The fiscal 2019 National Defense Authorization Act expanded who is eligible for shopping privileges at military commissaries, exchanges, and Morale, Welfare, and Recreation facilities. Managing editor Tami Roleff gives an overview of the new law…
Starting January 1, access to military exchanges, commissaries, and Morale, Welfare, and Recreation facilities will expand to include all veterans with service-connected disabilities, veterans who are Purple Heart recipients, veterans who are former prisoners of war, and individuals who are the primary caregivers of eligible veterans. Previously only veterans with 100 percent service-connected disability ratings were authorized shopping and MWR privileges. The new law now allows all those with service-connected disability ratings, including 0 percent, to have those privileges. The Department of Defense expects this will extend eligibility to an additional 4.1 million people. New patrons who are eligible solely under this authority will be charged a small user fee if they use credit or debit cards at commissary stores.
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