA-issued Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC), as well as eligible caregivers, can now enroll
for installation access at the base’s visitor center using their REAL ID Act-compliant driver's license or non-driver's identification card <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fcorp.comm
issaries.com%2Four-agency%2Fnewsroom%2Fnews-releases%2Fnew-dod-process-makes-base-access-easier-eligible-disabled-0/1/010001951f03faa0-9efcf92f-7e25-444a-a58a-6d1d452433c9-000000/RjRxbMC9ZLUFyeO-_BN3
GZ0qj0r58cEBlVVeMLaleo4=392> . DeCA operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment.
Commissaries provide a military benefit, saving authorized patrons thousands of dollars annually on their purchases compared to similar products at commercial retailers. The discounted
prices include a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. Commissary Store Locations in VISN 20 are located in Alaska,
Idaho and Washington <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.commissaries.com%2Fmy-store%2Fstore-locator/1/010001951f03faa0-9efcf92f-7e25-444a-a58a-6d1d452433c9-000000/00VGA8Io-88Ll2C-r
ILRw1UNWoOC7UT1eyZ9pskzRPc=392> .
VA Veterans Canteen Service (VCS)
VCS is proud to offer Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare, their families and VA employees exclusive shopping benefits online at https://shopvcs.va.gov/ <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%
2Fshopvcs.va.gov%2F/1/010001951f03faa0-9efcf92f-7e25-444a-a58a-6d1d452433c9-000000/Yv8jjHLdKisk805PwVpyk-dceruJaM2QwUYgOjmONo0=392> .
<https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/USVHAVISN20/2024/10/10431024/va-vcs-canteen_original.jpg>
In 1946, VCS was established by law <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.vacanteen.va.gov%2F/1/010001951f03faa0-9efcf92f-7e25-444a-a58a-6d1d452433c9-000000/msghogO4DaAwuuC5U1G6Q5Xuz8z
0_neehMtxtb_BnLM=392> to provide comfort and well-being to America’s Veterans. VCS retail stores, cafés and coffee shops are located across the country <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F
%2Fwww.vacanteen.va.gov%2FVACANTEEN%2FCanteen_Locations.asp/1/010001951f03faa0-9efcf92f-7e25-444a-a58a-6d1d452433c9-000000/HviGHi9W5r436gKRJb39UIYhUFMJBuFuZQWy6XiP2oU=392> serving those
who have served our country. VCS is a self-sustaining entity providing merchandise and services to Veterans enrolled in VA’s healthcare system, their families, caregivers, VA employees,
volunteers and visitors. VCS is honored to give back to the VA community through many programs established for the health and well-being of our nation’s heroes. Revenues generated from
VCS are used to support a variety of programs <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.vacanteen.va.gov%2FVACANTEEN%2FQuality_of_Life_Programs.asp/1/010001951f03faa0-9efcf92f-7e25-444a-a
58a-6d1d452433c9-000000/KG7V1PuccRbg4q3d_La-mvlM2KgsqzWlUq2gl8Zx5vk=392> , such as VA’s Rehabilitation Games, Fisher Houses, Poly-Trauma Centers for OIF/OEF/OND Veterans, disaster relief
efforts, Substance Abuse Cessation, VA’s Homelessness initiatives, Women Veterans, Veteran Suicide Prevention and other activities.
Use of these Materials and Finding VA Health Care
Please note that the health care information provided in these materials is for educational purposes only. It does not replace the role of a medical practitioner for advice on care and
treatment. If you are looking for professional medical care, find your local VA healthcare center by using the VA Facilities Locator & Directory <https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.
va.gov%2Fdirectory%2Fguide%2Fhome.asp/1/010001951f03faa0-9efcf92f-7e25-444a-a58a-6d1d452433c9-000000/vbRZqqxuEKk3aIPXilhMUKUl90UQe3lvJtxRZRwF5-g=392> . Financial Readiness resources
are also for educational purposes only. It does not replace the role of a financial advisor for advice on savings and investments. Investing in your future means saving for retirement,
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