Your Benefits: Navy Exchange & Commissary

Once you receive your military ID card, you can begin to enjoy its advantages. Two of the most frequently used benefits are the Navy Exchange and Commissary.

The Exchange is similar to a major department store, but operated by the military. Prices are competitive and there is no sales tax. A percentage of the profits from purchases go to the Navy's MWR program (Morale, Welfare & Recreation).

The commissary is the military version of a grocery store. You can find many of the same goods found in your local store at a reduced cost. There is a small surcharge, but no sales tax on items purchased at the commissary.

Military families can save between 10-30% using these stores. These stores are strictly for service personnel and family members, so your ID card is required to make purchases. As of January 1, 2020, all service-connected Veterans, Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war (POW), and individuals approved and designated as the primary family caregivers of eligible Veterans under the Department of Veterans Affairs Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) can use commissaries, exchanges, and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) retail facilities, in-person and online.