[PSUBS-MAILIST] FWD: Reserve and Guard Receive Unlimited Commissary Benefits

["Mark Steed" <plutomark@mail.astate.edu>]

May not have anything to do with a submarine, but could greatly affect some members.  Best regards, Mark Steed

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: DoD News <dlnews_sender@DTIC.MIL>
Reply-To: DODNEWS-L-request@DTIC.MIL
Date:          Mon, 24 Nov 2003 17:03:15 -0500

No. 887-03
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov 24, 2003
(703)697-5131(media)
(703)428-0711(public/industry)

Reserve and Guard Receive Unlimited Commissary Benefits

     The Department of Defense announced today that with the president's signing of
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004, effective immediately,
the following members and their dependents will be permitted unlimited access to
commissary stores:



-    Members of the Ready Reserve (which includes members of the Selected Reserve,
Individual Ready Reserve and Inactive National Guard) and members of the Retired
Reserve who possess a Uniformed Services Identification Card.



-    Former members eligible for retired pay at age 60 but who have not yet attained
the age of 60 and who possess a Department of Defense Civilian Identification Card.



-    Dependents of the members described above who have a Uniformed Services
Identification Card or who have a distinct identification card used as an
authorization card for benefits and privileges administered by the Uniformed
Services.



     "Instructions have gone out to all continental U.S. stores informing them that
reservists now have unlimited shopping and telling store managers how to welcome
members of the National Guard and Reserve to the full use of the commissary
benefit," said Patrick Nixon, deputy director of the Defense Commissary Agency.
"Commissary shoppers will begin to see banners saying 'Welcome Guard and Reserve to
Full Time Savings,' along with other events recognizing these new full-time
shoppers."



     Guard and Reserve members were authorized only 24 commissary shopping days per
calendar year until today when the president signed the National Defense
Authorization Act, which contained provisions eliminating the restrictions.
Commissaries have immediately adopted the new provisions, which means Guard and
Reserve members will no longer have to present a Commissary Privilege Card when they
shop.



     "I want to thank Congress and the Department of Defense for their efforts in
bringing the commissary shopping privilege to the total force," said Patrick Nixon,
deputy director of the Defense Commissary Agency. "The Congress included unlimited
commissary benefits in the National Defense Authorization Act thus making full time
shopping possible for the men and women who serve their nation in the National Guard
and Reserve."



     Nixon noted that special thanks should go to Charles Abell, principal deputy
under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness.  Abell acted decisively and
immediately in providing interim authority for the Reserve component to have
full-time commissary shopping just in time to take advantage of holiday savings.



     For more information about the Defense Commissary Agency, see their Web site at
http://www.commissaries.com/ [http://www.commissaries.com/].

[Web Version: http://www.dod.mil/releases/2003/nr20031124-0690.html]

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