Military BX-PX, etc.

[Texas Star]

Can members of one armed service shop in stores on bases of another service? Can an Air Force member shop at an Army PX or Navy Ship's Store or whatever they call them, if stationed on that base?

Just thought of that and wondered. Surely, someone here knows.

 

[Alk8944]

Simple answer, yes.

 

[Texas Star]

Thanks. Simple will do nicely.

And thanks for answering a question in what may be a record time here.

 

[JayFramer]

YES! I've done it many times. Put in four years at an Army post and was Air Force. You might get the "I didn't know there was Air Force/Navy/etc. here!" just about every other time you shop their, but I have never heard of one PX/BX not allowing any other branch. That would require something like the base commander to be involved I would imagine.

 

[Hamster65]

A valid military or even military dependent ID should get you access to all military PX/BX's and Commissaries.
While in the Air Force, I went TDY to several different Army and Navy bases but, was never denied access to those places. Oddly enough, we never went to any Marine bases but, I'm guessing the same would apply.

 

[Targets Guy]

Yep. AAFES (Army & Air Force Exchanges) runs the Army's and Air Forces. Don't forget the Air Force was cut out of the Army in 1947 to become its own service but many of the Air Force bases were once Army posts.

And the Navy does allow Army, Air Force and even Marines to use their exchanges.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I go to the Commisary more often than the Exchange.
When you see a Service Member in uniform on Sunday-
Reservist!
A while back saw a PO in the new to me Navy camo
Recently Talked to a Army Reserve Major who is assigned to a recruiting battalion.
Didn’t know we had those.
When I ask Army what’s your unit, I expect to hear what kind of snake he eats for lunch.
Not recruiting battalion!

 

[Old_Cop]

I think that even a former service member can now buy at the AAFES website.

 

[Exchange]

If you are being honorably discharged, you are eligible to shop the military exchanges through the Veterans online shopping benefit. You can check your eligibility at ShopMyExchange.com/veterans.

 

[Texas Star]

I think that even a former service member can now buy at the AAFES website.

I guess I should look into that. What do you do: send a copy of your DD form 214?

Are the prices low enough to bother?

I'll tell my son. He was Army. I was Air Force.

Thanks for the responses, everyone.

 

[BigCityChief]

I think that even a former service member can now buy at the AAFES website.

Yes


Honorably discharged veterans will soon get to shop tax-free


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[BigCityChief]

Can members of one armed service shop in stores on bases of another service? Can an Air Force member shop at an Army PX or Navy Ship's Store or whatever they call them, if stationed on that base?



Just thought of that and wondered. Surely, someone here knows.

Helpful info:

The Exchange | Exchange Stores | Authorized Patrons


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[mcoe74]

I've used the Coast Guard Exchange in my area for many years.

 

[DWalt]

Prices in a BX/PX are not that great. Stores outside the base often have the same items for about the same price or often less. And then there is on-line purchasing. The advantage at the BX/PX is no sales tax. The real benefit is for those assigned to bases in remote locations or located outside the USA. I think at foreign bases even civilian workers are given purchase privileges. I was a USAF civilian for a long time, and when I was TDY to another base (as I frequently was) I got BX privileges. All I had to do was show my travel orders to get authorization.

 

[Targets Guy]

I retired from the AF in 1989. I've been to the BX/Commissary less than five times since. Being 60 miles away from the closest base doesn't help.

 

[Fishslayer]

Are the prices low enough to bother?

Depends. No sales tax but I usually find better deals elsewhere.

Commissary, again, depends. Some stuff is way cheap, some is "meh." On the MCAS Miramar they hit you with a 5% "fee." Not sure what it's for.

It is VERY rare that the base has cheaper gas than Costco.

Can't say I really go out of my way to shop there.

 

[DWalt]

"Commissary, again, depends. Some stuff is way cheap, some is "meh." On the MCAS Miramar they hit you with a 5% "fee." Not sure what it's for."


It's called an upcharge. Supposedly, the commissaries price everything at their cost plus a 5% upcharge added on at the cash register, which is supposed to cover the operating expenses of the commissary. The other thing is the carry-out "boys." Customers are expected to use the carry-out service to move their purchases to their car, and render a tip. I don't know who the commissary carry-out guys are - wounded war vet retirees or something like that? I have been in various commissaries but never bought anything there, and have always heard that the prices aren't much different than at stores on the outside, except for the absence of state sales tax on taxable items. Like the BX, it is a more valuable service at remote bases and those bases outside the USA. One thing which carries a high penalty is a military person or his dependents caught letting anyone else use their identification to shop at a commissary or BX/PX. That is an offense which is taken very seriously.

 

[eveled]

Do you mean if they are not present? Or letting somebody shop with them?

My wife used to shop with her cousin on a local base. The cousin has down sindrome. Her dad was a retired officer, so she has lifetime benefits and a military ID.

As stated the prices weren't better, but not worse. The supermarket part was less crowded than local stores, and people treated each other with respect.

I also liked the way you lined up at check out. Everybody got in one line, then got the next available clerk. It was a good system.

Kids would bag your groceries, take them to your car, then take the carriage back. Definately worth a tip, so no problem there. Also they bagged the groceries right.

 

[Plain Old Dave]

I have shopped at almost all of them. NEX (Navy Exchange), MCX (Marine Corps Exchange), Army PX, Air Force BX. Never had a question asked. Pricing, the BX (mini mall really) at McGhee Tyson prices gas intentionally a few cents low. Your experience may vary...

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[BigBoy99]

We live just a few miles from a Coast Guard Base with BX. I have stopped going to it because of the employees. They are usually foreign-born wives of servicemen whose first language was NOT English. They are very hard to understand and don't have a clue about the products they are selling in their store. The items they stock are targeted to the younger serviceman who wants a stereo system or computer games and equipment or a football field sized TV set and all of the accessories associated with it. Also, the prices are comparable to the local stores.