DALLAS – After a change in Department of Defense policy, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service opened its doors to 575,000 DOD and Coast Guard civilian employees May 1. Access to ShopMyExchange.com will start later this year.
Opening exchange access to DOD and Coast Guard civilian employees working on installations will improve dividends to Quality-of-Life programs, leverage the military exchanges’ buying power and strengthen the Exchange benefit for Soldiers, Airmen and Guardians — past, present and future.
“Shopping the Exchange brings convenience to civilians working on installations,” said Tom Shull, Exchange director/CEO . “They can stop by the Exchange for essentials on breaks or to and from work instead of shopping outside of the gate — and 100% of Exchange earnings go right back to the military community.”
Tax-free shopping is authorized for active DOD and Coast Guard appropriated fund and non-appropriated civilian employees in the United States and the U.S. territories and possessions. Retired DoD and Coast Guard civilian employees will have access to online exchange shopping later this year.
On Joint Base Lewis-McChord, there are two Exchanges -- Lewis Main Exchange and the McChord Field Exchange. Matt Beatty, the JBLM Exchange general manager, said he's excited for the protentional of new customers inside the stores.
“The JBLM Exchange looks forward to serving this new segment of customers," Beatty said. "The DoD CAC Patronage Expansion further strengthens the Exchange benefit and the JBLM Exchange is ready to support these new customers.”
The Exchange, the DOD’s largest retailer and the 61st largest retailer in the United States, has served warfighters since 1895. The Exchange offers tax-free shopping and military-exclusive pricing. Exchange earnings support Soldiers, Airmen, Guardians and their families. Roughly 60% of earnings support Quality-of-Life programs on military installations worldwide.
The privilege expansion marks the third time since 2017 that the Exchange’s shopping base has grown. In January 2020, all veterans with service-connected disabilities were welcomed back to the installation to shop in person. On Veterans Day 2017, all honorably discharged Veterans were welcomed to shop tax free at ShopMyExchange.com.
Social Sharing