Hi,

I will be traveling to S Korea on business in the near future - specifically Busan (Pusan)

I am a veteran of OIF 07 with honorable discharge.

Would I be able to get access to the PX and Commisarry on any bases in that area while I am there??? What form of ID would I need?

Thanks

Normally you need to be Active Duty, a dependent, a retiree, or recently separated member (you often retain commissary benefits for a few months after separating). If you know someone who is Active Duty there, they can sponsor you as a guest on the base.

There are a few bases that only allow those who are actually stationed there to enter, but I'm guessing that's not the case in Busan.

Most likely the answer is no. It depends on the SOFA we have with the S Korean government. I know that you wouldn't be able to do it in Germany.

Edit to say that I meant the above for Commissary and PX privileges. Even retirees cannot use them overseas...at least in Germany. I know because my father in law is a retired officer who just got back from a contract job over there and he told me that the SOFA didn't allow it.

[This message has been edited by AEK (edited 6/7/2014 6:51a).]

Well that sucks.... hmmm... do I know anyone is SK currently....

Definitely no commissary in SK - they are very strict due to black market issues.

To get into SK/US military base you need 2 of the following: 1) military ID, 2) US Passport, 3) SOFA employment request (approved), 4) Ration card - and/or be escorted by someone who has these credentials.

Once on post/base, To get into commissary or PX/BX you need a ration card. You MAY appeal to store manager for emergency toiletries, etc., but nothing else - no electronics, cameras, class VI, etc. Without a ration card you are not supposed to be in the building otherwise.

You may be able to purchase from concessionaires including fast food from US based outlets such as Burger King.

This is not directly related since it deals only with the exchange online sales and not the commissary and purchases from brick & mortar exchanges but it would work to the advantage of veterans. I can see commercial retailers objecting on the grounds that it is unfair subsidized competetion (which it is) but I can also see how it makes sense for AAFES and the honorably discharged Veterans who would reap a discount while providing increased revenue to the exchanges which are suffering from the downsizing of their customer base. What is not mentioned specifically in the article is whether the proposal would also grant the same exemption from sales tax that active duty and retirees receive on purchases from the exchange.

http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2014/06/aafes-chief-let-22-million-vets-shop-exchanges-online/

quote:

---

Defense officials are weighing a proposal from the director of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) to allow the nation's 22 million honorably discharged veterans, and perhaps an equal number of their family members, to shop online for military exchange products and discounts. According to Thomas C. Shull, chief executive officer of AAFES, providing online discounts to millions of deserving veterans and families would cause exchange profits to soar while protecting the benefit in tough budget times.

---

quote:

---

Defense officials are weighing a proposal from the director of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) to allow the nation's 22 million honorably discharged veterans, and perhaps an equal number of their family members, to shop online for military exchange products and discounts.

---

This isn't already in effect? I've been shopping from AAFES online for years.

Honestly, I don't know why anyone stateside ever shops at the BX or commissary. Prices aren't really that much greater (a lot of times worse at the commissary with the surcharge) and the selection is pretty terrible.

quote:

---

Honestly, I don't know why anyone stateside ever shops at the BX or commissary. Prices aren't really that much greater (a lot of times worse at the commissary with the surcharge) and the selection is pretty terrible.

---

Depends on your location. In Hawaii it was much cheaper than off post.

Meat is where you save money.

quote:

---

Honestly, I don't know why anyone stateside ever shops at the BX or commissary. Prices aren't really that much greater (a lot of times worse at the commissary with the surcharge) and the selection is pretty terrible.

---

Depends on what you are buying. Walmart and such usually operate on a loss for items like paper towels etc by giving coupons to get you into the store. They know you'll walk out with more thinking you saved money. They charge you a higher rate for the other items.

The commissary is better for the "other items" (think meats, Nyquil, toothbrushes, frozen foods, baby formula)

Even still, the big chains like walmart can often compete for many items on price because of bulk purchasing, but you can save if you actually take the time to compare what you are buying and how often you go.

Walmart doesn't take a loss on anything. They just have the best data analysts in the world and relentlessly pursue efficiency.

AAFES offers some deals if you live on post and account for economic costs of time, gas, etc. The commissary is complete garbage. It absolutely does not save money since they have the highest tax rate in the US and don't carry private labels. Their supply chain is sloppy, too, so they're hemorrhaging tax dollars everywhere. I'm convinced the commissary exists so old retirees can have somewhere to congregate

The Comm bashers are out.

item for item, its all cheaper at the Comm. go buy it both places, run the tape and see, instead of the rumor mill. There are a few exceptions but not many. the no private label stuff is ending, soon they will have some.

My family, my parents, my wife's parents have been Comm shoppers since 1960, and have seen the haters come and go.

razor blades
soap
toothpaste
OTC medicine
TP and paper products
cereal
meat
ice cream
milk and OJ
etc etc etc

Cost + 5% surcharge. is it nec stateside? prob not. but its a benefit we were sold as part of the deal......




[This message has been edited by Aggie@state.gov (edited 6/24/2014 2:45p).]

quote:

---

Walmart doesn't take a loss on anything. They just have the best data analysts in the world and relentlessly pursue efficiency.

---

If Walmart really wanted to be efficient, they would paint arrows on the floor.

quote:

---

but its a benefit we were sold as part of the deal......

---

That mentality is why the MOAA is little better than the AFGE or AFSCME unions. There are a lot of things that have been "sold" as part of the benefits of military service but it does not mean that the taxpayers and their elected representatives don't have a valid case in reforming or repealing them. Commissary and exchange privileges have never been included a DD Form 4 as part of an enlistment or commissioned service contract.

