As a contractor, you may be wondering if you are eligible to shop at a commissary. The short answer is, it depends.
Commissaries are grocery stores that are run by the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA), a government agency that provides discounted groceries and household items to active duty service members, retirees, and their families.
While contractors are not typically included in the list of eligible patrons, there are some exceptions. For example, contractors who are working directly for the Department of Defense (DoD) may be granted access to commissaries. This is typically done on a case-by-case basis and requires approval from the contracting officer.
In addition, contractors who are working overseas in support of military operations may also be allowed to shop at commissaries. This is because commissaries are often the only source of affordable groceries and household items in remote locations.
If you are a contractor who is not working directly for the DoD and are not located overseas, you are likely not eligible to shop at a commissary. However, there are still ways to save money on groceries and household items.
Many commissaries have a program called the Guard and Reserve On-Site Sales (GROSS) program, which allows National Guard and Reserve members to purchase groceries and household items at commissaries located near their training or drilling sites. While this program is not available to contractors, it is still a great resource for those who are eligible.
Another option for contractors is to shop at military exchanges, which are retail stores that are also run by the DeCA. While exchanges are not as heavily discounted as commissaries, they still offer savings on a wide range of products.
In conclusion, contractors may be eligible to shop at commissaries if they are working directly for the DoD or if they are located overseas in support of military operations. However, if you are not eligible to shop at a commissary, there are still other ways to save money on groceries and household items.