Commissary & Exchange Access Expanded

When you are an active duty member, you and your family have access to all of the base’s amenities. If you retire from service, you will also still have access to these same privileges. For the service members, their families, and caregivers that don’t fall into those categories, it can be a desire to still have access to some of these great services and deals!

Over the years, the DoD has added more veterans to be able to utilize different programs/stores that are only on military installations. Back in 2020, more than 3+ million veterans were made eligible to shop at the Commissary and Exchanges and even able to utilize some of the Morale, Welfare, and Recreations (MWR) activities! This list included former prisoners of war, Purple Heart recipients, and service-connected disabled veterans and their primary caregivers. This was all part of the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act.

In November of 2024, the DoD announced that they will be working to improve the installation access for those disabled veterans who don’t yet have a Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC). Those members will need to go to the installation’s visitor center with their REAL ID Act-compliant driver’s license or non-driver’s ID card to gain access to the installation.

Additionally, these members and their caregivers will still need their VA-issued letters (service-connected disability letter and/or caregiver patronage letter) OR their VA Health Eligibility Center Form H623A to show their eligibility to the Commissary, Exchange, or allowed MWR services since verification from ID scan isn’t available to verify their eligibility.

These veterans will be able to shop on base and even utilize the Click2Go program at the Commissary! This is wonderful news for our veterans! If you don’t yet have a Commissary Rewards Card, then make sure to get one so you can set up your account to save even more!

Find Out More with MyMilitarySavings.com!