The DoD pays $1.8 Billion annually for the commissary system and for the vast majority of CONUS duty stations it's a nonessential service that can be supported by the local economy (just like housing for the majority of the military). The DoD would be better off to keep the overseas commissaries and shut down DeCA in CONUS except for remote locations like China Lake, Ft. Irwin, or Twentynine Palms. The rest of the commissary buildings could be leased on a concessions contract to commercial supermarkets on a triennially recompeted contract. Major grocery stores have offered to the DoD to offer across the board 10% discounts at any and every store across the country to military personnel, their families, retirees, and other personnel eligible to use the commissaries if the DoD would shut down DeCA which is government subsidized competition. They have even agreed to put in stores in old DeCA buildings in locations that are not served by civilian supermarkets. It would be easy to accept that offer if it weren't for the lobbying power of AFGE to which the commissaries are a jobs program.

Let the commissaries go and get the government out of unnecessary competition with private business.

The exchanges are even worse than DeCA because they are under the mistaken belief that they are in competition with Nordstrom or Dillards instead of Walmart. How many square feet of government floorspace are necessary for Brooks Brothers, Nautica, Lacoste, and other fashion houses in an exchange that is supposed to be serving the junior ranks? It's a nice benefit for the retirees but it neglects the core customer base.

Interesting post, U90 - par for the course for you.

I would add to your list of "isolated" military facilities more than a few AF bases - Edwards, Mt Home, Holloman, Cannon, Minot, Grand Forks, Whiteman, Little Rock (it's not actually all that near to Little Rock) and maybe FE Warren. I'm sure I missed a few.

As for Army Posts, my knowledge is limited, but I have been to White Sands Missile Range (was a college intern there) and Ft Rucker.

I would guess Ft Polk, Ft Leonard Wood, Ft Huachuca (could be wrong on this one) would also make my list.

And I'm REALLY not up on Navy facilities, but I would add Patuxcent River (been there) and Whidbey Island to my list.

And I would suggest you add Yuma to your list as well.

I'm somewhat partial to commissaries - I grew up as an AF dependent and my family shopped there for most groceries, etc. I sacked groceries in the commissary as a young teenager and then became my family's designated "grocery shopper" when I was in High School (with a list made out by my mom).

But I agree with your comments about the BX, PX, and Navy Exchanges. I think they are necessary for remote installations, but they should be more like Walmart in their selection and prices.

Edit: Back in the ancient days before the internet most military families in remote locations made a lot of their purchases from catalogs - primarily Sears, JC Penneys, and Montgomery Wards. But that was also the days before UPS, FEDEX, etc, so your packages came via US Postal Service, which was slow as hell (and often unreliable if you were overseas).

Been there, done that - as a dependent and in my 21 year AF career (retired in 1991).




[This message has been edited by NormanAg (edited 6/25/2014 9:13p).]

[This message has been edited by NormanAg (edited 6/25/2014 9:14p).]

I'm a little familiar with the New Mexico bases, as they are close by. I think Clovis NM has boomed since you left. Google confirms that both Cannon and Holloman have Walmart supercenters within 10 miles of their front gate.

So Edwards and some of the others qualify, maybe not so much those two.

I could see keeping a convenience store sized shop on bases like Cannon, but not a full-sized supermarket.

Thanks, appreciate the update.

WSMR is definitely in the realm of remote bases (I grew up on the other side of San Augustine Pass and went to high school with students from WSMR that boarded the school bus at 0600) though Holleman is pretty civilized as Alamogordo has grown. Pax River has plenty of commercial development within a mile of the gates including a super Walmart, Kohls, and lots of others. They even have a DAU branch campus there in California, MD which is about five miles off the base.

I leave it to the manpower analysts to determine what bases would retain a commissary and which would not. I just know that there is no sane justification for the mega commissaries at Quantico and Ft Belvoir except to bring a wide selection of imported food to the O-6 and above retired population of NoVA.

Agree with Quantico and Ft Belvoir - been to both. You would think the same would apply to Andrews, where I lived (on base) from 84 to 87. But unless things have changed drastically since then, shopping anywhere NEAR Andrews is dangerous as hell due to gang violence. PG County, MD is the pits.

When we first got there, Forestville and Landover were OK (not great). By the time we left, we had to shop on base or drive to Waldorf, MD or Vienna, VA just to shop in safety.



[This message has been edited by NormanAg (edited 6/26/2014 5:56p).]

quote:

---

Agree with Quantico and Ft Belvoir - been to both. You would think the same would apply to Andrews, where I lived (on base) from 84 to 87. But unless things have changed drastically since then, shopping anywhere NEAR Andrews is dangerous as hell due to gang violence. PG County, MD is the pits.

---

Heaven forbid military members have to mingle with the population from which they matriculated and whom they serve

Yeah, it's a damned shame isn't it. Especially if you have Jr High and High school age kids and live on Andrews.

Thankfully, the Air Force recognized the "problems" and offered school bus service from Andrews base housing to a Catholic K-8 school in Forestville and to the the boy's Catholic High School (Bishop McNamara) and girl's Catholic High School (Lorraine).

The AF just provided buses - tuition at the Catholic schools was paid by the parents.

Elementary was no problem - Francis T Evans, a PG County school just outside the base, had a huge percentage of base housing kids. Their test scores blew away every other school in PG County by far.

And I didn't "matriculate" from an environment like PG County, MD. Most folks in the military haven't either.

Worst school system in whole damned country and a very high crime rate to boost.


[This message has been edited by NormanAg (edited 6/26/2014 9:11p).]