The sponsor need not be present for a family member to use the commissary. Each day of shopping is recorded on the reverse of the Commissary Privilege Card, which becomes void after the 24-day shopping limit is reached. There is no limit to the number of visits that can be made on a given shopping day. Commissary Privilege Cards are issued to Guardsmen by their units at the beginning of each calendar year. When a service member is on federal active duty, or on state orders in support of a federally declared disaster, a copy of his or her duty orders is accepted in place of the Commissary Privilege Card.
Commissaries now accept major credit cards and also accept personal checks for purchases.
The surcharge is used to build new commissaries, renovate existing ones, purchase equipment and operating supplies, pay for utilities, and maintain facilities. There are four commissaries in Arizona.