Commissaries change policy to allow visitors By Staff Sgt. Thanks to a recent change, authorized customers can now bring guests in while they shop at most commissaries. Under the policy, identification cards are checked at the checkout lane instead of the door. This still limits purchases to authorized customers. Visitors are not allowed to purchase commissary goods, officials said, and only visitors accompanied by an authorized shopper are allowed to be in a store.
Commissary officials maintain the right to spot check for unauthorized people in their stores.
McGowan is chief executive officer for the Defence Commissary Agency. For instance, commissary officials said, shoppers have asked if they could bring in relatives visiting from out of town rather than making them wait in the car. DeCA had also heard from military spouses who found it difficulty to use the commissary when they provided home day care, officials said. Many patrons, both active duty and retired, have complained about having to leave a visiting mother, father, brother, niece or other family member at home or waiting in a car while making routine grocery purchases. Commissary officials added that installation or higher-level commanders may still require ID checks for entry because the policy allows exceptions due to security concerns.